INTERSOS – Project Manager / Head of Base – Camerun

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

Terms of reference
Job Title: Project Manager / Head of Base
Code: SR-48-2203
Duty station: Bamenda (with frequent visits to other bases in NW/SW)
Starting date: 6/03/2022
Contract duration: 12 months
Reporting to: Head of Mission
Supervision of: UNHCR Protection Officer (expat), 4 Security Officers, 1 National Logistician, 1 Finance Officer and national PMs in NWSW
Dependents: Non-family duty station

General context of the project
Since 2016, the English-speaking regions of Cameroon have experienced a security and humanitarian crisis that has caused nearly 573,900 IDPs, 383,600 Returnees and 68,000 people who sought refuge in neighboring Nigeria. INTERSOS has been present in these regions since2018 with a protection monitoring program funded by the UNHCR. In 2020 and 2021,protection activities were strengthened, particularly at the response level with funding from VS and covered all 13 departments of the two regions. INTERSOS also implements GFD and nutrition activities in the 2 regions in partnership with WFP. Since October 2021, INTERSOS has started a mental health project in collaboration with a local partner in the South West.

General purpose of the position
The Project Manager / Head of Base proposes a regional strategy according to the geopolitical and humanitarian context and ensures its implementation once validated.
He/she is responsible for the overall management, economic and financial administration of the UNHCR project and for its entire implementation process, ensuring the achievement of its objectives and results.
He/she checks and ensures that other projects ongoing in NWSW are carried out in accordance with the INTERSOS charter, respecting all internal and contractual procedures
He/she mobilizes the material and financial resources necessary for programs to run smoothly and supervises resource management
He/she coordinates the teams in place and is responsible for their security in his/her assigned zone.
He/she ensures the global supervision of all INTERSOS bases present in NWSW regions of Cameroon and its daily functioning,
He/she is the Country Director’s direct contact and representative in NWSW.

Main responsibilities and tasks
Programme and representation:
Ensures effective planning, implementation as well as monitoring and evaluation of the UNHCR funded project
Support the launch of new projects and/or new teams
Under the supervision of the Head of Mission, he/she represents INTERSOS for all interaction and negotiation, notably with UNHCR, other donors, and other stakeholders, including local authorities
Assurer la participation de INTERSOS aux différentes instances de coordination (clusters, groupes de travail, etc.)
Maintain strong relations with local authorities, other NGOs, UN agencies, and other local actors with support of the coordination team also to identify new fundraising opportunities and partnership
Conducts regular meetings with program and support (as needed) staff to follow up on project implementation including revision of targets against achievements, identification of gaps in the response in order to define needed adjustments in the implementation

Team Management & Human Resources Management:
Ensures coordination between the different projects ongoing in the area of intervention (i.e. SV, UNHCR, WFP).
Ensures regular performance evaluation of project staff (national and international, as needed) in line with an internal regulation.
Ensures timely recruitment of national staff, in coordination with relevant support staff, as per INTERSOS policy for staff recruitment.
Ensures respect of and adherence to INTERSOS rules and regulations, code of conduct, and Charter of values.
Ensures and proposes capacity-building opportunities for national staff

Procurement & Finance:
Prepares and ensures the regular update of a financial plan
Verifies and approves purchase, in line with the budget and the financial and procurement plan
Verifies regularly the bookkeeping entries in the INTERSOS accounting spreadsheets (PN): verifying budget line allocations, budget expenditure status against actual delivery and the financial plan for the project implementation period
In collaboration with Logistics Coordinator, ensures purchases of goods, services, supplies are in line with the relevant INTERSOS procurement guidelines and procurement plan (in particular, he is responsible of the procedures done under UNHCR ML funded project and is supposed to play the role of president of the evaluation committee)
Monitoring, evaluation and reporting:
Delivers timely quality reporting on project activities (Monthly, Mid Year, final report UNHCR project), including findings in terms of impact on individual and communities.

Base Management:
Ensures coordination of support departments (i.e. administration, logistics, security, HR) at Base level. Ensures follow up on security related matters at the Base level in North West-South West. for all projects and staff.
Be responsible for the Base Offices and Guest Houses (Buea and Bamenda) including follow up on the the security location, maintenance, finalization of the contract.

Security:
Ensures regular update of the Comprehensive Planning Process (CPP) as requested by the Head of Mission. Contributes to the operationalization of risk prevention and mitigation measures set in the CPP
Oversee base-level access negotiations and mapping of security actors
Maintain contextual and security analysis in NOSO

Communication:
Ensure internal and external communication at the field level in connection with the support services and the communication services

Required profile and experience
Education
Advanced university degree in law, political science, social sciences, psychology, humanities or other relevant fields.
A first-level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted instead of an advanced university degree.

Professional Experience
Minimum 3 years-long experience in project management in the humanitarian sector. Excellent professional competence in Protection sector (especially Protection Monitoring) is required. Previous experience in Africa is considered an asset.

Professional Requirements

• Management skills and leadership in humanitarian response interventions;
• Good project proposals and reports writing capacity in accordance with INTERSOS standards and donors requirements;
• Ability to work with a tight schedule, with little supervision and under pressure;
• Strong communication skills, written and oral, especially in managing relationships with the teams;
• Good knowledge of security management in humanitarian contexts
• Prior experience in context with volatile security:
• Prior experience with negotiation for humanitarian access:
• Ability to work in a team and independently;
• Previous experiences in Africa (desirable)

Languages
Fluent English skills (written, spoken and reading)
Good knowledge of French is compulsory

Personal Requirements

• Spirit of adaptation to difficult living conditions, and to security constraints;
• High skills in management and planning;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, diplomacy, and partnership approach;
• Flexibility and ability to work in a difficult context, under pressure, and in an often-uncomfortable environment;
• Ability to communicate and work in a team and in a multicultural context;
• Ability to work in a highly volatile security environment and in basic living conditions;
• Respect for INTERSOS values/mission and PEAS policies