Location: Dolo Ado, Somali region, Ethiopia
Employment Category: F2
Reporting To: Area Manager, Dolo Ado
Technical Management: Head of Operations
Start of Contract & Duration: 1 Year
Required Employee: 1
Job Description
INTRODUCTION
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), an international non-governmental organization (NGO), has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. DRC promotes and supports solutions to the problems faced by refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs), and migrants. The organization has offices across the region and has been operational in Ethiopia since 2009. With funding from bilateral and multilateral donors, DRC is currently implementing a range of activities across Ethiopia and Djibouti, including WASH and shelter provision, child and youth protection, gender-based violence response, awareness-raising of migration risks, protection monitoring of migration routes, and livelihoods support for returning migrants or those at-risk of migration.
OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:
The Area Programme Manager (APM) is the most senior programme staff in the Dollo Ado area office, responsible for implementation of DRC’s multi-sector programme portfolio – Economic Recovery, Protection and WASH, as well as both cash-based and in-kind emergency response – in the southern Somali region.
S/he will ensure that programmes are delivered on time, on budget and to a high technical standard in line with DRC, donor, and international best practices. S/he is the line manager for sector managers, and is responsible for coordination between DRC’s programmatic sector teams at area-level, between the programmatic and support teams at the area-level, and with the DRC technical team in the country office.
The successful candidate will have a strong project and budget management skillset, and the ability to drive programme quality, in addition to substantial experience in programme development and grant management. Strong interpersonal and people management skills are essential.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Programme Management and Quality
- Ensure projects are delivered in accordance with donor commitments – monitoring achievements against both activity-level targets, and quantitative and qualitative indicators;
- Lead on programmatic financial planning and budget management, with responsibility for ensuring proper budget management practices are followed by programme teams. Supervise budget management and forecasts of sector managers; proactively identify and flag variances with country office;
- Responsible for the development of project-level tools (e.g. work plans, budget trackers, procurement plans) for all grants;
- Coordinate internal and external programmatic reporting, ensuring inputs are high quality and provided in a timely fashion;
- Ensure programs are regularly and comprehensively monitored, and monitoring tools e.g. M&E information management tools are regularly updated.
- Focal point for grants opening and closing meetings in the area of operation – responsible for ensuring all relevant documentation is prepared (in particular work plans, procurement plans, recruitment plans);
- Responsible for holding monthly grant management and financial review meetings, in coordination with the Area Manager and Support Services Manager; ensuring action points and lessons learned are documented, and sharing feedback with country office;
- Input into the design of key programme tools (e.g. needs assessments, impact assessments) as required;
- Oversee coordination between sector managers to ensure integrated, holistic, and efficient programming.
People and Team Management
- Line manage sector managers, ensuring that they have the support that they require, that performance objectives are in place, relevant work plans are in place, and performance reviews are conducted on a regular basis, for all programmes staff;
- Ensure inter-departmental co-ordination between programmes and support;
- Lead on recruitment of senior programme staff in coordination with the Area Manager;
- Enable an effective team through the provision of leadership, coaching and on-the-job training. Ensure implementation of personal development plans for sector managers and officers;
- Encourage a positive and mutually supportive team spirit and working environment;
Program development and strategy
- Support the implementation of the DRC Ethiopia country strategy, adapting to the local context and circumstances as required, in coordination with the Area Manager, Head of Operations, Head of Programme, and Sector Coordinators;
- Coordinate the provision of technical and context-specific narrative inputs into donor proposals, in coordination with the Area Manager;
- Coordinate on the development of sector-specific targets and budget inputs into donor proposals, in coordination with the Area Manager;
- Provide regular analysis on the context and humanitarian situation in the area for the development of project proposals;
Accountability to Affected Populations
- Ensure programmatic adherence to DRC policies, procedures, guidelines, systems and standard practices, including commitments under the HAP and DRC’s accountability framework;
- Lead on strengthening accountability to affected populations, including ensuring robust community feedback and response mechanism is in place;
Representation and Coordination
- Act as a DRC representative in the area as required by Area Manager; build and maintain close working relationships with UN, national and international organisations at the local level;
- Attend or ensure attendance, as appropriate, at all relevant coordination fora/meetings;
- Proactively foster relationships with Government authorities and other relevant stakeholders in the area of implementation;
- Ensure collaboration and coordination with country office to ensure programmatic integration and consistency, sharing of lessons learned, best practices;
- Support donor, and other key stakeholder, visits to field sites as required;
Safety and Security
- Ensure program staff follow DRC’s safety rules, regulations and SOPs;
- Develop risk assessments and mitigating measures for programme activities as required;
All DRC roles require the post-holder to master
DRC’s 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 act in line with our vision and values.
Experience and Technical Competencies:
- Minimum 3 years’ high-level management experience, overseeing multi-sector, multi-donor humanitarian programs in complex environments;
- Proven expertise in project management at all stages of the humanitarian programme cycle, including programme design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and applying learning
- Practical financial, HR and administration management experience with extensive knowledge of budget development/management and finance documentation; understanding of HR principles and ethics.
- Experience of staff management, capacity building and performance development systems.
- Excellent proposal and report writing skills with an understanding of NGO and donor requirements – experience with DANIDA, ECHO, FCDO, USAID / BHA an advantage
- Commitment to the values, vision and mission of DRC;
Education:
- University degree in management, international relations, development studies, social work, or other related field
- Master’s degree in a related field considered an advantage.
LANGUAGE: (indicate fluency level)
- Fluency in English required; full professional proficiency in both written and oral English language
- Somali language skills a strong advantage
TO APPLY
Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit an updated CV and cover letter explaining their motivation and why they are suited for the post.
We only accept applications sent via our online-application form on https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationForm/SinglePageApplicationForm.aspx?cid=1036&departmentId=19012&ProjectId=167485 under Vacancies.
Please forward the application and CV, in English through the stated website no later than March 22, 2023.
For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.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 encourage both qualified Expats and Ethiopian Nationals to apply. DRC considers all applicants based on merit.