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Background:
About RI:
Relief International is an international non-profit organization committed to
partnering with communities impacted by conflict, climate change, and disasters. Our
core mission is to save lives, strengthen resilience, and promote sustained health and
well-being in affected regions. Our team, comprising over 7,000 staff and local
volunteers, operates in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. We
focus on providing comprehensive Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation,
and Hygiene), Education, and Livelihoods programs, all aimed at fostering community
resilience. Our strategy centres on collaborating with local partners to develop
programs that are safe, inclusive, and precisely tailored to local needs. These
programs are designed to be evidence-based, sensitive to conflicts, and adaptable to
changing climates, thereby effectively addressing the needs of the most vulnerable
populations.
Summary of Position:
The Area Manager oversees RI’s Area office management of programme
implementation, finance, Operations and Human resources management; the
coordination of work between teams and people and with partners, and coherence
among field staff in the geographical area and the counterparts in designated state.
Major responsibilities include performance management, capacity development,
communication and information sharing both internally and externally;
representation and liaising with local authorities, partners and donors; the
development of new and innovative program initiatives; and emergency planning and
preparedness.
The Area Manager also supports the Country Director with the cultivation of potential
donors, strategic partnerships and business opportunities. The Area Manager
represents RI at field-level coordination forums and with local stakeholders including
government authorities, local business leaders, media and civil society leaders. As an
extended member of the Sudan senior management team, the Area Manager is also
a key contributor to RIs program strategy and organizational decisions
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Duties and responsibilities:
- Position Responsibilities and Duties
Programme Management and Quality
Overall responsibility for managing the RI staff in area office, including
ensuring positive and collaborative working relationships in line with RIs Code
of Conduct, leading performance planning and evaluation process
In collaboration with DCD Program, DCD Support and Program Director and
Sectoral Technical Coordinators, provide oversight and sign off on program
plans and projects that are implemented in the assigned geography.
Managing Area Office, including efficient and effective financial operations and
budgeting, administration, human resources, logistics, procurement and
security in compliance with RI and donor regulations.
Ensure coherence of program initiatives in the assigned geography and create
synergy between the sectors.
Ensure program implementation plans are in accordance with RI Sudans
strategic priorities and are being implemented accordingly to programming
principles.
Representation, Liaising and Communication
Maintain RI’s visibility/presence, and reputation maximizing the benefits of a
sustained relationship with partners and other stakeholders.
Map out, establish and maintain strong relationships with Authorities officials,
community representatives, counterpart organizations, the NGO community in
general and RI partners in particular in the defined geographical area and other
areas as appropriate.
Represent RI at state-level coordination forums and with local stakeholders
including government authorities, local business leaders, media and civil
society leaders.
Take a lead role in planning and supporting any donor mission, Joint mission
within the state in collaboration with the Country Office.
Provide updates to CD on any major development within area office that might
impact RI programs.
Take a lead role in field-level bilateral engagement/negotiation with the UN
and the donors and share feedback with CD and SMT.
Works closely with State Ministries /Departments and other government
agencies to obtain the necessary support required by RI at State level.
Accountability and System compliance
Assure adherence to RI specifically to finance, logistics, IT, security, HR and
Procurement following policies and procedures that comply with the RI
handbook and funding source policies.
Ensure that RI procurement and related policies and procedures are up-todate
and disseminated in a timely manner and that all appropriate
staff are trained and competent.
Ensure RI’s safety and security procedures are implemented in the Area and &
field offices working in close cooperation with the Safety and Security team.
Ensure field-level donor-funded projects are managed in compliance with RI
and donor policies and procedures
2 Ensure donor reports for assets are timely completed and submitted to the
finance/program and other departments as appropriate.
Safeguard RI’s assets in the Area Office and field offices by ensuring finance
and administration policies and procedures are fully implemented, documented
and filed; propose amendments and changes when necessary, and make sure
that the office operates efficiently and effectively.
Budget Management
Work with Program Managers and TCs to conduct/facilitate filed level BVA
review and share inputs with the country office for consideration.
Oversee all field-level budget expenditures in collaboration with the Finance
Manager and area finance team and ensure they are compliant with RI and
donor regulations.
