The Opportunity
We are in search of a seasoned Humanitarian Needs Assessment Specialist to enhance the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of needs assessments throughout our humanitarian initiatives.
In this fast-paced position, you will collaborate with Country Offices to develop and execute robust, ethical humanitarian needs assessments in real time, positioning Plan International to create impactful programs, secure essential funding, and address the urgent needs of vulnerable children, with a particular focus on girls.
This position requires extensive international travel and rapid deployment to humanitarian emergencies, frequently on short notice.
Oversee core duties encompassing a range of critical functions, ensuring operational excellence and adherence to established protocols. Develop, implement, and monitor strategic initiatives to enhance productivity, efficiency, and overall performance within the designated scope. Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to align objectives, streamline processes, and foster a cohesive work environment. Provide leadership in project execution, maintaining accountability while ensuring timely delivery and adherence to quality standards. Analyze key metrics, assess progress, and implement data-driven improvements to optimize outcomes. Serve as a primary point of contact for stakeholders, facilitating clear communication and resolving escalated issues promptly. Maintain compliance with organizational policies, industry regulations, and best practices to mitigate risks and uphold accountability.
You will:
Craft user-friendly tools, guidance, and methodologies to conduct rapid and multi-sectoral needs assessments, ensuring they remain effective and accessible.
Incorporate gender, child protection, disability inclusion, and age considerations into every assessment, strictly adhering to Sphere and Core Humanitarian Standard guidelines.
Provide assistance to Country Offices in producing meticulously crafted assessment reports that meet the standards of donors, clusters, and peer organizations.
Design and implement tailored training programs to conduct comprehensive needs assessments, thereby enhancing organizational capabilities.
Collaborate effectively with the MERL and Digital teams to drive the adoption of digital data collection tools while ensuring alignment with monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
Deploy to country offices for periods of up to four consecutive months to provide hands-on support for assessment design and implementation.
Serve as Plan International’s representative in inter-agency coordination forums, including those associated with the IAS.
Support fundraising, advocacy, and influencing teams by converting assessment data into engaging insights and strategic outputs.
Enhance coordination with donor specifications, particularly during HIP cycles when submitting to ECHO.
Compile a yearly comprehensive global assessment highlighting current humanitarian trends and emerging developments.
Uphold the full integration of safeguarding, child protection, and gender equality policies across all operational activities and decision-making processes.
About You
You possess extensive humanitarian experience and excel in dynamic, high-pressure settings. Your strong technical skills and collaborative approach enable you to drive capacity-building initiatives effectively.
Essential experience and skills include a proven track record in project management, with expertise in coordinating cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time and within budget. Proficiency in industry-standard software tools, such as Microsoft Project or Asana, is required, along with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Candidates must possess excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to liaise effectively with stakeholders at all levels. Additionally, experience with budgeting, forecasting, and risk management is highly desirable, as is a solid understanding of agile methodologies and their practical application.
Accomplished in orchestrating or facilitating comprehensive humanitarian needs assessments amid a broad spectrum of emergency settings, particularly those with sudden onset.
Proficiency in conducting gender analysis and embedding protection and inclusion principles within assessment frameworks is essential.
Experienced in designing, developing, and facilitating training programs with a focus on effective knowledge transfer and skill enhancement.
Proficiency in understanding donor expectations and adherence to humanitarian standards, including Sphere, CHS, CPMS, and KNEE, is required.
Proficient in utilizing digital tools for data collection and analysis is required.
Analytical skills are a key requirement, along with the ability to coordinate tasks effectively and prepare detailed reports.
Capable of rapid mobilization and willing to operate effectively in demanding conditions.
Desirable:
Proven involvement in the preparation of funding proposals or donor submissions is required.
Skilled in crafting advocacy or persuasion-focused messaging grounded in analytical insights and assessment outcomes.
Having collaborated with external partner organizations, you possess practical experience in forging and maintaining effective alliances. This involvement includes engaging with diverse stakeholders to achieve shared objectives and enhance collaborative outcomes.
Proficiency in English is essential, with fluency in French, Spanish, or Arabic considered a valuable asset.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
