Pakistan: Program Director - PAKISTAN

Handicap International is an independent and impartial international aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. Working alongside persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, our action and testimony are focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their living conditions and promoting respect for their dignity and their fundamental rights.

Handicap International is a not-for-profit organisation with no religious or political affiliation. It operates as a federation made up of a network of associations that provide it with human and financial resources, manage its projects and implement its actions and social mission.

For more details on the association: www.handicap-international.fr and review our job offers: http://www.handicap-international.fr/emploi

JOB CONTEXT:

In the early 1980s Handicap International’s first activities in Pakistan focused on support for Afghan refugees and this work continued up until the end of the 1990s. Following a series of natural disasters, the organization returned to Pakistan to support vulnerable people caught up in several humanitarian crises. In 2009, Handicap International started responding to the needs of IDPs and refugees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, and, in 2010, to the needs of the flood affected populations in both KPK and Sindh provinces. These emergencies, as well as the new floods that hit again Sindh province in 2011, led to a considerable increase in the volume of Handicap International’s activities ranging from response to basic and specific needs of vulnerable persons through a disability and vulnerability approach, WASH, shelter, disaster risk reduction and advocacy on inclusion. Since then, the organization has maintained a continuous presence in the country, through development programs as well humanitarian aid to the population victims of the conflict and / or natural disasters.

Since January 2014, HI Pakistan is gradually shifting back its programmatic approach towards longer term and development interventions. While keeping its capacity to respond to complex emergencies – which are recurrent in the country – HI will re-position itself to address structural issues. The domains of intervention that Handicap International is focusing on are as follows: Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction, Inclusion and Rights, Rehabilitation and Emergency response. At the moment a three-year funded project in Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction is implemented in Sindh.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Under the responsibility of the Desk Manager based in Lyon, you implement HI’s mandate in Pakistan by guiding and directing the implementation of the different projects as well as ensuring proper representation of the organization in the country.

You will directly manage 4 persons: 1 deputy director and 3 coordinators (1 Operational coordinator, 1 Technical coordinator & 1 Admin coordinator).

The position is instrumental for ensuring the development of the programme and catching funding contracts for the coming years. You will ensure an efficient, progressive, cost-effective and responsible growth. A 3-year programme strategy will be developed early 2016 to support this process.

Your main responsibilities:

• Represent HI on the field and vet its mandate in the field


• Maintain and develop good relationships with local partners


• Ensure good relation with the government line ministries


• Ensure that the global HI strategy is realistically drafted for the programme in Pakistan


• Vet the appropriate allocation of resources for the implementation of the 3 years strategy


• Take an active role in raising funds for the identified projects


• Supervise the budget design process / monitoring


• Ensure that HI staff and its partners are working in the most possible secure environment


• Be responsible for information produced by the different teams in Pakistan site teams and guarantee the regularity, quality and reliability of this information

CANDIDATE PROFILE:

Skills & experiences:

You have:

• An advanced degree in social sciences, development/ humanitarian or management


• A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in management position


• HR management skills


• Competencies in programme management and programming. Relevant strategic development skills.


• Good analytical skills and good skills in financial procedures.


• The ability to understand a complex geopolitical context, a multi stakeholder’s environment and also to work in a multi-cultural context.

Personal qualities:

You have:

• Strong leadership, diplomacy and good public relations (PR?)


• Motivation, strong enthusiasm and a very proactive approach


• Adaptability and teamwork skills


• Qualities of conflict prevention and management.


• Ability to work under pressure, and in a difficult environment.


• Strong communication skills and the ability to present information in a clear, precise and convincing way.

REQUIRED LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Fluent spoken and written level in English and Urdu are requested.

JOB ENVIRONMENT:

The position is based in Islamabad with frequent travels to the field, mostly Sindh (Makli) and KP Province (Peshawar).For security reasons, travel and walking are limited in the field and you might be cantoned to your hotel. In Islamabad one can go to most areas, walking is allowed during daytime, restricted at night. Islamabad offers a number of recreational and leisure activities, and hosts an important concentration of expatriates. Before participating in activities, security rules need to be checked and followed. Persons should try to adjust to cultural norms and practices. Security remains a concern in Pakistan and additional security restrictions can be imposed at any moment.

The position is dependent on the obtaining of the visa.

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS:

Salary: 2500-2800 € gross salary/month + 457 Euros net/month expatriation allowance + 50% of the medical cover taken in charge by HI + repatriation insurance + indemnity for partner.