Work with us :: Humanitarian Director

Job purpose: To provide leadership to the region that will enable it to tackle the causes and most acute symptoms of poverty in the region and across the globe in collaboration with others,drawing on the resources of the whole organisation and ensuring they are managed effectively.

Staff reporting to this post:

The total workforce is approximately 300 staff for 2007/08 working in 10 countries. (Staff numbers may vary over time depending on the number and scale of humanitarian disasters).

Budget responsibility:

Annual budget for 2007/08 of approx £24 million. The annual budget depends on the scale of humanitarian work.

Dimensions:

Required to lead the development of a long-term vision and action plan to achieve high and long-term impact in regional programmes and influencing external policy and practice.
Represent Oxfam corporately in a large geographical area and on agreed a complex organisational theme, managing and influencing significant external relationships.
Help shape corporate and division strategies and lead their interpretation and delivery in a large and diverse region and in a delegated organisational capacity.
Plan and manage overall regional / regional centre / staff and resources allocation.
Problems are highly diverse and complex requiring comprehensive analysis of management and programme information from a wide variety of sources.
Anticipate, analyse and manage highly complex and diverse public policy issues and programme strategy.
Decision-making is both highly strategic and operational with judgement based on highly complex problem-solving experience, and a full understanding of a range of internal and external factors.

Key Responsibilities:

To provide vision and strategic leadership to Oxfam GB in the region on the direction and focus of our programmes, the shape and behaviour of the regional organisation and the role of the Oxfam in the wider poverty movement, in line with the organisational strategic framework.
To build Oxfam GB’s capability in the region to deliver on the vision and strategy, including acquiring and managing the resources required for delivery of the programme, talent management etc.
To ensure that our programmes are high quality, creative and deliver the desired impact. This will entail a participative approach to poverty analysis and programme design, an empowering relationship with poor people and partners and an iterative approach to programme design, delivery and learning.
Provide regional leadership and strategic direction in response to humanitarian crises in collaboration with Oxfam International and in the context of Oxfam’s one programme approach.
To contribute to the overall leadership of Oxfam GB as a member of the International Senior management team and as part of the Oxfam international confederation, ensuring the voice of the region is effectively heard and influences the direction of Oxfam and through active contribution to / leadership of organisational / confederation initiatives.
To lead the regional senior management team, ensuring effective individual and team performance and inspiring, developing and challenging them to improve their performance.
To promote an integrated approach to tackling poverty and inequality, so that development, campaigning and humanitarian work is strategically aligned and balanced. Gender analysis and HIV&AIDS situational analysis must form a core part of programme and project design.
To ensure the region plays an active role in organisational knowledge management, sharing learning with others and drawing on learning from across the organisation and our networks/alliances.
To anticipate and manage risks that could threaten the organisation's reputation or operational viability.
To represent Oxfam in the media and at the most senior levels, influencing and informing decision makers at ministerial and ambassador level, working collaboratively with leaders from other NGOs, within OI and building alliances and networks with other players in the poverty movement.
Depending on experience, the RD LAC could also be asked to take on wider organisational roles e.g. a global aim lead for one of OGB’s five aims (see Strategic Plan) or an Oxfam international regional role.

Skills and competence:

Proven leadership ability at a senior, strategic level in a complex dispersed organisation. Strong leadership skills including the ability to provide vision and direction to staff, to ensure delivery on strategy and to influence and engage positively with the corporate direction, contributing to it and following it as appropriate. (E)
The ability to continually assess the external context of the organisation, set a realistic strategic direction, evaluate and develop the organisation's capacity to fulfil that direction. (E)
Proven ability to assess a range of options for achieving goals and select a given option based on multiple success and risk factors. (E)
A high level of initiative and sound judgement. (E)
Understanding and knowledge of the LAC region, with experience of cross-cultural management. (E) Ideally you will have lived and worked in the region for a significant period. (D)
Understanding about gender and inequality and its intersection with poverty and suffering. (D)
Excellent people leadership and management skills with a track record of building high performing dispersed teams from different backgrounds and cultures. Experience of leading change management processes. (E)
Competent financial manager with experience of project budgeting and controlling financial risks. (E) Preferably with experience of managing donor funding (D)
Excellent communicator and influencer, capable of demonstrating the credibility and gravitas to gain respect with other senior managers, decision makers in government, donors, media and pivotal figures in the sector. An ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels (E)
Experience or understanding of international humanitarian issues, long term development issues, and ability to influence and lead in the further development of programme policy to enhance the impact of our work.(E)
Ability to drive programme quality improvements, focus on outcomes to build on learning and effectively share and manage knowledge (E)
Excellent level of written and spoken English and Spanish. (E)
Ability to travel away from home for up to 70 days per year. (E)