Area Manager - South (National Post)

Location: Mykolaiv, South Ukraine 

Reporting line manager: Country Director 

Duration: 12 months (National Contract) 

Responsible for Managing: Logistics & Procurement Officer, Security Coordinator 

Conditions: Employment contract, gross monthly salary starting from €4,263, Risks allowance of €300/month (high risks area), medical insurance and PSS. Annual leave of 28 days per calendar year. 

Starting date: January 1, 2025 

CARE INTERNATIONAL 

CARE International (CI) is among the world's largest international non-governmental humanitarian relief and development confederations. Drawing on more than 75 years of experience, CI's work reaches over 110 countries worldwide to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. CARE's vision is to seek a world of hope, inclusion, and social justice; where poverty has been overcome and people live in dignity and security. CARE focuses heavily on women and girls, and the areas of gender equality, diversity, and inclusion are at the center of our work because we know that we cannot overcome poverty and social injustice until all people have equal rights and opportunities. 

CONTEXT IN UKRAINE

On 24th February 2022, the invasion of Ukraine marked a significant escalation to the conflict that started in 2014. It continues to profoundly impact the lives of people across the country at various levels. The front line is continuously shifting and there are areas under Russian military control, as well as cities under siege. Attacks on military installations and critical civilian infrastructures are conducted in the entire territory of Ukraine, often resulting in collateral civilian casualties. The conflict has caused the largest population movement in Europe since World War II, with over 5 million currently displaced within Ukraine and 6 million refugees across Europe. OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) had counted 14.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. An ongoing priority for the international humanitarian response is to reach newly accessible areas in the East and South of Ukraine, and to provide aid to previously unreachable and particularly hard-hit areas of Ukraine. 

CARE UKRAINE

As CARE, we strongly believe in the importance of localization and recognize the invaluable skills and knowledge present in the local context. By working together, we can achieve quality responses and make a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve. 

CARE seeks to establish long-term, sustainable partnerships with civil society organizations especially WLOs/WROs that lead to more effective, locally driven, and impactful humanitarian responses, recovery, and development in Ukraine, improving the lives of the most vulnerable populations. In the first few weeks after the escalation of the war, virtually all humanitarian aid inside Ukraine was organized and implemented by local actors. These groups (together with local authorities) remain the principal aid providers but are quickly being exhausted of funds, fuel, and physical energy. Thereby, a considerable proportion of CARE's resources is dedicated to strengthening and supporting the capacities of local partners. As of September 2024, 

CARE Ukraine has established partnerships with over thirty local/national organizations (incl. WLO's/WRO's). From the more than 75 million euros that have been raised for Ukraine so far, more than 77% is allocated to national partners. Through the activities that have been implemented so far, CARE Ukraine has been able to reach more than 1.4 million people. While CARE Ukraine's country office is currently located in Kyiv, we also have offices in Lviv, Dnipro, Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kharkiv.   

 Job summary: 

The Area manager reports to the Country Director and represents CARE in the respective area of intervention. S/he ensures effective coordination and liaison with key external stakeholders and works to raise CARE's visibility and presence in the area. The Area manager participates in various coordination mechanisms, including attending relevant area-based coordination meetings and NGO coordination forums, and plays a key role in liaison with regional and local governments, as well as relevant government departments. In addition, a key responsibility of the Area manager is to create the conditions for effective program delivery in the respective intervention area by bringing together program- and support colleagues and ensuring resource allocation and operational efficiency. 

 The Area manager is the main focal point within CARE for the respective area of intervention and ensures perspectives and interests from the Area office are brought to the attention of the country leadership. S/he will serve as a member of the Senior Management Team. 

 Main responsibilities:  

 Representation & liaison at area level 

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key humanitarian stakeholders, including international and national organizations and networks active in the Area of intervention. 
• Represent CARE in the various area-based coordination forums with relevant authorities, partners, NGOs and UN agencies, including OCHA and Area managers' meetings.  
• Represent CARE at regional and district level, keep authorities informed about CARE's interventions, and ensure relevant permissions and registrations are obtained. 
• Organize bilateral coordination/information sharing with peer INGOs and other key players in the area of intervention. 
• Represent CARE as required by the Country Director. This includes supporting or leading visits from donors, journalists, diplomats, authorities, etc. 
• Maintain a strong contextual awareness of who is doing what in the area and maintain up-to-date contacts to the greatest extent possible. 
• Identify strategic partnerships and opportunities for current and future CARE activities. 

