Job Title:

Head of International Support

Reports to:

Executive Director, Concern Worldwide UK

Direct reports:

• Technical Advisor, Social Protection
• Technical Advisor, Nutrition
• With potential to increase

Key Liaison with:

• Overseas Director and Regional Directors Concern Worldwide
• Strategy, Advocacy and Learning Director, Concern Worldwide
• Head of the Emergencies Unit, Concern Worldwide
• Head of the Grant Co-ordination Unit, Concern Worldwide
• Director of Operations, Concern US
• Head of Advocacy, Concern UK

Job Location:

London

Pay band:

£55,022  - £60,814

Contract Length:

Permanent

Job Purpose:

·         Build Concern’s position and profile with key stakeholders in order to maximize influence and funding in the UK.

·         Identify and pursue new opportunities to maximize Concern UK’s contribution to the achievement of the mission of Concern Worldwide.

·         Key programming representative of Concern Worldwide in senior level forums with donors and country/thematic networks

·         Senior spokesperson for Concern in UK

Main duties &

Responsibilities:

Lead the organizations relationship with the UK government.  This will include, but is not limited to the following

·         Being the main interface and building the organizations’ profile with DfID.

·         Analysing DfID funding opportunities and promoting awareness of same throughout the organization.

·         Ensuring that the organization is suitably prepared and positioned to maximize DfID funding, closely liaising with the Overseas Directorate of Concern Worldwide.

·         In the event Concern receives a PPA, lead engagement on the PPA.

·         Working with Concern Overseas Directorate, promote –and assist as appropriate – engagement with DfID in country, ensuring fields are cognizant of DfID priorities, conducting necessary relationship building and maximizing the opportunities for in-field funding. 

Identification of New Opportunities for Concern UK

·         Identify key opportunities for Concern, eg consortia, new funding streams etc, and work to maximize their benefit to the organization.

·         Identify, select and engage with key UK based forums.   Current engagements include Bond, CHASE, the DEC and the CBHA. 

Representation and Advocacy

·         Act as a principle spokesperson with the UK media.

·         Represent Concern at the most senior levels, including government ministers.

·         Represent Concern on key UK networks (eg Baag, Sahel Group, etc) 

Technical Team

·         Establish a framework for the management of the UK based technical advisors to ensure the benefit is maximized to the organization as a whole. 

Internal Communications and Relationships

·         Develop and maintain a detailed knowledge of Concern’s programme approach/operations and ensure these are clearly understood by all stakeholders in Concern in the UK.

·         Foster good working relationships with programme management and support staff in Dublin and overseas.

·         Link closely with the Policy and Campaigns, Fundraising and Communications Teams in the UK to ensure they maximize their knowledge of Concern’s programme work.

 Management, Planning and Budgeting 

·         Act as a member of the Concern’s UK SMT, contributing to overall UK strategy, planning and operational management.

·         Ensure that Concern in the UK has adequate oversight of and is fully accountable for the funds that it channels to overseas programmes.

Person specification:

ESSENTIAL  

• Educated to degree level.
• An experienced development or humanitarian professional  with ten years plus experience working overseas with minimum three at a senior level.
• Strong knowledge of the UK humanitarian and development sector
• Excellent networking and relationship building skills
• Excellent representation skills and ability to work at the most senior level.
• Willing to travel to overseas fields.
• Strong ability to work on own initiative and to establish and embed a new senior organizational role.

DESIRABLE  

• Masters in Development Studies or other relevant discipline.
• French speaker

To apply:

Please send your CV and cover letter to nafeesa.vora@concern.net before closing date 14/12/2010 

All candidates who are short-listed for a interview will be notified via email after the application deadline  

Candidates must be legally entitled to work in UK at the time of application.

Concern has a Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants, especially beneficiaries, from abuse and exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, partner organisations, and anyone engaged by Concern or visiting our programmes, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context all Concern staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct of their work in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission.   

Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Code of Conduct candidates demonstrate they have understood their content and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these two documents. 

Any breach of the Concern Code of Conduct or the Programme Participant Protection Policy by employees of Concern Worldwide during the course of their employment will result in disciplinary action up to, and including, dismissal.

Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year.  Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer do not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List).   

Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant.  For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office. 

By submitting a formal application for paid or voluntary employment to Concern, you agree to Concern carrying out a clearance check as outlined above and that Concern will not proceed to recruit you should your name appear on any of the aforementioned lists. 

Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.