Response Manager HARD -- Location: Nairobi

To support the Response Managers in the Horn of Africa Response to Drought (HARD) effected countries in the management and Leadership of the Category III (Cat III), Partnership response.
Provide strategic leadership to the program design, management, implementation and coordination of relief/recovery activities for the World Vision HARD programs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provide leadership to the Humanitarian & Emergency Affairs (HEA) team to ensure relief program implementation in a coordinated and effective manner in close coordination with the Regional Director and Regional Leader.
Lead the strategy and planning process of the Cat III response based on the program strategy.
Provide overall strategic management to the Cat III response for HARD and act as a spokesperson for the Partnership and external stakeholders in collaboration with the National Directors (NDs) in Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania and Ethiopia
Facilitate processes at community level to map community vulnerabilities to humanitarian emergencies, and their capacities to prepare for and respond to these emergencies.
In conjunction with the East Africa Regional Office (EARO) Security officer, ensure that appropriate security measures are in place and undertaken during the response.
Manage program and budget planning processes, including staff planning.
Advise the Category III executive team on strategic directions of the emergency response

Program Management

Lead and guide relief program design processes. This process involves maintaining a credible and high quality relief program, and will include needs assessment, project design and plans, proposal writing, with subsequent regular reporting to donors and (World Vision) WV Support Offices.
Provide program oversight, ensuring the program is meeting accountability and international standards, goals and implementation objectives.
Be informed and understand the needs and situation in the field through regular field visits to disaster-prone emergency sites.
Participate in, and provide leadership to the relief team in assessments, planning and implementation of emergency preparedness, relief and recovery activities.
Ensure that all emergency relief responses have clear exit or transition strategies established well in advance of the completion of those responses, and oversee the implementation of those exits or transitions to longer-term development programming.

Liaison
Responsible for the initiation and maintenance of effective working relationships and communication with:
WV Somalia, WV Tanzania, WV Ethiopia and WV Kenya Response Managers and sectoral specialists which are stakeholders in relief program systems or activities being implemented, or communities which are the sites of relief programming.
Relevant departments and ministries of the Governments of the affected countries, ensuring that WV Somalia's, WV Kenya’s, WV Ethiopia's, WV Tanzania's relief programs are in alignment with government relief and recovery plans, and where appropriate, relief programming is contributing to the formulation and implementation of those plans.
Liaise with UN agencies (e.g., UNICEF, WFP, OCHA, FAO, UNDP) and in Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia based international donors and other key humanitarian agencies.
Represent World Vision at international and national coordination meetings. Participate and provide contributions to joint agency assessments, task-force teams and workshops as required and in collaboration with the NDs.
WV’s Support Offices and Partnership structure. Ensure regular flow of communication between field sites, program office, support offices and the greater World Vision Partnership.
Government counterparts, partner agencies and communities. Build effective working relationship with partners who represent the community beneficiaries with whom World Vision is working. Negotiate, make agreements and understandings, and establish standards and working agreements. Take precautions to prevent the raising of expectations that cannot be filled.
Carry out additional responsibilities and projects as assigned.
Attend weekly devotions with staff and be a leader in terms of reflecting Christian Values and Commitment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

REQUIRED:

Postgraduate qualification in humanitarian affairs or international relations
social sciences or a related field.

Technical qualifications in public health, food security or commodities management is an advantage.

Experience in management and knowledge of accounting methods and procedures.

Clear understanding of the functioning of major UN agencies, international donors and governmental agencies in their respective programs, approaches and standards.

Ability to relate and represent WV to these major program partners, in a professional manner.

Experience in relief and development work using an approach of facilitation and empowering local communities.

At least 5 years field experience in a developing country programming context, preferably in humanitarian relief and experience working in conflict/war zones with international consortiums

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