 Internal coordination & office management 

• Responsible for overall functioning of the area office in order to ensure delivery of high-quality programming in line with the objectives of the country strategy. 
• Chair weekly internal coordination meetings and ensure coordination and information sharing between program and support teams. 
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence and cultivate well-being under challenging conditions.  
• Contribute to team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.  
• Foster cross-team cooperation and the flow of information between the program teams and the support services at the field level, as well as between the field office and the country office, and address challenges and bottlenecks where needed. 
• Ensure that all CARE staff in the respective area of intervention and CARE's implementing partners receive adequate support from well-designed, cost-efficient and donor compliant support services, sufficiently resourced, and respectful of CARE accountability principles. 

 Strategy & program development 

• Continuously monitor and analyze the political, security and humanitarian context, and ensure timely information sharing and provision of clear recommendations for program and strategy development.  
• Be a resource person for the respective area of intervention for all information needs related to context, geography, latest needs assessments, actor mapping and partner capacities. 
• Contribute to the development and review of strategy and strategic vision for the Country Office with a strong focus on gender integration across all programmatic sectors.  
• Provide input where required to program strategies and new proposal development ensuring relevant information of the respective area of intervention is considered. 

 Team management  

• Hire, orient and supervise new team members as necessary. 
• Supervise any direct reports to ensure day-to-day activities are implemented in a coordinated way according to workplan and budget. 
• Manage the performance of direct reports using CARE International performance management policies and procedures as well as through appropriate coaching, mentoring, training and development  
• Support the development/revision of job descriptions, management structures and performance management, of units under his/her supervision 
• In collaboration with the human resources department, identify capacity development needs of staff. 

 Security management 

• In close coordination with the Security coordinator and Security Manager, continuously analyze the political and security context, and ensure timely and accurate internal communication.  
• Oversee security and safety risks in the assigned area of intervention through regularly updating the risk assessment matrix and security management plans, and adequately following the day-to-day deployment of the field teams. 
• Agree with the Country Director and the Security Manager on accurate security level application in the area of intervention and mitigation measures to be in place to continue operating as long as possible in a complex and volatile context. 
• Regularly participate in updating the security management tools, in collaboration with the Security Manager and disseminate the necessary updates/guidance to all area staff. 
• Ensure the safety and security of CARE staff and assets in her/his area of responsibility, in coordination with the country Security, Safety & Access team. 
• Manage, in close consultation with the Country Director and the Security Manager, in accordance with the Incident Management Plan, any security incident and emergency situation, and write-up incident reports. 

 The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties assigned by the line manager.   

 Requirements & Qualifications 

• Bachelor's or master's degree in development or other social sciences or relevant degree 
• At least 5 years of robust experience with an INGO in a complex emergency, and with experience of working within a matrix organization structure. 
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant management experience, including significant field operations experience running both emergency and development programs. 
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills are necessary. 
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in other departments or locations, as well as experience leading diverse teams. 
• Proven experience in representation and networking with duty bearers (negotiation and influence skills)  
• Skills and knowledge of financial, procurement, safety and HR practices in Ukraine and in humanitarian organizations 
• Proven experience in developing partnerships with national aid organizations, CBOs, CSOs and/or WROs 
• Proficiency in English, Ukrainian and or Russian would be an asset 
• Computer skills (including Excel and Word) 
• Excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills 
• Leadership skills and ability to make decisions in difficult situations 
• Capacity to work under a high level of stress  
• Trustworthiness and sense of responsibility 
• Significant knowledge of international humanitarian systems, institutions, and donors, and of procedures, accountability frameworks and best practices in emergency management 
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact, and diplomacy. 

Accountability within CARE 

A commitment to CARE values and CARE's integrity framework is critical to working with CARE. Any candidate offered a job with CARE will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability: 

• Comply with CARE's policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behavior protocols. 
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area. 
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behavior of a CARE staff or partner. 

Safeguarding 

Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with CARE as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury, and any other harm. One of the ways that CARE shows this ongoing commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates. 

Gender equality 

CARE is committed to meeting the standards of the CARE International Gender Policy (2019). Through this policy, CARE seeks to promote the equal realization of dignity and human rights for girls, women, boys and men in all diversities, and the elimination of poverty and injustice. Specifically, this policy seeks to improve the explicit incorporation of gender in programmatic and organizational practices. 

 How to Apply:

CARE values equal opportunities and diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

Please send your CV (in pdf format max. 4 pages) and a cover letter in English to  < Отправить резюме  >, no later than 23 November 2024. Please name your documents Surname_CV, Surname_Cover Letter.  Put Area Manager – South  as the subject title of your email. 

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.