Support Services Director

Job Posting Organization:
Relief International (RI) is an international non-profit organization that partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change, and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience, and promote long-term health and wellbeing. Established with a mission to provide humanitarian assistance and development support, RI operates in 14 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, employing over 4,000 staff and local volunteers. The organization focuses on Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education, and Livelihoods programming, aiming to create a foundation for community resilience. RI is an alliance of four organizations, including Relief International, Inc., Relief International-France, Relief International-UK, and Relief International-Europe, which operate under a unified leadership structure to enhance operational effectiveness and impact.

Job Overview:
The Support Services Director (SSD) plays a crucial role as a member of the Country Senior Management Team, acting as the principal strategic advisor to the Country Director on various support services, operational performance, compliance, and organizational risk. This position requires providing strategic leadership and oversight across multiple functions, including Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain and Logistics, Administration, Information Technology, and Operational Risk Management. The SSD is responsible for ensuring that effective systems, resources, and internal controls are in place to facilitate quality program implementation, ensure compliance with donor and organizational requirements, manage operational risks, and support the strategic priorities and sustainable growth of the country program. The role emphasizes the importance of support services as strategic enablers of humanitarian and development programming, promoting accountability, service excellence, innovation, continuous improvement, safeguarding, and adherence to RI’s values and ethical standards.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The key responsibilities of the Support Services Director include:

• Strategic Leadership and Senior Management: Contributing to strategic planning, organizational development, risk management, and decision-making as a core member of the Country Senior Management Team. Leading the development and implementation of country support services strategies aligned with RI’s global policies and country strategic objectives. Ensuring timely, efficient, and client-focused support to program operations while maintaining compliance with organizational and donor requirements. Advising the Country Director on operational capacity, organizational risks, compliance requirements, and resource allocation. Driving organizational effectiveness through continuous improvement of systems, structures, and processes.
• Finance Leadership and Compliance: Overseeing all financial management functions, including budgeting, forecasting, accounting, reporting, treasury management, and financial controls. Ensuring compliance with donor regulations, local legislation, RI policies, and international accounting standards. Leading external and internal audits and ensuring implementation of audit recommendations.
• Human Resources Leadership: Providing strategic leadership for all HR functions, ensuring compliance with national labor laws and RI global HR policies. Promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, safeguarding, and ethical workplace practices.
• Supply Chain, Logistics, and Operations: Ensuring procurement, logistics, warehousing, fleet, asset management, and administration functions operate as integrated enablers of program delivery.
• Information Technology and Systems: Managing IT infrastructure, systems security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, connectivity, and digital services.
• Risk Management, Governance, and Compliance: Leading the development and implementation of operational risk management frameworks and ensuring adherence to RI safeguarding, anti-fraud, anti-corruption, ethics, and compliance standards.
• Behavior and Conduct: Demonstrating high standards of integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct while promoting a culture of transparency, respect, inclusion, and responsibility.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Support Services Director position include:

• A Master's degree in business administration, Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain Management, Human Resources, International Development, Economics, or another relevant field.
• Professional certifications in finance, procurement, logistics, HR, risk management, or project management are desirable.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible management experience in humanitarian, development, or complex operational environments, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing multiple support service functions.
• Demonstrated experience managing Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain, Administration, and operational support systems.
• Strong experience managing institutional donor compliance (e.g., ECHO, BHA/USAID, FCDO, UN agencies, and EU-funded awards).
• Proven experience managing audits, compliance reviews, and organizational risk management processes.
• Exceptional leadership, external representation, and team management skills.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in a relevant field such as business administration, Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain Management, Human Resources, International Development, or Economics. Additional professional certifications in finance, procurement, logistics, HR, risk management, or project management are considered advantageous and may enhance a candidate's profile.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible management experience in humanitarian, development, or complex operational environments. Candidates should have at least 5 years of experience in a senior leadership role overseeing multiple support service functions, demonstrating a strong track record in managing Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain, Administration, and operational support systems. Experience in leading organizational growth, change management, and operational transformation initiatives is essential, along with proven experience managing audits, compliance reviews, and organizational risk management processes.

Languages:
Full professional proficiency in English (written and spoken) is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of Arabic or other relevant languages is desirable and may be beneficial in enhancing communication and operational effectiveness within the context of the role.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as requiring enhanced pre-employment checks and due diligence. The role involves travel up to 30% of the time and is categorized under the Management & Leadership Family at level M

• The organization values integrity, adaptability, collaboration, inclusivity, and sustainability, and expects the Support Services Director to embody these values in their conduct and leadership.