Field Coordinator at The International Rescue Committee (Borno State)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Field Coordinator

Requisition ID: req11058
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Sector: Operations
Employment Category: Regular
Employment Type: Full-Time
Open to Expatriates: Yes

Scope of Work

• Based in Maiduguri, the Borno Field Coordinator ensures coordination between IRC’s program and operational functions in Borno State, including programs currently in Magumeri, Bama, Konduga and Mafa.  Additional communities may be added as the program expands.
• The Field Coordinator must collaborate closely with the Senior Area Managers in Gwoza, Monguno and Askira/Uba.  It is imperative that the Field Coordinator retains a thorough knowledge of IRC’s programs, policies and operations as well as a broad understanding of the security, social and political contexts and the cast of characters that we engage with in the government and humanitarian community.
• The Borno Field Coordinator reports to the Deputy Director of Field Management and retains also a close working relationship with the Deputy Director of Programs and Deputy Director for Operations as well as the coordinators who head up each program and operational sector.  The Borno Field Coordinator is a member of the Country Leadership Team.
• The successful candidate will be confident, articulate, organized and able to represent IRC to partners including beneficiaries, community leaders, CSOs and donors as well as handle sensitive, complex issues in a diplomatic way that puts the needs of beneficiaries first.

Key Responsibilities
Safety and Security:  

• Working through the safety and security unit, the Field Coordinator will ensure that appropriate management plans are in place, that staff and visitors are well briefed on the current safety and security context and protocols and that IRC is well coordinated with the security community including UNDSS, INSO, the NGO community and local authorities.
• The Field Coordinator will also ensure that IRC offices, programs, housing and transportation are compliant with current COVID-19 mitigation plans.

Programming:  

• The Field Coordinator will work in collaboration with the sector coordinators and managers to ensure that IRC programs are appropriately integrated and effectively supported by IRC operations. 
• The Field Coordinator will promote communication between program and operations staff by, among other things, chairing a weekly coordination meetings and ensuring proper communication between sectors.  
• The Field Coordinator will facilitate visits by donors, consultants and other visitors.

Supply Chain:  

• The Field Coordinator will coordinate with program managers and the supply chain team to monitor procurement, stock management, asset management, vehicle and equipment rental and maintenance to ensure efficient and policy-compliant processes and timely spending against grants. 
• The Field Coordinator will collaborate with the Supply chain coordinator/Deputy Director of Operations to address issues that may arise.

Financial Oversight:  

• The Field Coordinator will oversee financial management of field office operations and finance staff, including approval of expenditures, cash management and transactions, management of operational budgets, payroll review, and travel expenses, with support of Assistant Finance Controller. 
• The Field Coordinator will facilitate the review of budget vs. actuals report by budget holder to ensure timely and appropriate expenditure of funds.

Strategic Planning:  

• The Field Coordinator will oversee the implementation of the strategic action plan (SAP) in Borno State, working with program and operations staff to ensure that an effective plan is in place to meet performance objectives a timely way.
• Challenges to meeting SAP targets will be communicated in a timely way to the SMT and the Country Leadership Group.

HR and Staff Development:

• The Field Coordinator will ensure that there is a healthy, respectful and productive working environment. 
• He/she will monitor the implementation of IRC human resource policies to ensure that they are effectively implemented through program and operations units including, inter alia, the timely implementation of the performance management process, the proper application of disciplinary actions, the timely scheduling of annual leave. 
• The Field Coordinator will promote IRC’s Code of Conduct and ensure that all staff are aware of their rights as employees and are able to confidentially express grievances through established channels. 
• He/she will provide support for the effective functioning of the Women at Work group.

Liaison and Representation:  

• In collaboration with the Deputy Director for Field Management, the Field Coordinator serves as the primary point of contact with local and state government, UN agencies and Nigeria INGO Forum (NIF), INSO and other humanitarian fora.  Representation may be delegated as it relates to specific sector interests. 
• He/she will ensure that IRC plays an active role in the humanitarian and development community and that IRC is well represented with donors during visits to the field.

Key Working Relationships
Formal Management in Partnership relationships:

• The Borno Field Coordinator directly supervises 5 staff under a Management in Partnership agreement with the technical supervisors of each of those positions.  The agreement is negotiated between the Field Coordinator and each of the co-supervisors in order to identify the decision rights for each co-supervisor.  Generally speaking, the Field Coordinator will take the lead on coordination and operations whereas the co-supervisor will be lead on technical matters related to the function of the supervised manager. 

The Management in Partnership positions supervised are as follows:

• HR Manager (MiP with Sr.HR Manager)
• Security Manager (MiP with Security Coordinator)
• Finance Manager (MiP with assistant Finance Controller)
• Supply Chain Manager (MiP with Supply Chain Coordinator)
• IT Manager (MiP with IT Coordinator)
• Further detail on the Management in Partnership framework are appended.
• The Field Coordinator will maintain very strong working relationship with the program coordinators with particular focus to driving interventions in emerging field sites including Magumeri, Bama, Konduga and Mafa.  
• The Field Coordinator calls regular meetings with these Managers independently or as a group for the purpose ensuring effective operational and administrative coordination, safety and security of staff and program, coordinated representation with local and state authorities and other matters to ensure efficient and security operations and programming.

Qualifications

• Master's degree preferred (management-related or general operations preferred);
• Minimum of five years’ experience managing operations and/or projects in INGOs in developing countries, preferably in Africa;
• Strong socio-political analysis skills, with demonstrated ability to assess the impact of dynamic contexts on an INGO, and vice versa;
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office, Excel, Word, and Outlook;
• Flexibility, ability to work independently and meet deadlines;
• Fluency in English;
• Commitment to IRC Way.
• Demonstrated management and leadership skills, including team management and staff development;
• Experience in field office management, including programs, supply chain, HR, administration and security management, preferably in conflict-impacted settings;
• Excellent management, organizational, interpersonal, and cross-cultural communication skills;
• Strong problem-solving, analytical and decision-making skills, preferably including negotiations and conflict resolution skills;

Specific Security Situation/Housing:

• The Borno Field Coordinator will be expected to respect the various security protocols in place in country.  Borno State is currently in a security context that requires clear contingency planning, with the possibility of hibernation or evacuation.  A government curfew exists and staff are required to be in the hotel or guesthouse by curfew; this is subject to change depending on changes in context.

Appendix A:  

• Borno Field Coordinator Management in Partnership relationships
• As detailed in the MiP Playbook; the Field Coordinator will work with each MiP relationship on each of the following:
• Conduct a handshake meeting with the co-manager to establish decision rights summarized in an MoU;
• Work in a tripartite manner on annual planning and priorities;
• Work in a tripartite manner through the Performance Management and Evaluation process;
• Hold routine tripartite meetings as appropriate for each role, be they weekly, monthly or quarterly.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply