Job Title:                          Operations Director

Reports to:                       Country Director

Department:                   Management

Terms:                               This is a 24-month, replacement role with non-accompanied terms.

Location:                          Geneina, West Darfur

Salary:                               OS5 – €50,107 - €55,674

Requirements:                The role is based in Geneina, West Darfur with frequent travel between Adre, N'djamena, Port Sudan, the Darfurs and the Kordofans. 

About Concern:               Established in 1968, Concern is a non-profit, non-governmental humanitarian organisation, dedicated to the reduction of suffering and the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

Concern’s vision, our mission and our work are all defined by one goal – ending extreme poverty, whatever it takes. Concern strives for a world free from poverty, fear and oppression.

Our culture is values driven and we believe that our people are central to all that we do and are key to delivering on our goal of Reaching the Furthest Behind First. We are committed to ensuring a workplace where everybody feels valued and are enabled to succeed in their work and contribute to delivering on our mission.

Role Purpose:                  You are a member of the Country Management Team and will lead the effective and efficient delivery of Concern’s programmes by managing the support systems required whilst following Concern Worldwide and donor policies and standards. As OD, you will be the link with Chad OD and Sudan team for all operational matters related to Logistics, Admin, HR & Security.

Responsibilities:

Strategic leadership - as part of the Country Management team

• Oversee the implementation of the country programme’s system related strategic objectives.
• Participate in the development of Concern Sudan’s Country Strategic Plan (CSP) and other strategic frameworks (Preparing for Effective Emergency Response (PEER), Security Management Plan (SMP) etc) in collaboration with all relevant staff and third parties as necessary.
• Support the Programme Director and Country Director in the analysis of potential new programme areas, including ensuring comprehensive analyses of logistical and security issues and appropriate mitigating measures to address them.
• Produce strategic analysis and plans for all systems support areas to strengthen the control environment while delivering fast, effective and efficient support to the programmes and ensure compliance with Concern and donor guidelines.
• In communication with the CD and in association with other INGOS and humanitarian actors, lead and take part in collaborative action where required to ensure effective relations with national and state authorities.
• Take a lead role in ensuring that Concern Sudan adhere to international minimum standards of accountability and quality, through the application of relevant standards and internal documents relating to policies and procedures, most notably the Safeguarding Policy and Associated Policies.
• Represent the operations of Concern in Sudan to the Chadian authorities and within the high-level strategic cross-border groups, jointly with the Chad CMT
• Participate to the coordination mechanisms between the Concern Sudan and Chad teams

Systems Management

• Ensure all of Concern Sudan’s risk management, governance and internal control processes are operating effectively, that internal audits are carried out regularly as per policy and that the audit systems recommendations are implemented.
• Responsible for ensuring timely renewal of registration and compliances with all relevant national legal and administrative requirements
• Reviewing system functions, policies and procedures in all offices and programme locations with periodic monitoring and support visits
• Periodic review of operations organogram in Country office and recommend change to the SMT to ensure effective system function in place to support programme delivery.
• Carrying out regular assessments of logistics, admin, IT and security assessments for Country office and all programme locations to identify gaps and strengthen system functions and establishing systems for new locations and interventions.
• Managing information systems to monitor and report on the effectiveness and efficiency of Admin, HR, IT, transport and logistics
• Drafting of all external contracts to ensure consistency, clarity and minimize liability for Concern.

Administration

• Ensure all international staff have appropriate work permits, visas, travel permits etc which are tracked weekly
• Management of retainer contract with legal services; Together with CD, manage legal cases as they arise
• Establish and maintain utilities and service contracts (power, water, garbage, internet, etc)
• Manage the arrival and accommodation of any and all visitors
• Responsible for ensuring compliance to national and state authority deadlines for registration and report submission
• Submission of technical agreements prepared by the programmes team
• Ensure all UNHAS internal and external flights are managed correctly in accordance with the Travel Requisition Form

Facilities Management

• Line managing the office managers and capacity support of similar staff in other locations.
• Ensuring adequate supplies, staffing and support systems are in place for all Concern’s premises
• Ensuring leases for premises are actively managed and contracts assessed
• Ensuring all issues related to government authorisations are managed proactively.
• Ensure all offices and international staff residences meet security, health and safety standards.

People Management

• Ensuring Concern is fully compliant with national employment legislation and requirements and global HR policies and procedures
• Ensuring staff are trained on Safeguarding and that mechanisms to report and reduce potential for abuse are functioning effectively.
• Overseeing grievance and disciplinary procedures
• Management of Health Care provision for International Staff
• Overseeing the logistics arrangements for visitors
• Leading salary and benefit review processes and ensuring results are analysed and shared with CMT and other staff as appropriate.
• Managing the Health Insurance provision for National Staff.
• Line managing the HR Manager
• Promoting a gender balance at all levels in the workforce.
• Agree target times with CMT for recruitment and ensure these are met.
• Ensuring an effective performance development review (PDR) system is in place and ongoing training is provided to line managers and staff.
• Identifying strategic training needs and prepare a training plan.
• Ensuring each operations team member understands what is expected of them.
• Monitoring and reviewing team performance; giving corrective feedback where required and taking decisive action in the case of poor performance.

