Desk Officer

Job Title: Desk Officer (French-speaking) – Maternity Cover

Reports to: Regional Director

Terms: Maternity Cover – Fixed Term Contract, 12 months

Salary: €57,683 - €64,092

Requirements: Based in Dublin with potential to travel to countries supported.

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:

The Desk Officer will be the focal point within the organisation for assigned countries, liaising with all directorates/departments in relation to these countries. The Desk Officer will provide advice and management support to country programmes and keep the Regional Director briefed on pertinent issues and changing circumstances as they arise. The Desk Officer will promote strong engagement with Concern’s Grant Management System (GMS) and data integrity.

Responsibilities:

Programme Support

- Assist the assigned countries in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of country programmes, applying current thinking and best practice and involving Strategy, Advocacy & Learning (SAL) as appropriate in this process.
- Appraise and feedback on all project‑related documents within the GMS - i.e. concept notes, proposals and reports, both narrative and financial, assessments, evaluations, reviews, etc.
- Monitor progress and provide inputs towards the development of quality proposals and reports.
- Contribute towards staff training and organisational learning in assigned countries through participation at and facilitation of country level workshops, as required. Train any new country management team members on GMS and support IPD GMS training.
- Support and participate in the development and review of country‑specific Strategic Plans.
- Follow up on queries to and from the field with relevant departments – i.e. finance, supply & logistics, HR and IT.

Funding

- Contribute to the improvement of the Concern’s Global organisational funding portfolio including participating in relevant seminars/meetings and liaising with all Concern fundraising units and offices.
- Ensure all new funding applications are reviewed and properly saved on GMS and add any donor feedback onto GMS.
- Finalise donors’ proposals and reports, both financial and narrative, to the highest standards and donors requirements.
- Advise and direct country management in the development of funding strategies for assigned countries.
- Source funding for individual project proposals. Work with Funding Specialists in the Institutional Funding Support Unit when additional support for funding applications is needed.
- Represent Concern to funders as required and to deal with their proposal and report related inquiries.
- Be familiar with & brief colleagues as needed in relation to donor strategy, donor guidelines, formats and processes.
- Update the GMS with grant records and reporting schedules as required.

Finance

- Assist in the financial management of assigned countries.
- Ensure the accuracy of country budgets, budget revisions and financial reporting packs and ensure they meet the needs, resources, and activities of assigned countries.
- Support in the development and review of proposal budgets, ensuring Regional Accountant review.
- Assist in managing the financial information provided by the field and other sources.
- Work with the Country Finance Controller (CFC) or Country Finance Manager (CFM) to ensure financial details in the GMS are accurate and up to date.
- Work closely with the global compliance team to ensure adherence to policies & procedures.

HR

- Participate in the recruitment of staff for assigned countries, including shortlisting, review of video interviews and participating in interviews in collaboration with the recruiters from the HR department.
- In conjunction with the recruitment team agree on the selection of personnel for overseas positions.
- Ensure pre‑departure security briefing and assist the HR department with pre‑departure and induction processes.
- Liaise with the HR department to ensure best practice in all health and safety matters.

Organisational Learning

- Actively participate in department and cross‑organisational working groups that develop policy and promote organisational learning, both internal and external to the organisation, utilising past experience as appropriate.

Other

- Brief management and other staff and visitors as required on current programmes and political, economic and social analysis of assigned countries.
- Run reports with relevant country information in the GMS for use in decision making by RDs.
- Support advocacy, communications and development education activities by liaising with relevant departments.
- Oversee the selection, vetting and contracting procedures for external consultants.
- Ensure all international staff deployments, secondments and consultants visiting fields are briefed and aware of the assigned country security risks, Security Management Plan and Concern’s Code of Conduct and Associated Policies.
- All staff are responsible for upholding and promoting Concern’s values, including our workplace equality, diversity and inclusion, and safeguarding values.
- All staff are required to participate and contribute as necessary towards Concern’s emergency response as and when required.

Role Holder Requirements:

Essential:

- A minimum of three years’ experience in an NGO or similar organisation based overseas in a humanitarian or development context
- Educated to degree level, ideally in a development or humanitarian related field

- Excellent understanding of development and humanitarian issues

- Experience in proposal development and donor reporting

- Strong written and spoken French and English

- Excellent interpersonal, communication and organisational skills

- Good financial ability and understanding

- Experience and knowledge of donor requirements

Desirable:

- Previous experience in a similar role

- Previous experience with recruitment

Competencies:

Candidates are expected to demonstrate abilities in the following priority competency areas:

- Managing Yourself
- Communication and working with others
- Delivering results
- Planning and decision‑making

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.

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.

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