WEWORLD sta selezionando un/a Head of Support Services Sahel da inserire nella sua operatività in Burkina Faso e Mali. Durata 12 mesi. Tipo contratto: Co.co.co. Scadenza candidature 06/06/2026

Position: Head of Support Services Sahel

Reporting Relationship: Country Representative

Location: TBD

Deadline: 06/06/2026

Starting date: ASAP

Family duty station: NO

R&R: YES

Contract Type: Expatriate (International)

Working context

In Northwest Africa, as in all the areas where we operate, we stand alongside communities, providing support where it is most needed and building sustainable, long-term development.

In Sahel, WeWorld operates in both Mali and Burkina Faso in complex and high-risk contexts, delivering humanitarian and development programmes.

In Mali (since 2019) responds to insecurity, displacement, climate vulnerability, and limited access to basic services. It works with authorities and partners across sectors such as WASH, food security, protection, education, livelihoods, and nutrition, managing projects funded by major institutional donors (e.g. ECHO, AICS, UN agencies). Strong internal controls, risk management, and adaptive planning are essential, with the Head of Support Services ensuring efficient, compliant, and well-aligned support functions.

In Burkina Faso, where WeWorld started in 1985 and resumed activities in 2012, the focus is on women’s empowerment, emergency response, support to displaced populations, and strengthening community resilience. Interventions cover food security, nutrition, protection, and local development, with operations in Soum, Oudalam, and Kadiogo provinces and offices in Ouagadougou, Djibo, and Gorom Gorom.

Purpose of the Role

The Head of Support Service will be responsible for the management of all support services departments (Logistics and Procurement, Finance and HR) for the administrative management of the projects funded by different donors. Their responsibilities include financial reports, accounting, verification of supporting documents, procurement, logistics, human resources, planning and budgeting. It is required to work in close cooperation with the Management Team and the Country Representative.

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

General Administration

• Reports to the Country Representative and receives technical guidance from the relevant Regional Managers, as needed.
• Directly supervises HR and Procurement&Logistics departments and acts as the Finance Lead for the mission, holding primary responsibility and accountability for all financial management aspects.
• Ensures that all deliverables and deadlines related to grants, contracts, vendors, partners, and internal procedures are delivered on time and in compliance with organizational standards and donor requirements.
• In collaboration with the Country Representative and Regional Managers, defines strategic priorities, sets departmental goals, and develops and oversees the implementation of departmental development plans.
• Ensures proper archiving and safeguarding of HR, Finance, and Procurement & Logistics documentation, in line with WeWorld policies and in coordination with HQ.
• Fosters effective collaboration and communication with internal and external stakeholders, including partners, donors, authorities, vendors, technical working groups, and community representatives.
• Oversees the development, update, and dissemination of internal regulations and mission-wide policies, ensuring staff awareness and adherence.
• Ensures that all mission operations comply with applicable legal, administrative, and organizational requirements.
• Advises and supports the Country Representative in strengthening internal controls, policies, and procedures at mission level.
• Ensures that managed departments (HR, Procurement & Logistics, and Finance) are adequately resourced and staffed with the necessary competencies to effectively deliver their activities, and proactively identifies and implements solutions to address any gaps, in accordance with the Country Representative and the regional/technical advisors.

Processes

• Ensures that key policies and SOPs guiding the support departments are developed and/or regularly updated as required and appropriately adapted to the context.
• In coordination with the Country Representative, Program Team and the Management Team, supports the creation of interdepartmental coordination mechanisms, to ensure smooth and effective communication and cooperation.
• Ensures that a proactive link between support services and program departments is established and well-functioning.
• Designs support services routines, procedures, and systems to increase efficiencies and grants a smooth collaboration and communication between support departments.
• On a regular basis, audits the support services processes and procedures, to highlight flaws and pressures, implements or strengthens systems of oversight and prevention of corruption and mitigate relevant risks.
• Ensures that recommendations for improvements related to support departments are implemented in a timely manner.
• Ensures that organizational tools and systems are in place, properly maintained, and regularly updated to support planning, coordination, and reporting.

HR and Staff Management

• Ensures that all the support services’ staff is regularly informed and trained in internal policies and procedures, providing tailored training plans when needed.
• In coordination with the Management Team, collects and analyses training needs for the national staff, and proposes tailored capacity buildings, based on the available resources.
• In coordination with the Country Representative, monitors and ensures adequate preparation and competence of Finance, Logistics & Procurement and HR teams and proposes changes when needed.
• Participates in analysing staffing needs & costs, compensation & benefits, and performance review practices.
• Supervises compliance with all WeWorld employment regulations relating to payroll, health insurance, work insurance, employee benefits.
• Supervises the recruitment of national staff, ensuring transparent and compliance processes.

