Humanitarian Specialist

About the Role

The Welfare and Self-Reliance (WSR) Department is inviting applications for a permanent full-time Humanitarian Specialist position located at the Pacific Area Office in Auckland, New Zealand. Reporting directly to the Area Humanitarian Manager, this role supports the Church's mission by planning, developing, and assessing humanitarian relief and development programs that foster self-reliance, alleviate suffering, and benefit communities across the Pacific region.

Key Responsibilities

The Humanitarian Specialist will be tasked with designing, implementing, and analyzing programs focused on humanitarian relief, resilience-building, and community development aimed at enhancing the welfare and self-sufficiency of individuals and communities. Responsibilities include providing expert technical guidance, training, mentoring, and strategic aid to field and area managers, country directors, and local partners. Collaboration with government bodies, community leaders, faith-based groups, NGOs, and other stakeholders is essential to ensure program efficacy, accountability, and responsiveness to local needs. The role also involves contributing to needs assessments, program planning, monitoring, evaluation, and capacity building for sustainable outcomes and disaster readiness.

Candidate Qualifications

• A minimum of eight years’ cumulative experience combining relevant work, university education, and professional certifications is required.
• Comprehensive understanding of welfare and self-reliance principles, humanitarian standards, and capability to apply these within a five-year humanitarian strategy to solve complex challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust-based relationships with mid to senior-level Church, organizational, and community leaders, acting with utmost professionalism and integrity.
• Strong problem-solving, effective listening, change management, negotiation skills coupled with excellent English written and verbal communication abilities.
• Proficient computer skills including database, spreadsheet, word processing, internet, and email use, with a rapid capacity to learn new systems and processes.
• Experience in training employees, volunteers, and staff both onsite and remotely, individually and in groups.
• Familiarity with Church leadership and administration along with an understanding of regional cultural influences.
• Willingness and ability to work collaboratively and travel approximately 40% of the time.
• Legal eligibility to work in New Zealand and may require a police background check.

Additional Information

• The position is full-time and regular (non-temporary).
• Only one vacancy is available for this role.
• This posting may close at any time without prior notice.