I. Job Summary:  

Who are we?

As a global leader, CARE is shaping the future of the humanitarian and development sector. Each year, we deliver support and services to millions of people in over a hundred countries. We do this by focusing on our mission and living the values that drive our organization. A career at CARE is an opportunity to be part of a movement that brings communities together to solve complex problems and foster lasting change throughout the world. We seek individuals who are passionate about humanitarian and development work, collaborate well with others, embrace learning and innovation, and deliver results.

What it’s like to work at CARE?

CARE is a mission-driven international humanitarian aid and development organization that offers an opportunity to work with people across the world. Not a day will go by that you won’t learn something profound, meet an expert, or write a sentence that can change a life. We are committed to an environment where everyone can succeed.

Scope of the Role:

Reporting to the Director-Humanitarian & Resilient Future program and as a Senior Management Team (SMT) member of the CARE Bangladesh Cox’s Bazar Regional Office , the Deputy Head of Cox’s Bazar Regional Office is responsible for providing oversight and leadership to Rohingya Refugee Response program operation ensuring program quality and accountability. S/He also responsible to oversight the day to day operation and program support functions of the Regional Office.

The post holder will line manage and closely work with Program/project managers, Sector Leads to direct the implementation of the Refugee Response (RR) Program strategy in the field, ensuring that CARE’s intervention is timely, effective, and relevant to the needs of the refugees. S/he also matrix line manage the Finance, HR and Program support with coordinately relevant Department Heads in Dhaka. The incumbent will ensure that a gender focus is incorporated into all aspects of programming. The incumbent will oversee resource management and fundraising in coordination with the RM team at Dhaka and Director-H&RF program.

S/he will be providing training, mentoring and capacity building especially for line manages and second line leadership positions and potentially for partner agencies as well. Particular attention will be given to the financial and administrative responsibilities of program staff so as to ensure efficiency and compliance. S/he will manage day-to-day communication with field implementation teams and provide general guidance on field activities implemented by program staff and/or partners.

The post holder will also maintain/strengthen external relations, communication, coordination with Cox's based donors and government, as well as positioning of CARE in relevant sector under Rohingya Coordination Platform (RCP) as leading on quality, accountability and gender equity. Also oversight the program support and ensure to fulfill all compliance.

II. Responsibilities and Tasks:  

% of Time

Responsibility # 1: Program Management And Implemetation

35%

• Ensure all sectors, grants, and projects are aligned with the country and response strategies, and that sectoral activities are implemented in a coordinated and integrated manner.
• Lead CARE’s representation with relevant programme stakeholders in Cox’s Bazar, ensuring effective information exchange to enhance coordination and the quality of sectoral programming.
• Lead, coordinate, and work closely with the Country Resource Mobilisation and Programme teams to support resource mobilisation and deliver programme impacts in line with response strategies and plans.
• Ensure efficient budgeting and budget-tracking processes, and inform the Director – Humanitarian & Resilient Futures Program of forthcoming funding opportunities and challenges.
• Ensure cost proposals are aligned with CARE policies and donor requirements, and negotiate with donors as needed.
• Ensure practices, procedures, and processes within Cox’s Bazar align with CARE’s financial, administrative, HR, procurement, and Go/No-Go policies. Lead the programme team to ensure the highest performance standards.
• Support an environment of learning for programme staff. Oversee the day-to-day operation and management of the programme, including effective programme implementation and documentation, to progress towards the achievement of outcomes, impacts, and sustainability.
• Support the team in managing partnerships with local and international partners based on partnership principles, ensuring effective capacity building, cross-learning, and communication.
• Lead contingency planning processes for any impending hazards and support Programme Managers in taking appropriate preparedness measures to mitigate risks and support refugee and host community beneficiaries.
• Allocate adequate human, financial, and material resources to the programme based on needs, ensuring that resources comply with CARE and donor regulations.
• Ensure sufficient priority is given to gender mainstreaming and inclusion, as well as the development of a standalone gender programme.
• Keep the Director – Humanitarian & Resilient Futures Program and DCD-P advised of changes and threats to the security of CARE staff, assets, and operations. Ensure all staff understand their individual and collective responsibilities for safety and security. With the support of the Director-Humanitarian & Resilient Futures Program and DCD-P, liaise with the Security Manager to ensure compliance with CARE Security Guidelines and their effective application in the local context.

Responsibility # 2: General Management And Leadership

30%

• Establish and maintain constructive working relationships with other NGOs, UN agencies, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other key stakeholders, including the government.
• Establish proper programme documentation, including programme records, models, and lessons learned, to maintain organisational memory.
• Recommend changes to the emergency programme team composition and functioning within the Country Office and with partners to maximise the quality and effectiveness of the emergency programme.
• Provide dedicated effort to create conditions that ensure effective teamwork and staff morale. Assess staff well-being needs and recommend appropriate measures.
• Conduct performance appraisals of programme staff and ensure regular feedback and mentoring on individual performance. Ensure programme staff understand the financial and administrative components of their duties.
• Support the Director – Humanitarian & Resilient Futures Program to ensure that the Country Director and other senior Dhaka staff are kept informed of progress in emergency response implementation and strategies, project plans, progress reports, and other significant developments.
• Monitor the operational environment and increased level of threats, and advise the Director – Humanitarian & Resilient Futures Program and other relevant staff overseeing Program Support functions (Finance, Administration, HR, Fundraising, Logistics, Procurement, and other support teams) through matrix management to develop efficient systems that improve programme effectiveness and overall compliance.
• Promote a productive work environment and CARE values, with respect for the Code of Conduct and Zero Tolerance for verbal or physical abuse or discrimination against others on the grounds of race, colour, sex, or creed.
• Promote a culture of respect and adherence to rights-based approaches, and ensure a results-oriented approach to planning and implementation.
• Establish a culture and systems for excellent reporting to CARE, donors, and government.
• Establish and monitor effective interaction between Cox’s Bazar and Dhaka Program Support teams.
• Promote a clear understanding and application of GEDI and PSHEA principles within the office and among stakeholders.
• Ensure comprehensive understanding across teams of statutory regulations, as well as internal standards and systems for promoting and tracking compliance.

