Programme Officer Humanitarian Affairs

 

based in Jerusalem

Purpose of the job
Among Oxfam affiliates, particularly the five with offices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel (OPTI), Oxfam Novib (ON) has the role of leading Oxfam’s humanitarian response to the conflict. In collaboration with other Oxfam affiliates and partners, you will develop, coordinate and implement the humanitarian strategy and priority frameworks in a context of protracted emergency with occasional emergency peaks; ensure that Oxfam and partners have the capacity to respond rapidly and proportionately to humanitarian emergencies, and manage Oxfam Novib’s humanitarian response delivery with partners.

Main tasks of the function

Oxfam Novib Response Delivery and Preparedness
-To develop, review and implement the Oxfam Novib humanitarian preparedness strategy and investment plan in-country in collaboration with ON staff, other affiliates and Oxfam partners. To coordinate the appraisal and monitoring of ON’s and partners’ response capacity and coordinate humanitarian capacity building activities for all parties involved in order to achieve the objectives set in the preparedness strategy;
-Contribute to managing funding relations with local organizations from the identification phase, through appraisal, program implementation and evaluation in one or two thematic areas related to humanitarian programming in the OPT & Israel (livelihoods; public health; protection);
-In the event of an emergency peak, to effectively manage ON’s humanitarian response delivery with partners and, in coordination with the ON Country Representative and programme staff, provide steer to strategic and rapid decision-making about strategy, means and staff deployment in a complex, stressful and changing environment. To ensure effective programme management, financial and information management;
-To further develop Oxfam Novib’s humanitarian profile and programme in-country and to identify opportunities for fundraising with funding agencies. To lead acquisition with (potential) donors for humanitarian response and preparedness in close coordination with the Institutional Funding Officer;
-Together with the Country Representative, represent Oxfam Novib within the Oxfam confederation and externally regarding humanitarian matters; to increase Oxfam Novib’s awareness of current humanitarian trends and ensure sound internal and external coordination during preparedness and response;
-Act as security officer for Oxfam Novib on the basis of the agreed and regularly updated Security Management Plan.

Oxfam Humanitarian Lead Role
-To provide leadership to overall Oxfam humanitarian preparedness in-country, including coordinating the development, testing and regular updating of the Oxfam contingency plan in-country and ensure timely decision-making by the country leadership team at the onset of an emergency;
-To assume a leading role in coordinating the Oxfam response in an emergency peak, in coordination with the CountryTeam;
-To coordinate Oxfam’s ongoing monitoring of the humanitarian situation and of (interim) results of humanitarian interventions and contribute to representing Oxfam externally regarding humanitarian matters;
-To develop the Oxfam security framework in country and coordinate with other affiliates in relation to security. 

Required skills and experience
-You have a relevant education at academic level, or proven experience at this level;
-You can demonstrate at least 5 years of relevant work experience of which at least 3 years internationally, and ideally have previous experience working in the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
-You bring extensive knowledge of and vision for humanitarian response in a protracted crisis; and experience in emergency response & security management, coordination and preparedness;
-You have specific expertise in food security and/or public health as well as protection, and have good understanding of the role of local and international NGOs in development and humanitarian response; 
-You are familiar with international humanitarian law, Sphere, HAP and gender issues;
-You have experience and knowledge of project cycle management, financial management, and fundraising. ECHO experience is desirable;
-You work well in a team, are a good organizer, have outstanding social and intercultural skills and are able to take decisions in a fast-moving context. You have skills in coaching/capacity building/coordination;
-You are able and ready to frequently travel within all areas of the OPT, including regular multiday visits to Gaza;
-You have good communication skills and fluent command of English both in writing and speaking. Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.


Terms and conditions
-The employee will be contracted by Oxfam Novib according to Dutch labour legislation; 
-Fulltime contract for one year (with possibility of extension);
-Salary according to Oxfam Novib salary scale 9, a minimum of € 2,562.- and a maximum of € 3,941.- gross per month on the basis of a 36 hours working week. Additional allowances and insurances will be arranged.


Application procedure
Are you interested? Send your application including a motivation letter and a curriculum vitae and mentioning reference number 5-0002 to [email protected] to the attention of Patricia Vermeulen, HR Consultant, before 1 March 2011.