Categories: Vacancies, October 2026

Area Manager (Mekelle)

Location: Mekelle, Ethiopia

Organization: Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Deadline: 23 May 2025

Job Description

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified Area Manager for our operations in North Area Office – Mekelle.

About the job

DRC is looking for an experienced area manager for its North Area Office (covering operations in Tigray and Afar regional states) who can collaborate with key partners, donors and stakeholders to deliver humanitarian assistance to conflict and displacement affected populations. Programming includes economic recovery, protection and humanitarian disarmament and peacebuilding.

The Area Manager is expected to take on management responsibilities along with strategic leadership to lead area activities and create results which impacts the area. The Area Manager needs to be adaptive and flexible, able to lead teams working in different and remote locations, have innovative and dynamic approaches that enable programme implementation while coping with access-related issues. Representation and coordination with external stakeholders are key functions of this role, where the Area Manager is expected to enable a productive and accountable relationship with beneficiaries, communities’ leaders/representatives, relevant governmental authorities, NGOs, and UN Agencies.

This role has a country focus, including as a member of the Senior Management Team, and ensures compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines within the country. The role contributes to the development of country strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The role provides support and/or technical guidance to country operations while overseeing country activities.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Programme management

Responsible for the design, implementation and effective monitoring of projects, ensuring timely and quality implementation
Engage strategically with all technical sectors as needed and provide management and strategic input/oversight
Work closely with the program and support team to ensure spending is timely and accurately reported
With team leaders, manage the programme activities budget lines; ensuring effective and efficient use of resources including financial, human and all assets.
Manage local partnerships at field level and ensure follow-up with partners on timely and quality implementation, in line with DRC policies and procedures.
Ensure overall provision of and adherence to DRC policies, procedures, guidelines, systems and standard practices
Provide leadership in overseeing logistical/procurement, Human Resources/administration and office services activities and ensure their timely/efficient delivery.
Comply with internal reporting requirements, contribute to, and provide quality assurance of external reports from area of operation
Comply with internal reporting requirements, contribute to, and provide quality assurance and timeliness of internal and external reports from area level
Strengthen efforts to document the impact of DRC activities in the area.
Facilitate linkages and support with the Country Office and Regional technical advisors and ensure quality design and implementation of the programme

Team management

Line manage area support and program staff ensuring inter-department co-ordination
Establish strong communications and clear roles and responsibilities of the team, holding regular management meetings to engender accountability and quality leadership in all offices.
People management of direct reports (including development, people planning and performance)
Bring human resource/staff management issues to the senior management team and/or CD for decisions.
Lead on recruitment of senior staff in coordination with SMT, as appropriate.
Encourage a positive, innovative, and mutually supportive team spirit amongst the area team.

Representation and coordination

Represent DRC on behalf of the Country Director with authorities, UN agencies, INGOs, NNGOs and other partners
Takes an active role in the regional coordination platforms, including Area Based Coordination, HINGO, etc.
Ensure appropriate DRC staff attend the ad hoc and regular meetings, clusters, and technical working groups as applicable to DRCs programme and work in the region.
Foster relationships with Government authorities and other relevant stakeholders in the area of operation
Maintain close working relationships with donors, national and international organizations and local counterparts

Strategic vision & programme development

Support the Country Director and the Senior Management Team in ensuring strategic programming coherent with DRC’s operational platforms, coordinating DRC’s programme development, strengthening DRC’s programme quality, standards and learning, and enforcing DRC’s accountability and M&E frameworks.
Lead the process of adapting DRC national strategy to the local context and circumstances
Provide regular analysis on the context and humanitarian situation in the area for the development of project proposals and safety assessments in cooperation with the Head of Programme
Maintain oversight of narrative and budget development of proposals and concept notes

Safety

Ensure a safe and secure environment for DRC staff, beneficiaries, and assets by ensuring the local security procedures are up to date and SOPs are being followed in line with LSR and DRC policy, promoting regular staff training, providing safety and security analysis, recommendations, and follows-ups

As Manager the post-holder is responsible for the following:

Accountable for achieving DRC’s strategic goals and objectives within the area of responsibility
Accountable for people management of direct reports. This includes hiring & firing, objective setting, probation, performance appraisal, development of staff, managing performance, including poor performance, etc.
Accountable for making sound decisions based on DRC policies, MOPs, standards, and the advice of technical experts in DRC

Experience and technical competencies:

Minimum 7 years’ experience in relevant field overseeing humanitarian and development multi-sector, multi-donor programmes in complex and volatile environments
At least 5 years’ experience in people management
Strong leadership skills and a competence in people management
Practical and extensive financial, Human Resources and administration management
Substantial work experience in the areas of protection, livelihoods, humanitarian disarmament and peacebuilding and emergency response, especially with displaced/refugees communities
Strong analytical capacity for programme design and development.
External stakeholder management (especially with local authorities)
Experience with relevant donor guidelines
Proven excellent communication and report writing skills
Full professional proficiency in English
Demonstrated knowledge in project cycle management
Demonstrated ability to manage and support multi-sector programmes including operational planning and problem solving
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Proficiency in common computer packages and financial software i.e. Word, Excel, Power point etc

EDUCATION: (include certificates, licenses, etc.)

Master’s degree in political science, international development, economics or other relevant field.

LANGUAGE: (indicate fluency level)

Professional fluency in English

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: 1 Year

Contract Type: National Contract

Band: E2 – Management

Designation of Duty Station: North Area Office – Mekelle

Start date: 01 July, 2025

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National employees

HOW TO APPLY

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 23rd May 2025

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.

Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels. In light of this, women candidates are particularly encouraged to apply to bridge the gendergap.

Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, colour, race, marital status, or other protected characteristics

We strongly encourage female candidates to apply for the position!

We encourage only qualified Ethiopian Nations to apply. DRC considers all applicants based on merit.