Responsibility # 3: External Relations, Communication, Coordination, And Policy

10%

• Oversee the development of systems to effectively manage the complex donor portfolio, meeting statutory requirements, as well as pro-actively engaging, to develop trust.
• Oversee and engage directly in the management of sensitive government relations.
• Play an active role in senior coordination forums at Cox’s Bazar level, as well as strengthening the capacity of other staff to engage at technical levels.
• Support Director – Humanitarian & Resilient Futures Program to put strategy in place to ensure well coverage of the achievement by Comms, PR, and Media teams.
• Ensure appropriate branding of all Cox programs, including staff's ability to represent the agency.
• Maintain CARE's co-chairing and leadership roles in inter-agency coordination both within and outside the camp. Where possible, promote CARE's visibility and encourage its active participation in inter-agency mechanisms.

Responsibility # 4: Monitoring, Evaluation And Learning & Accountability

10%

• Ensure that the response strategy clearly establishes program performance targets (Impact, Outcome and outputs) and indicates adequate monitoring mechanisms (indicators) for those targets that would be reviewed periodically through response reviews and evaluations.
• Ensure, through the MEAL function, that a comprehensive MEAL framework is developed and implemented for the overall response operation in coordination with the Program Planning, Impact, and Quality (PPIQ) Team.
• Ensure the establishment of effective information management systems that enable cross-sector information sharing, updating, and reporting in coordination with the PPIQ Team.
• Oversee the preparation of monitoring plans and regularly monitor field operations to spot-check the quality of expected outputs and outcomes.
• Oversee the quality of knowledge outputs, products, and materials, and ensure these are widely shared in consultation with the Director – Humanitarian & Resilient Futures Program.
• Oversee the MEAL function and ensure that accountability and quality assurance systems, including information dissemination and community complaints and feedback mechanisms, are established and strengthened.
• Support the MEAL team in developing a strategy for implementing accountability and quality assurance mechanisms, with appropriate work plans and clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Work closely with the PPIQ Team to ensure that MEAL and programme quality drivers are aligned with CI requirements.

Responsibility # 5: Team Building, Staff Supervision, And Capacity Building

10%

• In liaison with HR staff, ensure that staff have adequate opportunities for rest and relaxation and that their well-being is addressed.
• Provide on-the-job training, coaching, and mentoring support to staff to empower and enable them to take greater responsibility.
• Foster a cross-learning culture among sectors and provide targeted capacity-building support to sector leads/managers on humanitarian leadership, quality, and accountability in the refugee response context.
• Provide dedicated capacity-building support to programme budget holders to effectively manage budgets and grants, ensuring financial and contractual compliance.
• Ensure that all emergency programme personnel understand and perform their duties in accordance with humanitarian principles, core values, the Code of Conduct, and SPHERE standards.

General Responsibilities on Safety and Security, and Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults

5%

As part of this role, the job holder must adhere to and support CARE Bangladesh’s Safety and Security policy and systems as part of their day-to-day duties and comply with safety & security protocols and directives, including reporting. Staff must maintain situational and self–awareness and be aware of the safety – security-related consequences of their actions upon themselves, their team, and the organization.

CARE is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity, and financial misconduct, and expects staff to promote the welfare of children, young people, and adults always.  CARE expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our Code of Conduct.  We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate this commitment are recruited to work with us.

All CARE staff must uphold ethical standards, following codes of conduct to prevent abuse, including sexual harassment, exploitation, and neglect. Regular monitoring ensures accountability to uphold these principles and support our mission of social justice and poverty alleviation.

III. Reporting to:  

Director-Humanitarian & Resilient Future program

IV. Working Conditions:  

The position is based at the CARE Bangladesh Cox’s Bazar Regional Office.

V. Qualification:

• Bottom of Form
• Master’s degree in International Development, International Relations, Humanitarian/ Disaster Management, Social Science, or a relevant field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in humanitarian response, including at least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in programme management, leadership, and design.
• Excellent programme development experience, with demonstrated experience working with a range of international donors and strong programme development and fundraising skills.
• Strong grant management experience, with familiarity with diverse institutional, private, and philanthropic funding sources.
• Experience working with partner organisations in humanitarian or development settings.
• Excellent strategic, analytical, systems-thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to see the bigger picture and make sound judgements and decisions.
• Strong managerial experience, including managing multi-million-dollar budgets.
• Experience in complex decision-making and leading multidisciplinary teams under difficult circumstances.
• High level of expertise in representation and negotiation with governments and donors.
• Strong understanding of the humanitarian emergency operating context, including SPHERE standards, the humanitarian system, donors, security, civil-military liaison, and programme management.
• Proven experience in successful resource mobilisation, coordination, and organisational positioning.
• Strong project cycle management skills, including assessment, design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and strategic planning.
• Strong commitment to accountability and social justice, and promoting gender awareness and equality.
• Demonstrated administrative, financial, and personnel management capabilities.
• Familiarity with humanitarian programming and inter-agency coordination systems.
• Experience working in countries affected by conflict or post-conflict contexts is an asset.
• Willingness and ability to remain flexible and adaptable when faced with difficult and challenging working conditions.
• A proven track record of delivering multi-year, multi-site programmes with significant budgets.
• Proven experience in managing integrated programmes and supporting capacity building.