Security Management

• Acting as Security Focal Point for Concern Worldwide and liaise with Security Focal Points from each field office.
• Supporting Security Focal Groups in each location and ensure they have the knowledge and information to operate successfully.
• Participate in relevant security fora sharing information as appropriate
• Reviewing and updating of the Concern Worldwide Security Management Plan.
• In collaboration with Chad OD review and update Security protocols for Adre and Crossborder movements and activities.
• Ensuring all new staff and visitors receive thorough security briefings for both Sudan and Adre, Chad.
• Ensuring HEAT training and online security training modules are available to relevant staff

Budget Management

• Preparing administration, IT and transport budgets, national staff costing, and track related expenditure and take corrective measures for over/under expenditures.
• Prepare and Manage the Budget for Cross Border structure (Sudan/Chad)
• Proactive identification of issues for discussion with budget holders and CMT.
• Costing systems requirements for funding applications and ensure VFM principles are applied.
• Identifying all donor-specific system requirements to ensure compliance
• Identifying and implementing potential savings and making recommendations to CMT.

Transport Management

• Ensuring cost effective use of the Concern Worldwide fleet of vehicles.
• Ensuring transport annual planning needs consider the practical use of hired or owned vehicles
• Ensuring accurate and timely transport reports and any recommendations to CMT.
• Spearhead the rollout and implementation of DiRTTrAC for all vehicles (owned and rented)
• Assessing the transport requirements of the country programme on a regular basis and ensuring appropriate solutions are implemented
• Ensuring all offices adhere to the Transport and Fleet Management Policy.

Procurement and Asset Management

• Manage the Logistics Coordinators in Chad and Sudan and ensure support to field logistics team
• Ensuring efficient procurement of goods and services in a transparent and accountable manner, ensuring value for money for the organisation and justifiable use of donor funds.
• Support the programmes team in preparing annual procurement plans for each grant
• Ensuring logistics team prepare quarterly review of procurement plan needs and actions
• Establishing and maintaining a Pre-Qualified Suppliers list
• Training, supporting and checking personnel involved in procurement
• Leading on tendering, contracting and international procurement
• Ensuring a clear, well-documented paper trail in operation files
• Developing a multi-year plan for asset replacement (fleet and IT)
• Managing the fixed asset register.
• Ensuring all stores and assets are managed and accounted for in line with Concern and donor policies.

Information Technology

• Manage the IT Officer and arrange for work to be done by the Regional IT Officer.
• Ensuring Concern’s IT policy and procedures are understood and adhered to by all staff.
• Ensuring provision of effective support systems, enabling the smooth operation of IT systems and management of information on working sites, OneDrive, and organizational platforms
• Developing staff IT capacity, skills and confidence in using common software packages.
• All managers are responsible for upholding and promoting Concern’s values, demonstrating leadership on workplace equality, diversity and inclusion, and role modelling a positive safeguarding ethos.
• All managers are required to actively participate in any emergency response as and when required.

Role Holder Requirements:

• Relevant graduate degree qualification (preferably in Business Administration or Management or Supply Chain Management).
• Specialist knowledge and experience in at least one area of operations is essential.
• Eight years’ experience in an operations/systems position with an international NGO, with minimum two years on a senior position at international level.
• Proven experience in resource planning & budget management.
• Experience in Tendering & contract management.
• Experience of security management in insecure contexts.
• Working with major international donors and grants compliance requirements of major donors (US Government, ECHO, EU, Irish Aid).
• Previous work in a similar context, including emergency response experience.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to motivate others.
• Delegation, time management and prioritizing skills.
• Management of diverse and multi-operational teams.
• Strong ability to utilise IT software packages including MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Fluent oral and written English language skills
• Empathy with Concern’s mission, vision and goals, and our target group.

Desirable

• Arabic and French language skills would be an advantage
• Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa in the field of humanitarian aid and complex crises, preferably in Sudan.
• Previous experience of working with Concern Worldwide and knowledge of their policies and procedures.
• Experience in preparation and management of staff training programs with associated post-training retention metrics and follow up.

Safeguarding competencies:

We also value the following special skills and aptitudes:

• Respectful of security procedures and rules.
• Empathy with Concern’s Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives.
• Knowledge of Core Humanitarian Standards, Sphere and Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS).
• Respectful of local laws and customs.
• Conducts itself in a professional manner.
• Zero-tolerance to sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, human trafficking, child abuse and exploitation. Any violations of these principles and polices will be treated as a serious misconduct.

 

To apply:  CVs should be submitted through our website at https://jobs.concern.net by the closing date.

Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be shortlisted on a regular basis, and we may offer posts 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 neurodivergent - please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.

We encourage all eligible candidates, irrespective of gender, ethnicity or origin, disability, political beliefs, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status to apply to become a part of the organisation. 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 disability e.g. a hearing impairment - please let us know and we will do our best to respond to your needs.

 

Important information:

Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct with three Associated Policies: The Programme Participant Protection Policy, the Child Safeguarding Policy, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy accessible here. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisations, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in their work, in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work or volunteer with adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Consequently, working or volunteering with Concern may be subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking. 

Your Personal Data:

During this job application, you will provide Concern with your personal data. Concern takes its responsibilities towards this personal data very seriously and is committed to complying with all relevant data protection legislation.

For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office.

You have certain rights under data protection legislation. For more information on how to exercise those rights please visit www.concern.net/about/privacy

• Salary:€50,107 - €55,674
• Based in Country:Sudan
• Job Title:Operations Director
• Contract Type:Unaccompanied Fixed Term International Contract
• Annual Allowance:e6,000
• Benefits:see T&C's attached
• Closing Date:8 December 2025