Job Vacancy: Desk Officer – Concern Worldwide

Our vision, our mission, and our work are all defined by one goal – ending extreme poverty, whatever it takes. We believe that no-one should have to live in fear that they won’t have a home to sleep in or enough food to feed their children. For over 50 years we have been working with the world’s poorest people towards this goal.

The job: The Desk Officer will be the focal point within the organization for assigned countries, liaising with all directorates/departments in relation to these countries. The Desk Officer will provide advice and management support to country programmes and keep the Regional Director briefed on pertinent issues and changing circumstances as they arise. The Desk Officer will promote strong engagement with Concern’s Grant Management System (GMS) and data integrity.

You will report to the Regional Director and work with Strategy, Advocacy, and Learning (SAL), Emergency Directorate, Public Affairs, Finance, Human Resources, IT and Overseas fields, and the wider Concern team.

The salary is from KES 355,572 to 537,835 (Kenya Grade 9). This is a fixed-term contract.

If you join us, this is what you will be doing:

Programme Support

• Assist the assigned countries in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of country programmes, applying current thinking and best practice and involving Strategy, Advocacy & Learning (SAL) as appropriate in this process.
• Appraise and feedback on all project-related documents within the GMS – i.e. concept notes, proposals and reports, both narrative and financial, assessments, evaluations, reviews, etc.
• Monitor progress and provide inputs towards the development of quality proposals and reports.
• Contribute towards staff training and organizational learning in assigned countries through participation at and facilitation of country level workshops, as required. Train any new country management team members on GMS and support IPD GMS training.
• Support and participate in the development and review of country-specific Strategic Plans.
• Follow up on queries to and from the field with relevant departments – i.e. finance, purchasing/logistics, HR and IT.

Funding

• Contribute to the improvement of the Concern’s Global organizational co-funding portfolio, and to coordinate country funding strategies, including participating in relevant seminars/meetings and liaising with all Concern fundraising offices.
• Ensure all new funding applications are reviewed and properly saved on GMS and add any donor feedback onto GMS
• Finalize donors’ proposals and reports, both financial and narrative, to the highest standards and donors requirements.
• Advise and direct country management in the development of funding strategies for assigned countries.
• Source funding for individual project proposals. Work with Funding Specialists in IFSU when additional support for funding applications is needed.
• Represent Concern to funders as required and to deal with their proposal and report related inquiries.
• Be familiar with & brief colleagues as needed in relation to donor strategy, donor guidelines, formats and processes.
• Update as the GMS, grant records and reporting schedules as required.

Finance

• Assist in the financial management of assigned countries.
• Ensure the accuracy of country budgets, budget revisions and financial reporting packs and ensure they meet the needs, resources, and activities of assigned countries.
• Assist in managing the financial information provided by the field and other sources.
• Work with the Country Finance Controller (CFC) or Country Finance Manager (CFM) to ensure financial details in the GMS are accurate and up to date
• Work closely with the global compliance team to ensure adherence to policies & procedures

HR

• Take the lead on recruitment of staff for assigned countries, including shortlisting, review of video interviews and participating in interviews in collaboration with the HR department
• Ensure pre-departure security briefing and assist the HR department with pre-departure and induction processes.
• In conjunction with the recruitment team agree on the selection of personnel for overseas positions.
• Liaise with the HR department to ensure best practice in all health and safety matters.

Organizational Learning

• Actively participate in cross organization working groups that develop policy and promote organizational learning, both internal and external to the organization, utilizing past experience as appropriate.

Others

• Brief management and other staff as required on current programmes and political, economic and social analysis of assigned countries.
• Run reports with relevant country information in the GMS for use in decision making by RDs
• Support advocacy, communications and development education activities by liaising with relevant departments.
• Ensure all international staff deployments and consultants vising fields are briefed and aware on Security protocol & procedures and Concern’s code of conduct. The role also involves engagement in tracking the Security Incident Reports (SIRT) for each country programme.

Skills you will bring:

• A minimum of three years’ experience in an NGO or similar organization based overseas in a humanitarian or development context
• Educated to a degree level, ideally in a development or humanitarian-related field
• Excellent understanding of development and humanitarian issues
• Strong written and spoken French
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
• Good financial ability and understanding
• Experience and knowledge of donor requirements

Desirable:

• Previous experience in a similar role is an advantage

We encourage all eligible candidates, irrespective of gender, ethnicity and origin, disability, political beliefs, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status to apply to become a part of the organization. Concern is against all forms of discrimination and unequal power relations, and is committed to promoting equality.

If this role sounds right for you, please apply with your CV and cover letter. We will respond to every applicant. Please be aware we may offer positions before the closing date.

If you have any concerns about our recruitment process and need particular assistance – for example if you have a visual impairment or are neuro-divergent – please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.