THE ROLE:

Reporting to the Deputy Program Director, the Regional Manager MEA provides operational and strategic oversight for the effective representation and implementation of the Australia Assists program in the Middle East and Africa. The role has significant high-level representation and partnership engagement responsibilities as well as deployment management and operations in the region. These include engaging to establish and maintain partnerships with UN agencies, DFAT Posts, and identified government, intergovernmental, Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s) organisations and will have day-to-day responsibility for the planning, implementation and ongoing engagement with these stakeholders in support of Australia Assists activities. The Regional Manager holds the responsibility for liaison with program host organisations, facilitating smooth operations, ensuring safety and security and enabling optimal deployee performance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with a variety of multilateral and Government stakeholders.
• Feed into Annual planning informed by current trends and a refreshed approach to prioritisation of partners and deployments to align with Australia Assists’ updated theory of change and the new Australian Humanitarian Policy.
• In collaboration with the Program Director, Deputy Program Director and Partnerships Lead, initiate conversations with partner agencies (initially focussed on those most relevant to Phase II EOPOs).
• Play a strategic role in developing thematic priorities for the MEA for annual planning process.
• In collaboration with the Deployments Manager, lead in the coordination of the deployment lifecycle in the Middle East and Africa, ensuring efficient engagement, safe deployment, performance monitoring, and effective partner support, and incorporating GEDSI, CCDR, localisation and capacity strengthening objectives, in line with the Prioritisation Framework.
• Work with the Risk Manager to update the program risk register, liaise with host organisation security focal points, contribute to higher threat risk assessments and implement these mitigation strategies.
• Arrange mobilisation activities, including partner meetings, security briefings, medical clearances, uniform and equipment issue, psychosocial support, and travel arrangements.
• Serve as the key point of contact for deployees, providing consistent end-to-end logistics and support through Deployee Support Services throughout their deployment including hosting of events online or in person.