Job Profile

The EPO is a full-time position supporting the oversight of an existing humanitarian  portfolio as well as monitoring and developing new partnerships and projects for rapid on-set emergencies.

The position has a multi-regional remit to contribute to the delivery of effective and high-quality humanitarian assistance to new and ongoing humanitarian crises. As part of CAFOD’s Emergency Response Group- the EPO provides programme management and support capacity to humanitarian programmes.  Working with partners is central to CAFOD’s humanitarian response and the EPO will play an important role in identifying, and supporting partners to prepare for, mitigate the impact of, and respond to disasters and crises by providing support, knowledge and building long-term capacity.  All roles undertaken by the EPO will have the aim of achieving peace, security and recovery in accordance with CAFOD’s mission and values.

The post will seek to support regional and national CAFOD staff as necessary.  The building and maintenance of day to day relationships with partners is essential to the job. The role will be expected to work closely together with International Development Group (IDG) country teams when a disaster strikes and on other ongoing pieces of work.

Job Scope

A key component of this role is to be a part of CAFOD's Emergency Response Group (ERG) – providing immediate support to our humanitarian responses in Asia, Middle East, Latin America and Caribbean, as well as remote support for country teams. As a result of numerous rapid onset emergencies within these regions in recent years ERG has been working on a wide portfolio which has included several large programmes (Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, Nepal earthquakes, Rohingya Refugee Crisis and Indonesia Tsunami and Earthquakes).

This role will be expected to be able to support a wide range of humanitarian responses with different thematic focus and in different areas of the world. The primary focus is expected to be on Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean rather than the Middle East. The post holder may be asked to support other regions on a needs basis.

The EPO in conjunction with regional teams supports ongoing humanitarian programmes and maintains, holds and supports key partnerships. The post holder will also function as the main contact person for partners and projects that do not fall under a country programme in the International Development Group but where CAFOD has emergency programmes/projects and/or a strategic engagement (For example: Nepal, Philippines, Indonesia, India, Haiti, Venezuela and Antilles).

A lot of work and effort has gone into building relationships with specific partners – this role requires a dedicated person to continue and maintain these relationships in a consistent and positive manner. 

CAFOD’s humanitarian response comes before during and after emergencies. Our three core approaches are: 

(a) Capacity building of partners, in areas such as emergency preparedness, safeguarding, programme management, protection, WASH, food security and financial management. 

(b) Facilitation, in which we work alongside partners to help ensure the delivery of a programme. This is our most common way of working.

(c) Implementation, where CAFOD takes on a more direct implementation role in the delivery of a programme when local partners lack the capacity to scale up rapidly. 

An important part of the EPO role is to provide support to CAFOD programmes, staff and national partners in the implementation of humanitarian programmes, including assessments, monitoring, reviews and evaluations.

Another element of the role includes the provision of support to the Head of Humanitarian Programmes (HHP) and to the Humanitarian Funding Team to enlarge humanitarian partners and donors’ portfolio for those regions.

The post holder will be expected to work closely together and in coordination with relevant IDG country teams, comms/media, and where relevant major donors.

The post holder will provide support in the development of regional humanitarian strategies as well as country level preparedness plans where relevant.

Accountability

The post holder is line managed by the Head of Humanitarian Programmes within the Emergency Response Group. The role does not have line management or budget responsibilities.

The post holder will be expected to work closely with the Humanitarian Funding team; particularly with regard to the technical review of institutional proposals and reports prior to submission to donors.

Key Responsibilities

This role will be required to undertake travel, sometimes at very short notice and to insecure environments.

