Economic Recovery Project Manager – Maternity cover

Location: Aba’ala, Afar, Ethiopia

Deadline: 18 Jun 2026

Job Description

Overall purpose of the role:

The Aba’ala-based Economic Recovery Manager is responsible for overseeing the implementation and strategic direction of ongoing Economic Recovery projects in Aba’ala, Mekelle, and Sheraro. This position directly supervises the Economic Recovery program staff in both Tigray and Afar. The Economic Recovery Manager leads project cycle management, proposal development, and program strategy, ensuring the successful implementation and completion of all activities during the maternity cover period.

Responsibilities:

Planning and strategy

• Provide leadership, management, and technical direction of DRC Afar and Tigray Economic Recovery program, in coordination with the CO-based technical staff to ensure quality implementation of field activities in line with agreed donor plans and budgets.
• Ensure the implementation of all the economic recovery projects in the north area office is timely, in line with the project documents and required standards
• Supervise and manage all the economic recovery team, provide the required training, coaching, and mentorship to all staff, and is responsible for staff evaluation during his/ her contract time
• Work in all aspects of Project Cycle Management, lead project management meetings(PMM), and budget follow up meeting, ensure the proposed budget forecast and proper budget utilization
• Uphold the professional standards related to Economic Recovery programming in humanitarian assistance.
• Contribute to the development of concept notes, logical frameworks, and proposals as needed.
• Assist in the identification of strong local partners and potential programme synergies to develop for future opportunities.
• Coordinate closely with Area and Country MEAL focal points to ensure that site observation, output, and impact monitoring is conducted promptly, and that appropriate CFM options are available in target sites / to programme beneficiaries.
• Uphold the highest standard of confidentiality when managing records to ensure beneficiary dignity and privacy;

Reporting:

• Contribute to the production of quality and timely reports on Economic Recovery program activities;
• Provide weekly/monthly reports to the Area Manager, including accurate figures of distributions/referrals done and challenges encountered, in the agreed format
• Ensure that all project documents (including those from previous implementation periods) are available, accurate, and archived in soft and hard copy according to DRC procedures.

Representation and coordination:

• Develop and strengthen relationships with potential local partners, stakeholders, and communities to maintain trust in DRC’s professional standard and quality of work among all stakeholders.
• With the coordination of the Area Manager, represent DRC externally at the site level in relation to Economic Recovery project activities, including in Livelihoods coordination fora with other agencies.
• Regularly update stakeholders implementing Economic Recovery projects in both regions
• Ensure coordination with other INGOs, government bodies, and DRC departments (Protection, M&E, Procurement, and Finance);
• Closely work with the partner organizations to ensure smooth implementation and linkage between the interventions

Operations:

• Contribute to the effective implementation of operations support activities related to the Economic Recovery Programme, including related to administration, finances, and logistics, to ensure smooth project implementation.

Budget Management:

• Take lead on the overall economic recovery budget oversight and  ensure effective and efficient utilization of resources through monitoring and tracking of expenditures against budgets;
• Anticipate, along with the Area Manager, potential over-/under underspending on activity budgets;
• Provide expenditure forecast on a monthly basis;

Staff management, training & Capacity development:

• Train, coach, and mentor Economic Recovery programme staff in various technical areas and in project management skills, through internal or external facilitation, including formal and informal interactions.
• Contribute to the timely performance & development management measures for the Economic Recovery programme staff, including appraisals and remedial actions
• 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 making significant decisions on what the unit does: its purpose, functions, and role, and for making commitments and decisions that require the expenditure of significant unit resources.
• Accountable for making sound decisions based on DRC policies, MOPs, standards, and the advice of technical experts in DRC
• All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:
• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment.

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

Professional technical experience evidencing and demonstrating the ability to deliver against the above-mentioned responsibilities:

• Master’s/Bachelor’s degree with relevant, progressive experience in Agronomy, Agroeconomics, Economics, international development, Agribusiness, Business Management, marketing, livelihoods, or related technical field;
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in livelihoods, economic recovery, and cash assistance
• Experience in Agriculture/Livestock, value chains, market analysis, cash-based interventions, and humanitarian operations (mainly from the food security perspective), food security, and livelihoods;
• Excellent understanding of cash, food security, and livelihoods technical concepts and experience conducting detailed market and livelihood needs assessments;
• Demonstrate ability to work across functions and sectors to design and implement high-quality market-based programming, and in-depth knowledge of supply chain and financial management and controls of cash and/or voucher programs;
• Demonstrate ability to communicate technical expertise and standards and implement best practice approaches to implementing rapid, consistent, high-quality emergency and resilience projects as well as protracted displacement situations;
• Experience with climate and conflict-related displacement issues and working in security-sensitive environments and the enforcement of team security protocols is an asset.
• Prior experience in market system development is an asset

Education: (include certificates, licenses, etc.)

Master’s/Bachelor’s degree with relevant progressive experience in Agronomy. Economics, international development, Agribusiness, Business Management, Marketing, Livelihoods, or related technical field.

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

Excellent proficiency in written and spoken Amharic and 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: 5 Months

Contract Type: National Contract

Band: F2 – Non- Management

Designation of Duty Station: Abala Afar Office.

Start date:  1st August, 2026

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

How to Apply

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English through: >>   https://drc.ngo/en/jobs/job/?id=176138. Applications sent by email will not be considered

Closing date for applications: June 18, 2026

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 gender gap.

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.