Slovakia: Desk Officer

Terms of reference: 2015 – OCB - 001

Job title: Desk Officer

Closing date: 15th January 2016
Position to be filled: ASAP
Job location: Bratislava with occasional travel to Prague and field missions (or home-based with travel to missions and OCB)

General presentation of MAGNA:
Magna Children at Risk (MAGNA) is international humanitarian organization whose objective is to provide medical aid to populations in crisis. Magna Children at Risk organizes humanitarian and developmental projects in the context of poverty, disease, conflicts or natural disaster and regardless of ethnicity, religion or nationality of the beneficiaries.
Magna Children at Risk approach is based on reinforcement of capacities of local actors as often as possible, in order to assure the durability and autonomy of care of the beneficiaries.
MAGNA recruits Medical and non‐medical personnel, collects private and institutional funds and raises awareness among the Slovak Public about populations in danger.

General presentation:
Desk Officer as part of the Operational Center Bratislava (OCB) supervises program activities in medical field in assigned countries, provides leadership and vision to the organization’s agenda, and ensure the overall managements and leads the countries strategically. S/he works in close cooperation with other departments for the specific questions of the programs within the programmatic lines of the organization.

Responsibilities:
The desk officer works under the supervision of the Operational Director and directly under Operational Manager and in cooperation with the Financial and Fundraising & Communication Departments.

General Management
• Backstop the daily operations of the country programs to ensure continuance through appropriate response to context changes, mission, program, and beneficiary needs, donor positioning, lessons learned, and best practices
• Updates the country strategy and validate program’s definition as laid out in the proposals and assure that it is coherent with MAGNA operating principles, charter and mandate
• Ensure that all programs are defined and implemented following MAGNA protocols and guidelines and are need based
• Assists in-country teams to provide financial, program development, fund raising, recruitment, logistical and technical oversight, input and supervision
• Provide support to designed missions and ensure that the administrative requirements are fulfilled
• Contributes to the HR identification and participate on field personnel selection and pre/post briefing
• Facilitate compliance with internal and external regulations, all applicable laws, and contractual obligations
• Presents a M&E focal person for the countries, executes assessment missions
• Visit the country missions regularly for management and operational assessment
• Assures problem solving and mitigation as needed
• Elaborates regular narrative and financial reports

Project Management
• Assures the project management via Project Coordinators in the field, assures the communication and updates in all fields
• Ensure compliance with proposals and donors requirements, policies and regulations
• Perform regular program evaluation to ensure that objectives are being achieved and quality is maintained
• Is responsible for timely reporting on projects and transparent financial management in lines with the budget
• Assures archive for the missions and programs
• Reviews expenses reports, project spending and budget versus actual spending
• Assists in new proposals process which may include proposal writing, editing and input, preparation for submission, submission, following through the approval process, and assisting in start-up activities

Representation and fundraising
• Explores funding opportunities for the organization’s projects in assigned countries and with full range of institutional donors
• Maintain substantial relationships with donors and partners (governmental, NGO, and companies) both current and potential
• Prepares annual country reports and provides material for external and internal communication
• Represents and advocates for MAGNA’s programs and strategic vision
• Coordinates the communication between the F&C department and the field
• Provide leadership, guidance and promote professional working relationships with all MAGNA departments to staff members
• Contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organization, in respect of the Code of Conduct

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Master degree in related fields (Public Health, Social Work, International Relations, Business Administration, International Development, etc.) plus 2-3 years of relevant experience required, field experience welcomed
• Familiarity of humanitarian and development donors
• Be initiative and possess strong writing, editing, and organizational skills
• Dynamic with great flexibility and have result based work strategy
• Be attentive to detail
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Openness to work outside of standard working hours specially when on mission
• Languages – English advanced level (French and Spanish are an advantage)
• Ability to work independently, as well as part of a team
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions independently
• Be creative and possess the ability to work with limited resources or difficult environments
• Able to travel (min 25%). While travelling for the missions, the desk officer might be exposed to precarious settings under high security risk, or live in basic conditions

Interested applicants can send only their CV including education, qualifications, contact number and relevant documents: by email to ocb@magna.sk.
The email subject line MUST include in the title of the position to be considered. We thank all applicants for their interest but only short listed candidates will be contacted.
Please ensure that you provide appropriate contact information (e-mail, mobile, etc.) and at least two professional references.