Emergency programme support (60%)

• Play a lead role in providing programme management of humanitarian responses through remote or field level operational support, and other support as needed such as needs assessment, project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation
• Support the planning and implementation of humanitarian programmes providing technical support and guidance to CAFOD programme staff and partner organisations to deliver high quality assistance in relief, rehabilitation and recovery phases of humanitarian response and preparedness
• Work with the emergency programme team to monitor new and chronic humanitarian crises, support corporate decision making on responses to these crises through timely provision of assessment information and support the development and design of humanitarian responses
• Identify opportunities for scaling up CAFOD’s humanitarian work and support the Humanitarian Funding Officer in the development of proposals for institutional funding and reporting to donors
• Identify, select and support the capacity building of new humanitarian partners in designated regions

Programme quality, systems and standards (30%)

• Support the development and implementation of guidance and policies and maintenance of systems and procedures, in line with CAFOD’s Ways of Working, for ensuring good practice and meeting sectoral standards on accountability and programme quality.
• Engage with the Humanitarian Policy team to ensure CAFOD’s humanitarian policy and advocacy is coherent and effective, and informed by our experience and that of our partners.
• Engage with the External Communication team to ensure CAFOD’s communications for humanitarian programmes is coherent, effective and efficient.

Representation and communication (10%)

• As prioritised, represent CAFOD at interagency fora and build, strengthen relationships with Caritas Internationalis sister agencies, as well as with non-Caritas partners organisations, to promote and aid coordinated humanitarian response 
• Develop supporter communications and work with the media, writing and undertaking interviews both on radio and TV

This list of duties and responsibilities is by no means exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake other relevant and appropriate duties as required. This job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification.

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect.  CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse.  CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount.  Any candidate offered a job with CAFOD will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Behaviour as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. This post involves contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults, or has responsibility for people who will do, and applicants will be subject to specific checks related to safeguarding issues.  If based in the UK, the post holder is required to present or obtain a Disclosure from the DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service).  If the post is based outside the UK the post holder will be subject to a different checking process. 

Person Specification /Essential Criteria

Understanding our context

• Actively supports CAFOD’s vision, mission and values and what we aim to achieve
• Commitment to and demonstrated experience of working with humanitarian standards and best practice (Humanitarian Charter, SPHERE, Red Cross and Red Crescent Code of Conduct, HAP)

Working together

• Proven successes in working with community-based organisations and local partners in the delivery of humanitarian programmes and capacity building, particularly in emergency preparedness and response
• Able to communicate clearly and in a concise manner
• Able to present complex issues simply and clearly in a multi-cultural working environment

 Making change happen

• Proven experience of successfully delivering an operational emergency programmes overseas or in different humanitarian contexts; will tackle conflicts or problems in a balanced way
• Able to contribute towards the Emergency Group strategy and able to determine team plans and objectives and deliver against them in challenging circumstances

Job-specific competencies

Technical skills and experience:

• Master’s Degree (or equivalent experience) in international relief and development
• Experience of designing and leading Emergency Responses
• Proven expertise and understanding of emergency preparedness and response
• Proven successes in working with community-based organisations and local partners in the delivery of humanitarian programmes and capacity building
• Experience of proposal development
• Multi donors experience
• Experience in national partners selection and capacity building

 Humanitarian Leadership and Coordination:

• High-level interpersonal and communications with the ability to effectively influence and liaise with key stakeholders on behalf of and in line with CAFOD’s principles.
• Ability to quickly establish and maintain effective relationships to achieve results in short timeframes
• The ability to work autonomously, take the initiative and proven ability to work creatively, innovatively and effectively to make decisions with limited direct supervision.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

 Operating safely in a pressured and changing environment:

• Proven experience in implementing security policy/protocols and ability to provide appropriate direction and support to team members in the event of a critical incident
• Demonstrated ability at being flexible and adaptable to changing situations.
• The ability to remain calm while dealing with conflicting priorities and working under pressure.

 Other:

• Fluent in written and spoken English
• Language skills in Spanish are highly desirable for this position
• Basic financial and budget management skills
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple tasks and implementing systems and procedures

 Desirable Criteria

• Language skills in Arabic and French
• Experience of forecast based financing
• Experience of Cash programming

Please click here for a full list of CAFOD’s Staff Benefits

Come and join us and help make a real difference in the lives of the world’s poorest communities.

CAFOD is an equal opportunities employer. Recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

To read more and apply, please visit CAFOD website to begin, completing the application process.