Head of Portfolio – Human Rights At Trócaire

Description
Trócaire works in partnership with local and church organisations, supporting communities in over 20 developing countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East to bring about lasting change. Trócaire envisages a just and peaceful world where; people’s dignity is ensured and rights are respected; basic needs are met and resources are shared equitably; people have control over their own lives; those in power act for the common good.

We are a social justice organisation working in partnership with local development and humanitarian actors, to support people and communities to tackle the root causes of poverty, injustice and violence and to use their own power to create positive and lasting change.

The role is responsible for providing effective leadership and strategic direction to a group of countries, through line management of, and support to 4 Country Directors and their teams and a Programme Manager for Occupied Palestinian Territory & Israel. The role is responsible for ensuring that the countries in the Human Rights portfolio develop strategically in line with organisational policy, procedures and guidelines.

The countries in the Human Rights portfolio are: Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe and Occupied Palestinian Territory & Israel programme.

For the candidate with the required experience and passion for the role, Trócaire offers a competitive package of salary and benefits.

Reporting to the Director of International, this is a contract of indefinite duration and the role can be based in any Trócaire Office with regular travel to programme countries as outlined and other locations as required. The incumbent will manage a team of 4 Country Directors and 1 Programme Manager.

Safeguarding Programme Participants-Children & Adults Trócaire is committed to Safeguarding people within our programmes from Exploitation and Abuse and has specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct) which outlines the expected behaviour and responsibility of all staff, consultants and other organisational representatives. Any candidate offered a job with Trócaire will be expected to sign Trócaire’s Safeguarding Policies and Global Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.

Key Duties & Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
• Contribute to the development, implementation and review of a clear vision for the Human Rights portfolio ensuring strong country engagement.
• Support Country Directors and the teams with the implementation and review of country strategies which are in line with global organisational objectives and which respond to the local context.
• Monitor the external environment in which Trócaire operates to ensure that the work of the portfolio remains relevant and strategic.
• As a key member of the management team of the International Division, contribute to policy and decision-making to guide and strengthen the work of the division.

Country Operations and Human Resource Management
• Work with Country Directors and other relevant functions across the organisation to ensure that the human, financial and technological resources required to meet strategic and operational objectives are in place for the Human Rights portfolio of countries.
• Line manage Country Directors and foster a high-performance culture of team-working and mutual support and resilience supported by strong performance management.
• Ensure that Trócaire attracts and retains high calibre national and international staff across the countries by ensuring a sense of clear purpose to all staff, role clarity, development opportunities and competitive packages, in line with Trócaire policy and in coordination with HR.
• Create a working environment which is positive and inclusive, and delivers empowerment and accountability of all managers and staff.
• Pay particular attention to increasing equality, diversity and inclusion in country operations.

Programming
• Coordinate cross organisational support from the International Division and Corporate Services Division for countries in the portfolio.
• Engage with the Heads of Development Programmes, Humanitarian Programmes, Programme Impact and Learning and the Grants and Partnership Funding Units to ensure effective delivery of programme support and learning.
• portfolio and identify opportunities for engagement on policy and practice.
• Support Country Directors and their teams within this portfolio to identify opportunities for cross-country linkages in relation to development programming, research and learning and facilitate these as appropriate.
• Ensure the countries in the Gender and Climate Portfolio have joined up effective programmes that clearly contribute to organisational objectives and deliverables; and that Country Directors demonstrate results achieved in development programming using Trócaire processes and systems.
• Ensure countries within this portfolio have up to date emergency preparedness and capacity to respond.

Security & Risk Management
• Ensure all CDs understand and implement Trócaire Security Policy & Guidelines, and that these are reflected in Country Security Plans and Visitor Briefings.
• Maintain an overview of the key risks facing countries in the portfolio through working closely with the country teams and the Global Security Adviser.
• Participate in organisational security-related initiatives as required (including both crisis management and ongoing security management processes).
• Ensure Country-level Risk Registers are up to date and regularly reviewed.

Institutional Funding
• Support CDs to drive an increased focus on access to and use of institutional funds to support and expand quality work across the portfolio of countries.
• Support the CDs in developing strategic approaches to Institutional Funding and in holding annual reviews of IF strategy.
• Support the country and organisational strategic IF agendas through networking, representation and communications with key donors and stakeholders.
• Maintain an overview of IF-related risks and how these are being managed across all countries in the region.

