Created in 1991, Secours Islamique France (SIF) is an international non-governmental relief and development organization (NGO). SIF acts in strict neutrality, without distinction of origin, gender or religion, and is dedicated to alleviating the suffering of the world's most deprived populations.
Under the supervision of the DESK Manager, the Head of Mission for Kenya / Somalia will be based 50% in Kenya and 50% in Somalia, and will regularly travel between both missions to ensure effective coordination and oversight. In this capacity, the Head of Mission provides overall leadership and strategic direction for SIF’s operations in both Kenya and Somalia.
Your main responsibilities will be the following (evolving and non exhaustive list) :
Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for SIF operations in Kenya and Somalia, ensuring effective coordination, strategic alignment with SIF global objectives, and continuous monitoring of the humanitarian context to adapt the country strategy accordingly ;
Lead the development and implementation of SIF’s country strategy and programs by overseeing assessments, proposal development, project implementation, donor compliance, and overall program monitoring to ensure relevance, impact, and sustainability ;
Represent SIF with national authorities, donors, UN agencies, and NGOs while strengthening partnerships, promoting SIF’s mission, and ensuring effective communication and advocacy at national and international levels ;
Provide leadership and management to national and international staff, ensuring effective recruitment, performance management, adherence to HR policies, and the development of staff capacities to support mission objectives ;
Ensure effective logistical management of mission operations by overseeing procurement, supply chain, asset management, and logistical procedures in compliance with SIF guidelines ;
Ensure the safety and security of all SIF staff and operations by establishing and maintaining an effective security framework, monitoring the security context, and coordinating with relevant actors to mitigate risks ;
Oversee the financial and administrative management of the mission, ensuring sound budgeting, financial monitoring, accounting systems, and compliance with SIF and donor financial procedures.
Degree required: 5 years' higher education in international cooperation, humanitarian project management or equivalent ;
Minimum Experience : 5 years' experience in the field, including at least 2 years as Head of Mission ;
Management and writing skills, very good contextual analysis skills (security management, humanitarian context, etc.) ;
Mastery of project cycle management tools ;
Ability to work both urgently and on major projects ;
Rigour, professionalism and responsiveness, especially in emergency situations, and the ability to deploy rapidly in the field ;
Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English ( and desirably french) ;
Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office, especially Word and Excel.
Starting date : As soon as possible ;
French fixed term contract : 12 months (renewable after 12 months) ;
Remuneration according to our salary grid ;
Monthly perdiem/guesthouse ;
Health insurance (SIF contributes to 60% of the insurance) ;
Rapatriation insurance (100% covered by SIF) ;
Break allowance during the 3 and 9 month breaks ;
Airfare to and from the mission location to home – paid by SIF at 6 and 12 months.
Secours Islamique France considers diversity a strength. We therefore review all applications, provided they demonstrate the skills required for the position to be filled.
As a humanitarian NGO, SIF is committed to respecting the humanitarian principle of “Do No Harm” and ensures that the safety of our beneficiaries (including children), employees, volunteers, partners, and service providers is a primary consideration in all of its activities.
SIF maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward any form of fraud, corruption, psychological/sexual harassment, abuse or violence of any kind, and, more broadly, any breach of legislation, regulations, the Child Safeguarding Policy (CSP), or the internal code of conduct, both at headquarters and in the field.
In line with these principles, this position is subject to a criminal record check as well as professional reference checks.
Our charter is a genuine commitment: we mobilise all of our staff to promote, share, and uphold the principles set out.
Together, let’s rise to the challenge for a solidarity that transcends differences.