Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), is an international non-governmental organization under British law created in 1984 following the famine in Sudan and Ethiopia. It works in more than 40 countries around the world to alleviate the poverty of the poor in a variety of humanitarian areas. Islamic Relief is present in Mali since 1997 and works in the following regions: koulikoro,Timbuktu, Mopti and Bamako District in close collaboration with the authorities, technical services and local actors in the areas of food security , health and nutrition, water, hygiene and sanitation, education and sponsorship of orphans, child protection, emergency responses,etc.
As part of the implementation of its activities in Mali, Islamic Relief is seeking a:

JOB TITLE: Head of Programs
REPORT TO: Country Director
SUPERVISE: Program Manager, Program Coordinators and Technical Staff
LOCATION: Bamako
SALARY GRADE: According to the grid of the NGO
DURATION: 12 months with possibility of renew
AVAILABILITY: Immediate
OPENING DATE: 15/08/19
CLOSING DATE: 29/08/19

JOB PURPOSE

1. To provide strategic leadership and expertise to the program in Mali
2. To ensure the program meets Islamic Relief Quality Standards
3. To provide timely and high quality proposals and reports to donors
4. To ensure the development and utilization of best practice for technical interventions
5. To network with, and represent Islamic Relief to partners (government authorities, donors, INGOs, local NGOs, CBOs etc.).

KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

The Head of Program is accountable to fulfil his/ her roles and responsibilities in line with IRW’s code of conduct, values and principles, and to report to his/her line-manager regularly on the basis of annually defined key performance indicators (KPIs).

Programme Development

1. Provide strategic direction to the program, to ensure it works towards reducing poverty in a sustainable manner and responds to emergencies effectively
2. Take a lead role in the annual strategic planning process
3. Design program and projects based on the Country Strategic Plan and Emergency Preparedness Plan
4. Proactively identify opportunities to build key stakeholder relationships, and take the initiative to follow up with necessary action
5. Develop timely and good quality donor proposals to expand the program, using a participatory approach involving all relevant stakeholders
6. Work with the Country Director to diversity the funding base through developing existing or new relationships with donors.

Implementation and Quality of the Program

1. Make key decisions in relation to the program implementation, and offer solutions to problems that arise during the implementation of program
2. Ensure the program meets Islamic Relief Worldwide Quality Standards and international Codes of Conduct
3. Ensure the program are implemented and evaluated in a consultative and participative manner through regular field visits using IRW accountability frame and related appropriate tools.
4. Ensure the timely submission of high quality reports to HQ and donors, according to the appropriate guidelines

Management

1. Actively participate in the Country Management Team (CMT)
2. Facilitate team building across the Program, Islamic Relief Mali and the wider organization
3. Motivate the program team and ensure they have clear objectives and receive meaningful feedback on their performance
4. Provide HR Management to ensure the short and long-term success of the program, including recruitment, staff development, security etc.
5. Deputize for the Country Director whenever requested to do so (it is estimated this task will involve up to 10% of the Head of Program’s time).

Networking and Communication

1. Build relationships with donors and other INGOs in Mali
2. Ensure regular and effective communications are maintained within the program, and with the Regional Desk at HQ.

Budgetary responsibility

1. Assist the program team to develop, finalize and closely monitor the program budget
2. Work closely with the Finance Department to ensure effective financial and budgetary control of the program, according to IRW’s policy and procedures
3. Ensure corrective measures are to prevent over/under spends in the project budgets.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION 

Experience:

• 5 years of experience of working with various International NGOs in developing countries.
• An in depth understanding of national and international development issues in particular in relation to community development.
• Experience of developing proposals for a variety of donors
• Experience of successfully fundraising and dealing with EC, ECHO, UN, SIDA and DFID
• Experience of developing links with INGOs, Government agencies, Institutional donors and other stakeholders
• Experience of and commitment to participatory management and maintaining a supportive, open environment to ensure the learning and development of all staff.
• Experience of managing and mentoring local and international staff.
• Familiarity with the Sustainable Development Goals, Sphere Standards, Do no harm policy, Red Cross/Red-crescent Code of Conduct, Humanitarian Accountability Program etc.

Skills:

• Good interpersonal skills including the ability to listen, sensitivity to other peoples’ views and perspectives, and conflict resolution.
• Strategic leadership skills
• Good organizational skills and a practical knowledge of support service management
• The capacity to develop and maintain an understanding of and be sympathetic to the social, cultural and political context of the post
• Ability to represent, liaise and negotiate at different levels (national, provincial and local).
• Excellent communication skills
• Knowledge/familiarity/expertise in program areas: e.g. Emergency Response, Community Development, Microfinance, Food Security/Nutrition, Water and Sanitation, etc.
• An ability to work under pressure with limited support.
• Knowledge/familiarity with country/region
• Excellent written and spoken English and French- obligatory
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Committed to Islamic Relief Worldwide values and code of conduct.
• Willing to travel to remote locations and in difficult terrains

Qualifications

• Post graduate degree or its equivalent in management, social science, international development, public administration, or a related field
• Relevant experience in project development

Desirable

• Experience: Experience of working specifically towards, and reporting against Millennium Development Goals Skills
• Knowledge of languages English, French, Local languages, etc.

COMPOSITION AND DEPOSIT OF APPLICATION RECORDS

Recent curriculum vitae, contact details of three reference persons (supervisors), a cover letter with telephone contact and e-mail address and a copy of the identity document. Other documents will be requested later for the successful candidate.

The files will be submitted at the latest on Thursday 29/08/19 at 4:30 PM to the secretariat of the Office of Islamic Relief Mali located in Bamako; Hamdallaye ACI 2000 Tel: +223 20 21 44 41 or at: ayo.bouare@islamic-relief.org.ml  with the mention « Head Of Programs »  in the mail subject.
NB: CV and Cover Letter must be in English
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Any file filed will not be removed