Implement and maintain verifiable internal financial controls in line with the
policies and procedures.
In collaboration with technical coordinators, monitor budget spending in line
with the spending plans and develop remedial plans where necessary to ensure
budgets are optimally utilized.
Inform senior management of changing budget needs, and participate in
budget development and revision processes
Maintain a site-level budget overview and collaborate regularly with the finance
team to monitor spending and ensure the timely utilization of all grants.
Review and/or approve (checking for accuracy & compliance) all high-level
procurements, framework agreements, leases and other large-value, high-risk
financial commitments.
Human Resources
Practice excellent human resource management, supporting the
development, promotion and retention of a motivated team of qualified and
experienced staff.
Ensure staff are well versed with RIs Code of Conduct, accountability,
respectful dialogue with the displaced, refugees and host communities, and
prevention of sexual exploitation, and abuse.
Promote professional development by identifying training and capacitybuilding
opportunities and ensure staff performance plans and evaluations are
conducted regularly.
Operations Support
Coordinate, manage and monitor the workings of the Logistic and Procurement
Sub-Departments at area office.
Work with in-country operations teams to roll out and improve operational
systems and ensure standard operation policies and procedures are adhered
to
3 Support and ensure the operation team works effectively with other units to
improve planning such as procurement and movement planning and rational
resource utilization.
Review key operation performance indicators and take appropriate action to
support in achieving the set objectives.
Support in the ongoing creation and upkeep of field office asset registers;
ensuring that all program and operations assets are logged, issued with unique
RI asset numbers and logged.
Safety and Security
Ensures that security management and preparedness plans are in place and
regularly updated and being followed at the area level.
Responsible for promoting RI’s acceptance and security and safety awareness
for all staff in the area.
Make decisions and assist the safety focal point to manage security incidents
at the local level, in consultation with the area security officer, Security
Manager and DCD Operations.
Responsible for promoting RI’s acceptance and security and safety awareness
for all staff in the area. Also ensures that RI is operating in a conflict-sensitive
manner.
MEAL:
Work closely with Program Managers and MEAL staff to ensure robust
monitoring systems are in place at the base level, verifying that data collection
tools, processes, and guidelines are clearly understood and consistently
applied.
Oversee the timely and accurate submission of program data, collaborating
with program teams to review and validate reported outcomes and addressing
any data quality issues promptly.
Encourage a learning culture by ensuring MEAL findings and community
feedback are used to inform decision-making, improve program effectiveness,
and enhance the quality of service delivery.
In conjunction with the accountability focal points, regularly review feedback
and complaints from the CRM (Complaints and Response Mechanism) and
ensure that action is taken to address community concerns. Share key lessons
learned with the North Darfur Area Manager and relevant colleagues to refine
strategies and interventions.
Safeguarding:
Uphold and promote RI’s Safeguarding policies, including the Protection from
Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) standards, ensuring all staff,
contractors, and partners in Al-Managil are trained, understand their
responsibilities, and strictly adhere to these guidelines.
Ensure that program participants, including women, children, and vulnerable
groups, are protected from harm by integrating safeguarding measures into
all aspects of operations and ensuring staff follow RI’s Code of Conduct.
Establish clear reporting channels for safeguarding concerns and ensure that
all allegations or suspicions are documented and reported promptly in line with
4.RI procedures. Collaborate closely with HR, the Country Director, and
designated safeguarding focal points to ensure investigations and follow-ups
are conducted sensitively, confidentially, and effectively
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Minimum Qualification, Skills and Experience Required:
Degree or professional certification in Political/Social Sciences, International
Rural Development or Public/Business Administration or related field
Proven experience in area management with a bias towards field operations
and security management. Experience working in fragile contexts
Experience with BHA, EU/ECHO, SIDA, FCDO, WFP, UNICEF and SHF donor
rules and regulations will be an added advantage.
Experience in rolling out systems in a field office and in supporting programmes
Excellent interpersonal skills, cross-cultural communication and ease in
managing a multi-ethnic team
Excellent interpersonal, communication skills and liaison experience, dealing
with local authorities, donors, partners, program participants and
communities.
Ability to identify and communicate potential problems and propose solutions
to the level of management and then effect change
Fluency in English, both written and spoken.
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