SOS Mediterranee recruits 01 Operations manager

SOS MEDITERRANEE is a civil European rescue association founded in 2015. Facing the humanitarian tragedy and the lack of adequate rescue capacity in the Mediterranean on the deadliest sea migratory route in the world since 2014, a group of European citizens created a maritime and humanitarian association in order to rescue persons in distress at sea, to protect and assist them, as well as to bear witness of the realities and many faces of migration.

Today, SOS MEDITERRANEE is a network composed of four entities (Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland) sharing the same mandate. Search and Rescue (SAR) operations have been carried out since February 2016 in the Central Mediterranean off the Libyan coasts with the chartered ships Aquarius and Ocean Viking. To date over 35.000 people have been rescued by SOS MEDITERRANEE.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

SOS MEDITERRANEE is recruiting a Deputy Search and Rescue Coordinator to contribute on board under the supervision of the Search and Rescue Coordinator to the bridge activities and the coordination of the overall operation in a challenging, highly sensitive and quick evolving European environment.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Working as a member of a diverse team which is committed to humanitarian and maritime search and rescue in the central Mediterranean, the Operations manager contributes to defining SOS MEDITERRANEE’s operational strategy and conducting the Search and Rescue (SAR) operations safely at sea. He/she is assisting the Direction of Operations to pilot the management of the Operations at sea in a challenging, highly sensitive and quick evolving European environment.

The Operations manager is seconding the main focal person onshore for the SAR Coordinator onboard and he/she assists the SAR Coordinator in the management and implementation of SOS MEDITERRANEE’s humanitarian SAR mission. According to the priorities defined by the Deputy Director of Operations, he/she is contributing to the management of the various aspects of the SAR mission in the Mediterranean Sea. He/she contributes to the response, observation, adaptation, monitoring and evaluation of the SAR project at sea. He/she ensures that operational matters are dully coordinated onshore to support the operation at sea.

Context analysis and strategic positioning: 

• Assists the deputy Director of Operations in monitoring and analysing the humanitarian, political, maritime and socio-economical context of intervention

• Assists in the development, review and implementation of the strategy, including the timely identification of relevant needs as well as appropriate operational response
• Contributes to prepare the development of a short-term, mid-term and long-term strategy for SOS MEDITERRANEE’s humanitarian SAR project.
• Propose new operational orientations with respect to context evolutions

Humanitarian Search and Rescue programme management:

• Is the focal point onshore for the SAR Coordinator and as such the main point of entry for ship related issues for the operation department onshore and the other way round.
• Is in direct contact with the SAR Coordinator to take decisions on navigation and SAR related matters
• Checks and supervises emails sent by the bridge to the relevant maritime authorities and supports the bridge in drafting, adjusting emails to requests and situations.

• Assists the direction of operation to manage crisis situations and to respond to non-routine requests from Maritime authorities
• Proposes bridge composition and planning to the direction of operation
• Updates all groups of discussion and makes sure operations related information ship/shore is communicated in a a fluid manner
• Liaises and coordinates with other SAR NGOs onshore teams for operational matters
• Participates with the SAR Coordinator and under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Operations in elaborating, implementing, monitoring and adapting operational decisions to the operational constraints.

• Assists the deputy directors of Operations to the elaboration of operating procedures, position papers and other tools necessary to the conduct of SAR operations
• Guarantees coherence and quality of the operations ongoing with the established framework, procedures and strategy and suggest adjustments where necessary
• Coordinates the technical and logistical needs for the SAR operations in collaboration with the operations team members
• Is responsible for preparing, coordinating with all relevant managers and updating the planning of rotations, under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Operations
• Is responsible for preparing from shore, coordinating with all relevant services internally and externally the organization of port calls.

Team management:

• Supports the SAR Coordinator in providing leadership and appropriate management for an effective team making onboard
• Ensures part of the staff debriefing after a rotation and participates to the consolidation of lessons learnt
• Makes sure that the crew is complete and dully validated internally
• Helps building and maintaining a team dynamic allowing the good realization of the objectives of SOS MEDITERRANEE

• Is in charge of ensuring good and fluid internal communication and information sharing between ship and shore and raise concerns when and to whom appropriate.
• Participates to the proper application of HR policies and associated processes  in order to ensure both the sizing of the team and the amount of knowledge required for the project activities.
• Participates or leads the kick off meeting before departure of a rotation
• Is attentive to the personal and professional balance of employees onboard and the maintenance of an adequate working and living environment

Communication

• Validates the tweets related to the operations as ship focal point
• Assists the Direction of Operation and the communication manager in defining communication products and messages related to the operation

Security:

• Assists the Director of Operations in the management of security and initiates critical incident response if/when these occur
• Contributes under the supervision of the Director of Operations to the review, update, implementation of, and adherence to the Security Plan.
• Ensures timely reporting, analysis and follow up of security incidents and the continued security awareness among staff
• Monitors the implementation of the security framework and ensuring the understanding thereof within the mission, informing the SAR Coordinator on potential security risks, incidents and context changes

Representation and partnerships

• Participates in the institutional representation of SOS MEDITERRANEE, in particular for operational SAR matters

Reporting and internal coordination

• Participates in events and internal / external meetings
• Updates on ship operations whe he / she is the focal point
• Participates in institutional and Donor reporting

Expériences / Formation

Background

• Degree or related experience in humanitarian project management
• Asset : Maritime degree of bridge officer and/or demonstrated experience in SAR technics and tactics  
• Asset :  Knowledge and understanding of ship management structures and practices, charter parties and related issues 

Languages

• Fluent in English, both written and spoken
• Other languages a plus : French, Italian, Arabic, German

Management and Leadership

• Proven management skills and experience
• Experience in working a multi-cultural environment
• Ability to work in an international structure with a strong civil mobilization and many volunteers 
• Readiness to take decisions and assumes responsibilities 

IT

• Familiarity with MS Office and skilled in the use of ICT

Interpersonal skills

• Committed to the vision, mission, and values of SOS MEDITERRANEE.
• Self-motivated, enthusiastic, autonomous
• Team building spirit
• Good interpersonal and conflict resolution skills
• Ability to develop, coach, and support other team members
• Adaptability
• Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels
• Ability to cope with uncertainty and frequent change of plans

Salaire

Terms of contract

• Fixed-Term contract until 31/12/2023
• Position based in Marseille or Home-Based depending on profile
• Annual gross salary: 37 000 – 43 000 K EUR depending on experience

Comment postuler

Please send your application (CV and cover letter) in English by email to recrutementsosmedfr@sosmediterranee.org and indicate “Application Operations Manager” as the subject of the email.

Kindly note that no information will be given by telephone.

When you apply for a job, we collect and store your personal data within our recruitment department for the administrative management of applications and the recruitment process. The purpose of the information requested as a candidate for employment is to assess the professional qualities and skills of your application, to the exclusion of any other purpose. The legal basis for this processing is to obtain your consent and for pre- contractual measures for the employment contract. If your application is successful, this data will be kept for the duration of your contract. If your application is not successful, this data will be deleted immediately unless you advise us otherwise. In accordance with the French Data Protection Act of 6 January 1978 and European regulations, you may access your personal data, rectify it, request its deletion or exercise your right to limit the processing of your data. You can request more information and exercise your rights at any time by contacting SOS MEDITERRANEE – France CS 20585 // 13205 Marseille Cedex 01 – France. rgpd.fr@sosmediterranee.org