Position: Manager- Head of Field Operations (HOFO)
No. of vacancies: 1 (One)
Date of Announcement: June 2024
Duration: One Year and Extendable 
Location: Bardibas  
Reports to: Program Director

Core Function: 
Since its establishment in 1997, Habitat Nepal has partnered with 200,000+ families in the Central, Eastern and Western regions to build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. We provide adequate and affordable housing to vulnerable populations, through our collaboration with homeowners and the local government. Partnership with local government is at the heart of our program sustainability and scale and our focused efforts target Madhesh, Sudurpashchim and Koshi provinces of Nepal.

The Head of Field Operations (HOFO) is responsible for the overall management of Habitat Nepal’s East Field Office (With main office in Bardibas and a satellite office in Biratnagar). The responsibilities include providing strategic leadership for program/project operations and management, financial management and talent/team management). In addition, this role involves strengthening partnerships with local communities, local NGOs and local and provincial governments. The HOFO is also responsible for establishing strong mechanisms to execute organizational plans and policies. As the lead of the Program Management team of East Field Office, the HOFO contributes to program design, strategic planning, grant tracking, problem solving, budgeting, partnership management and government liaison. The position directly reports to the Program Director. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Strategic Leadership:

• Lead and facilitate the execution of Habitat Nepal’s Country Strategy 2024-2027 in Madhesh and Koshi provinces in collaboration with provincial and local governments, local partners and communities.
• Facilitate organizational actions for positioning Habitat Nepal as the thought leader in the thematic areas of Land and Housing Rights in integration with disaster risk reduction, climate justice and market system development. 
• Manage day to day operations of Habitat Nepal East Field Office that includes, but not limited to, financial management, talent management, budget monitoring and administrative work. 
• Ensure proper safety measures as prescribed by National Office are adopted for the safety and security of staff and office, while maintaining timely communications with country office security staff.
• Monitor expenditure to ensure that funds are used efficiently and effectively.
• Ensure compliance with donor requirements and organizational policies and procedures.
• Manage the performance of field office staff, including setting annual targets and reviewing staff performance

Build and Influencing Work 

• Strengthen the partnerships with local communities, local NGOs and private sectors to influence the local governments and provincial governments of Madhesh and Koshi to prioritize land and housing rights for the most marginalized populations. 
• Engage in the seven steps planning process and follow up actions with the local governments to make them accountable to invest more on housing rights and land rights. 
• Engage strategically with the provincial governments of Madhesh and Koshi to coordinate with provincial planning commission and other relevant authorities to scale up housing and land rights related plans and programs. 
• Oversee the implementation and monitoring of the Advocacy strategy at the field level  
• Facilitate in designing creative ways, including proper media channels to involve communities, while also strategizing partnership, alliances and networks to build movements around Habitat Nepal’s advocacy agendas, with special focus on land and housing rights, DRR and Climate justice and market system development.  
• Ensure the construction of houses for the most marginalized populations using green construction technologies in coordination with provincial, local governments, NGOs partners, private secors, and communities.   

Program planning, implementation and monitoring 

• Manage, oversee, and ensure the effective implementation of project intervention/activities for the targeted communities and households as per the agreement, workplan and organizational guidelines. 
• Timely reporting to different departments, donors, governments with support from relevant staffs. Regular reports and updates on project progress and implementation issues internally to different departments of central office through line manager/supervisor.  
• Manage partner NGO relationships including sub-grant negotiation, oversight of project implementation by partner organizations as per the signed agreement, timely disbursement of funds to the partner organizations and to ensure the expenditure according to terms and conditions mentioned in the agreement. 
• Facilitate the capacity enhancement of partner organizations, user committees and communities. 
• Ensure partner organizations accountability on program operations, MEAL, safeguarding, communications 
• Facilitate timely information exchange and regular dissemincation and sharing of experiences and best practices among partners and other relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure that all projects properly retain program learning for future projects, and that all information is properly documented. 
• Ensure gender and social inclusion standards are mainstreamed throughout all projects/programs and in our organizational culture. 
• Ensure that monitoring and evaluation findings are used to inform decision-making and program improvements.

Servant Leadership and Team Management:

• Exhibit self-leadership and foster a positive and inclusive work environment that encourages collaboration and innovation. 
• Supervise or Line manage relevant managers, coordinators and other staff and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the organization.
• Manage staff performance, provide managerial guidance, and support team for optimal program/project implementation and their professional growth through coaching and mentoring. Monitor and evaluate the impact of capacity building efforts and make adjustments as needed.
• Resolve conflicts and address issues within the team in a timely and effective manner.

Documentation:

• Ensure that reports are accurate, timely, and meet the needs of stakeholders.
• Use monitoring and evaluation data to inform reporting and highlight achievements and challenges.
• Share reports with relevant stakeholders and solicit feedback for program improvement.
• Document lessons learned from programs and incorporate them into future programming.

Safeguarding
In accordance with its foundational mission principles, Habitat for Humanity International is committed to the highest ethical standards and opposes all forms of discrimination, exploitation, and abuse. We intend to create and maintain a work and living environment that is safe, productive, and respectful for our colleagues and for all we serve.

We require that all staff take seriously their ethical responsibilities to Safeguarding (Child Protection, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Harassment and Abuse) our intended beneficiaries, their communities (especially children), and all those with whom we work. In line with the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, all staff must pass a thorough background screening, police check and will be held accountable for upholding our policies around ethical behavior, including safeguarding and whistleblowing

Managers at all levels have responsibilities to support and develop systems that create and maintain an environment that prevents harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, safeguards the rights of beneficiaries and community members (especially children), and promotes the implementation of Habitat for Humanity’s code of conduct.

Education Qualification and Professional Experience

• Master's degree in international development, Social Sciences, Project Management, or relevant field.
• 5+ years’ experiences at leadership level in development field such as community development, preferably housing, land rights, disaster risk reduction, evidence-based advocacy. 
• At least 3 years demonstrated, substantive experience in a field based managerial role having budget and team management responsibility. 
• Proven experience of coordinating or collaborating with local and provincial governments.
• Experience in designing and leading projects that result in changes within government and/or market systems.
• Track-record of leading successful projects with a high level of organization, integrity, and accountability.
• Ability to work in multi-cultural team environment especially with extremely poor, marginalized, and vulnerable communities. 
• Proven track record of successful program development, fundraising, and partnership building.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with a commitment to building a positive and inclusive work environment.
• Experience working with international non-profit organizations is advantageous.
• Skilled networker who is able to collaborate with NGOs, government entities, private sector actors, etc.
• Project management skills, including ownership over milestones, work plans, and reporting.
• Managerial skills to supervise, mentor, coach Habitat Nepal’s team and implementing partners' team.
• Fluency in English and Nepali, both spoken and written.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills. 

We keep our recruitment process consistent and fair. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified