HEKS/EPER employs around 600 full-time staff members. Its work is guided by the vision of a just world where peace prevails, the dignity of all people is respected, and natural resources are preserved. HEKS/EPER is active in 25 locations in Switzerland and 30 countries worldwide, running more than 380 programmes and projects with a total volume of 138 million Swiss francs. Within the framework of Agenda 2030, the organisation focuses on four priority themes: “Climate Justice,” “Right to Land and Food,” “Asylum and Migration,” and “Inclusion.” HEKS/EPER also provides humanitarian aid to victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts, aiming to bring about change at the social, economic, and political levels. HEKS contributes to improving the living conditions of people both domestically and internationally, advocating for their rights. It raises awareness and mobilises society, politics, business, and churches. In 2023, around 16 million people benefited from the work of HEKS/EPER.

We are looking for a Humanitarian Aid (HA) Programme Manager to support the strategic and operational management of the HEKS/EPER HA programme in Romania in line with HEKS/EPER strategy and standards. You will strive for a substantial and relevant impact and be responsible for programme development and its effective and efficient implementation with ECHO’s operational and strategic partners. Achieving these objectives requires close co-operation with the Finance Director for the finances of ECHO-funded projects. Another task is to build the capacity of the local HA team and its management. Furthermore, you will contribute to raising the necessary funds for the country programme by acquiring grants and ensuring the visibility of HEKS/EPER, e.g. within various NGO networks. You will support the implementation of the ECHO recommendations from the ex-ante evaluation. In the fulfilment of all these tasks, you will ensure close cooperation with HEKS/EPER Switzerland.

To be able to manage all these tasks, we are searching for an experienced and committed personality as of 1st January 2025 or by arrangement as

Program Manager Humanitarian Aid, 100%, HEKS Romania

Your main responsibilities:

Programme and Project Management

• Analyze crisis context, proposing to adapt HA programs accordingly to ensure its relevance and effectiveness
• Lead the development of a relevant, substantial, and strategic humanitarian aid response in line with HEKS/EPER strategy and ensure coherence with HEKS/EPER’s approaches, concepts and financial specifications
• Jointly with CD and HEKS Switzerland manages a well-balanced project portfolio, including the selection of strategic and operational partners and/or direct implementation
• Ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the HA programme compliant with all standards and procedures of HEKS/EPER through participative monitoring, evaluation, learning and steering. Include HEKS/EPER’s own or external specialists where needed
• Review projects assembly and implementation, by partner organisations or self-implemented projects, ensuring high quality standards
• Review and support the proposal writing and participate to the approval process
• Advise and assist partner organisations (when the case) with attaining the set project goals
• Ensure together with CD and Financial Director that costs of the HA department are well balanced with the impact/results and volume of the HA projects

Finances

• Share the final responsibility for the HA CO finances and projects according to the FFAG, together with Financial Director
• Ensure tight budget follow up
• Coordinates with the Financial Director and CD the financial flow from HEKS Switzerlans and ECHO
• Coordinate with the Financial Director the quarterly/monthly consolidation and request funds from ECHO contracts
• Ensure annual ECHO audits of HA projects and an appropriate follow-up of audit findings and recommendations
• Ensure an adequate financial risk management, ensuring compliance and anti-corruption policies, together with Finance Director

Acquisition and Fundraising

• Ensure projects funding through ECHO in collaboration with acquisition department from Switzerland
• Proactively engage in fundraising activities, developing a tailored acquisition strategy based on the donor landscape and program needs
• Establish and maintain close cooperation with local and international NGOs, businesses, public authorities, and research institutions for joint resource mobilization in consortia
• Proactivly engages with other HEKS delegation in order to prepare the proposals for the next HIP
• Ensure development of proposals in collaboration with country team and HEKS dellegations, taking into account HEKS/EPER’s quality standards and procedures
• Supervise the quality grant management and reporting compliant with donor requirements done by the Desk Officer

Leadership, Coaching, Human Resources, Security Management

• Implement HEKS/EPER’s mission statement, values, and policies
• Apply a caring and supporting role, creating an atmosphere of open and constructive dialog and coach the staff in their professional development, leading to a high performance
• Lead and supervise the team and ensure compliance to local laws and obligations, the guidelines, and the institutional governance of HEKS/EPER
• Mentor and coach the HA staff in HEKS Romania in the main HA principles, HA operations, HA thematic specificities (including CASH programming), donor management, etc
• Foster an environment that motivates innovation and creativity
• Support in the the recruitment process of new employees of the HA department
• Responsible for informing all HEKS/EPER’s HA staff when they hve to move in the field on the overall security and safety management

Representation, Networking, and Learning

• When appointed or necessary the PMHA can represent HEKS/EPER towards ECHO and meetings related to ECHO, other international stakeholders, consortium
• Encourage networking and exchanges of experience, create connections among partners
• Ensure learning and knowledge sharing in country and contribute to HEKS/EPER’s global cooperation strategy, policy development and learning
• Participate in internal and external events when necessary (GC Forum, Regional Meetings)
• Provide relevant information and communication materials to HEKS/EPER Communications on request and on own initiative

To be successful you bring:

Qualifications and Experience

• Relevant university degree at Master’s level or other relevant experience
• Proven track record of leading teams
• Minimum 5 years’ work experience in the HA sector at senior management level in designing, managing and implementing internationally financed cooperation projects
• Track record in successful acquisition and implementation of internationally funded projects (in consortia, through partner organisations and self-implemented)
• Profound knowledge of HA operations including handling ECHO contracts
• Strong commitment to a Human right based approach
• Proven will and skill to coordinate and to work in cooperation and consortiums with other agencies and state authorities

Skills and Capabilities

• Team leadership and management skills
• Excellent communication, representation and networking skills and interest
• Experience and strong capabilities in strategy development and programme implementation
• Excellent analytical, conceptual and writing skills
• Sound financial management skills
• Working attitude characterized by initiative, integrity, effectiveness, cooperation, participation, and respect
• Sound ICT skills
• Experience in working in fragile contexts
• Available for extended local, national and international travel
• Experience with security management
• EU-passport or Schengen-Visa is necessary
• Mandatory English skills, local language depending on the context

What you can expect from us:

• A national or an international position in Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  – for the internationla position: an EU- or Swiss Passport or a Schengen-Visa is necessary
• Competitive salary package
• An opportunity to make a difference in this world
• An interesting and challenging position with scope for design
• Regular exchange with HEKS Switzerland and the HA project countries
• Duraction 6 months, with possible extension