The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an independent, non-profit organization (NGO), founded on the basis of humanitarian principles, and human rights based approach, to secure the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), and to promote long term solutions to the problems of forced displacement.
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) invites applications for the position of Deputy Regional Director who plays a critical role in the regional operation.
Background
DRC has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. Using a human rights framework, the DRC Horn and Africa and Yemen (HOAY) operation focuses mainly on populations affected by displacement in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Yemen and regional mixed migration flows. DRC aims to create a synergy between the different humanitarian aid and development projects in the HOAY – both in terms of geographical coverage and types of activities implemented in support of refugees and populations displaced or otherwise affected by conflict, consequences of climate change and natural hazards in the region.
DRC’s mandate is driven by three global strategic objectives within the DRC Response Framework:
• Saving lives by meeting the lifesaving, immediate needs of the vulnerable,
• Reduce displacement-related risks and support and facilitate solutions and
• Reduce displacement by promoting peaceful, inclusive and resilient societies and address root causes to displacement.
DRCs current regional objective is to support and strengthen a regional protection framework for displacement affected communities throughout the Horn of Africa and Yemen. The region has developed a programme framework specific for the current context in which all projects and programmes contribute.
Purpose
DRC strives to be one of the absolute leading displacement focused INGOs in the region in terms of relevance, impact and quality. To that end, DRC is currently engaged in an organizational development process aimed at building more solid strategic, programmatic and operational coherence and synergy across the region.
In close collaboration with the Regional Director, DRC and DDG regional senior programme staff and advisors, the incumbent’s prime objectives will be to provide leadership and management of the strategic programming aspect of this process, oversee the strengthening of DRC’s programme development, quality and accountability framework and coordinate DRC’s regional engagement in protection, Durable Solutions and migration issues.
The DRD is part of DRC Regional Senior Management Team and has direct line-management of the Programme Development Section, the Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat, the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat, and a team of regional technical experts including Communication and Advocacy, Infrastructure and WASH, and Resilience and Livelihood.
The DRD is expected to have significant senior level management experience and a demonstrable successful track record of organizational development and resource mobilization, be able to conceptualize and articulate DRC vision, and have the strong oral and written communication skill required to translate the vision into action.
Experience and understanding of refugee and displacement issues is an advantage as the DRC will have a good standing in the region and/or from other similar complex protracted displacement situations.
Specifically
• To conceptualize and articulate the DRC vision and translate that vision into action across the HOAY
• To establish a high performing programme team that supports and facilitates the building of a cohesive appropriate and transformative regional programme
• To work as part of DRC’s Senior management Team (SMT), refining, developing and improving operational approaches, compliance and systems, supporting the Regional Director to build and deliver the most effective and sustainable interventions
Key responsibilities:
Strategy Programme Development
• Collaborate with RD to develop regional strategy and related processes, context analysis and Stratigic Programme Document and identify key regional strategic initiatives. Ensure DRC country programmes are guided by a consistent, updated regional strategic framework that promotes a right based approach to the displacement challenges in the region.
Policy coordination
• Play a key role in promoting DRC as a main actor within protection and migration issues in the region, through coordination of DRC activities and interaction with key players such as UNHCR, IOM, relevant NGOs, and government counterparts.
Donor, grant and relationship management
• Working with RD, CDs and others to ensure high quality donor and stakeholder relationships and compliance.
Programme Development & Quality Management
• Ensure that global policies, standards and approaches are met in all regional and country projects/programmes, Ensuring quality checks of Projects, proposals & reports against organisational and donor standards of operation,
• Ensure appropriate programme development, technical, communication and advisory support is available to country and regional programs, in line with organizational priorities
• Ensure standard approaches and learning across countries,
• Facilitate regional, cross-country learning, Ensure that support functions and effective and leveraged for maximum organizational impact,
• Ensure internal and external reporting is completed on-time and to organisational and donor standards
Staff Management
Direct managerial oversight of two secretariats, regional technical staff and occasionally consultants;
• Ensuring that the each has clear and realistic performance based management goals.
• That each promotes a right based approach to the displacement challenges in the region
Secretariat Management
Ensure programmatic development and relevance of the ReDSS and RMMS regionally and in relation to DRCs global priorities, as well as providing support to fundraising in collaboration with the secretariat managers.
Reporting arrangements
The position is supervised by the Regional Director. The Deputy Regional Director directly supervises the following positions:
• Regional Communication and Advocacy Officer (a two-person unit)
• Technical coordinators
• Programme Managers for the Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat (RMMS) and the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat (ReDDS)
External relations
The DRD maintains extensive contacts with local authorities and with regional representatives, as well as field representatives of UNHCR, ECHO, WFP, other donors and partners
About you
To be successful in this role, we expect you to be a positive, mature leader with a proven track record of developing effective initiatives, programmes, and impact. You thrive in managing a wide range of responsibilities, and can effectively communicate and lead regional processes. You are an effective people manager and enjoy working with teams of committed staff to build collaboration and capacity within the regional team and in support of country operations.
In this position, you are expected to demonstrate each of DRC’ five core competencies:
• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results through the Regional team both to position DRC and ensure excellence in all deliverables.
• Collaborating: You lead regional initiatives and processes by involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen to other stakeholders and staff; and you communicate concisely and persuasively
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with DRC’s vision and values.
Personal specifications
• Master’s degree in International Development or related field
• Proven ability with respect to the design, management, monitoring and evaluation of large scale country and/or regional programmes, preferably with a focus on protection and durable solutions for refugees and displaced people.
• A minimum of 7-10 years of management experience at senior level, preferably in complex humanitarian environments.
• Demonstrated success in fund raising, networking, advocacy and coordination highly desirable
• Demonstrated success and experience with donor liaison
• Strong analytical skills
• Experience with humanitarian accountability
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and adaptability
• Work related experience from the Horn of Africa region or similar complex displacement situations.
• Experience working in insecure environments and willingness to travel within the region
Preferable:
• French language skills are beneficial
Conditions
Contract: Two year contract with possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance. Salary and other conditions are offered in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment at A3 for international staff or competitive salary and conditions as per national staff terms of employment, as relevant.
Availability: 1 January 2017
Duty station: Nairobi, Kenya, with frequent travel within the region
Employer want to submit job applications through their website at: Apply Online