Financial and IT Management
• Review annual country budgets with each CD and ensure they are in line with organisational policy and guidelines.
• Ensure that all CDs are familiar and ensuring compliance with organisational policies around governance and administration: e.g. Financial Management; Procurement; Partner Contract management etc.
• Ensure that all CDs are familiar with and implement Trócaire policies on corporate governance, including compliance with national laws relating to registration, taxation, audits etc.
• Ensure awareness among managers of policies and instruments such as Trócaire’s Fraud, Corruption and Bribery and Whistle-blowing Policies, and ensure these are actively implemented at country level.
• Ensure that all CDs are familiar with and ensuring compliance with Trócaire’s information management systems (including programme and project approval information on Salesforce/Agresso.

Representation and Communications
• Support CDs to understand and implement the expectations of the organisation in relation to their role in representation, communications and advocacy at country level.
• Work with the CDs and Head of Policy to develop strong country-specific advocacy strategies and with the wider portfolio to develop and work on the key policy issues related to Human Rights programming.
• Represent Trócaire in Ireland and internationally on issues related to Trócaire’s Human Rights portfolio, including meeting stakeholders, networking, supporting Trócaire’s online profile and carrying out media interviews.

Behavioural Competencies
in Line with Trócaire’s Competency Framework
• Leading: Reflecting our values of Participation & Accountability, acts to inspire and lead others to achieve their potential, demonstrating Trócaire’s values with integrity in order to achieve our organisation’s objectives.
• Communicating: Reflecting our value of Participation, being one organisation, communicating clearly and transparently across, teams, units, divisions, locations and other external organisations. Getting our message across with impact.
• Collaborating: Reflecting our values of Participation & Solidarity, partnering effectively as One Trócaire organisation and, in solidarity, maintains positive relationships built on trust and respect.
• Stewardship of Resources: Reflecting our value of Accountability and decision-making around the best use of resources. Using our resources transparently, sustainably, ethically, fairly & with integrity; acknowledging Trócaire’s reputation in the use of resources.
• Delivering Results: Reflecting our values of Accountability & Perseverance, getting a quality job done through effective performance, planning and decision making.
• Continual Improvement & Learning: Reflecting our values of Participation & Courage, constantly looking to learn and develop self, employees, and partners to better fulfil Trócaire’s’ mission.
• Flexibility & Change: Reflecting our values of Participation & Courage, adapts positively to change and to different ways of doing things; manages or takes part in change processes in a way that is appropriate to role in the organisation.

Person Specification – Essential Requirements
(E) Qualification • Third level qualification in Development or related field of study.
(E) Experience • A minimum of five years’ experience at a senior management level including the management of development and humanitarian programmes.(admin, finance, HR management, security management etc.).
• In-depth understanding of programming in a partnership model.
• Sound and up to date knowledge of development concepts, methodologies and techniques, including results-based management, rights based approach and participatory methodologies.
• Demonstrable experience of Human Rights programmes with experience of humanitarian responses.
• Demonstrable experience of working to attract institutional donor funding and of managing large and complex donor grants.
• Solid experience of managing teams in a multi-cultural environment and playing a leadership role in ensuring cohesiveness, inclusion and development of staff at all levels.
(E) Skills • Excellent leadership skills.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and to develop and implement clear organisational strategies and programmes.
• Demonstrated ability in building and maintaining High Performing teams. Ability to motivate staff to align behind a shared vision and objectives.
• Excellent interpersonal, relationship management skills, and demonstrated ability in using these with internal & external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage security in challenging environments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and financial systems across multiple countries.
• Communication and Influencing Skills (including written, verbal and presentation skills, emotional intelligence, and teamwork/collaboration).
• Demonstrated ability to operate under pressure and to maintain personal resilience in a demanding role.
• Fluent Spanish both written and oral.
(E) Qualities • A strong commitment to a social justice agenda.
• Understanding of and an empathy with the role of the Catholic Church in development and humanitarian work.
(E) Other • Ability and willingness to travel internationally.
• Flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing contexts.