Finance and Budget Management

• Acts as the Finance Lead at mission level, ensuring full ownership of financial management, compliance, and strategic financial planning.
• Ensures that accounting is accurate, complete, and regularly monitored, in line with internal and donor requirements.
• Leads the budgeting, financial planning, and forecasting of programs, in close coordination with the Programme and Coordination teams.
• Is accountable for budget monitoring, identifying risks of over/under-spending and ensuring timely corrective actions.
• Ensures that all financial reports (internal and donor) are validated, accurate, and submitted on time.
• Is accountable for country-level financial tools, including staff core budgets, logistics budgets, and project budgets.
• Ensures proper cash flow management and treasury planning, guaranteeing financial coverage for all operational needs (salaries, suppliers, activities, etc.).
• Oversees and validates the cost allocation methodology, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and compliance.
• Leads the financial aspects of audits and expenditure verifications, ensuring preparedness, coordination, and follow-up on recommendations.
• Guarantees compliance with donor regulations (ECHO, AICS, UN, etc.) and internal policies, acting as the main focal point for financial risk management.

Procurement and Logistics

• Ensures the implementation and the application of Procurement Procedures in accordance with WeWorld Global Procurement Manual and Donor Guidelines from planning through to completion.
• Oversees logistics operations ensuring compliance with WeWorld Global Logistics Manual and Donor Guidelines, with particular focus on assets management, fleet management, warehouse and stock management and Base management.
• Ensures that Procurement and Logistics tools are properly in place and used at Country level and reports are accurately prepared in required format and submitted in a timely manner, in line with WeWorld requirements for both internal and external purposes.

Audit and Compliance

• Supervises the preparation of expenditure verifications and audits, ensures a proper involvement of finance, Logistic & Procurement, and HR departments during the audit performance and ensures a proper collaboration between different support services and the Program Department.
• Supervises the activities needed to produce internal and external/donor assessments, such as due diligences, capacity assessments, internal and external audits.

The duties and responsibilities set forth above are not exhaustive and the role-holder may be required to perform additional duties requested by the Line Manager.

Provide a proper handover before the end of the assignment.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Degree in Economics, Political Science or related fields
• Good knowledge of the policies and procedures of major international donors (EU, AICS, UN, etc.)
• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office, especially Word, Excel and Outlook
• Fluency in written and spoken in French and English

Professional experience

• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in finance management within the humanitarian sector, with at least 3 years in a management role
• Previous experience in administrative and financial management of emergency and development projects with institutional donors (e.g., UN agencies, ECHO, AICS, etc.)
• Experience in budget and procurement management, compliance, and donor reporting

Skills and Abilities

• Planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Organization and teamwork skills
• Ability to support and train staff to enhance skills
• Proactive and dynamic attitude
• Ability to adapt and work under constraint, under pressure and in complex and multicultural contexts
• Good listening and communication skills
• Positive attitude to work, self-reflective, motivated, inspired, collegial
• Strong commitment to the Mission of WeWorld
• Demonstrates integrity with regards to NGO values and ethical standards
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

• Knowledge of Italian is an asset
• Experience in remote management
• Previous experience in the Sahel

WHAT WE OFFER

Type of contract: a first 6 (six) month collaboration contract subject to verification of the achievement of specific objectives (these objectives will be agreed together with the Line Manager upon arrival on assignment); a second collaboration contract of 6 (six) months renewable, following the positive evaluation of the first six months of contract and the availability of budget

Economic conditions: to be defined according to WeWorld Expatriates Compensation Policy: Base Salary (seniority/role held) + Contributions (role complex, hardship and housing based on place of work)

Annual leave: 2,5 days/month (working days)

Flight ticket: one return flight every 12 months of contract

Health insurance: covered

R&R Policy: 5 days every 12 weeks, an allowance of 1.000€ is provided

How to apply

Send CV and Cover Letter to: https://weworld.intervieweb.it/jobs/head-of-support-services-sahel-704004/it/

The recruitment process may be closed early if a suitable candidate is found. Due to the large number of applications, we apologise in advance and will only respond to those profiles deemed suitable for the role.