Head of Programme at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Job Title: Head of Programme

Location: Yola, Adamawa
Level: E
Contract length: 12 Month
Start date: As soon as possible.
Designation of Duty Station: Non-family duty station l Yola, Nigeria with significant travel required to DRC Field sites

Background
Danish Refugee Council (DRC), one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified Head of Programme in Nigeria. Danish Refugee Council, and its Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding technical unit – the Danish Demining Group (DDG), has had an operational presence in Nigeria since 2015.

DRC Nigeria is the largest DRC country mission in the West Africa region and one of the largest DRC country missions globally. Currently, DRC delivers life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable, conflict-affected populations including internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities in the areas of armed violence reduction, humanitarian mine action, livelihoods, nutrition and food security, protection, shelter and non-food items (NFI) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in 30+ Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states in northeast Nigeria.

About the Job

• The DRC Head of Programme will contribute to strategic planning and lead in management of all technical coordinators and project managers within the Nigeria country programme.
• S / he will oversee the country programme, and is responsible for sectoral coordination as well as to ensure high quality and accountable delivery of projects / programmes.
• S / he leads the development of new programming strategies and programme reporting and supports the DRC Nigeria Country Director in donor engagement, liaison, and fundraising.
• The DRC Head of Programme will report to the DRC Nigeria Country Director (CD) and is a member of the Strategic Management Team (SMT). Currently, the DRC Head of Programme directly manages the Livelihoods Coordinator, WASH & Shelter Coordinator, Protection Coordinator, Livelihoods Base Manager, Food Security Manager, and the COVID-19 Project Manager.
• In addition, the DRC HoP oversees the Quality Assurance Unit (QAU), supporting the CD in business development, quality programme reporting, visibility, and ensuring effective monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEAL) systems are in place.
• S / he has a close working relationship with the CD and the Head of Support Services (HoSS), Safety Coordinator, Area Managers and the DDG Head of Programme.

Main Duties and Responsibilities
Programme Strategy:

• Leads the development of the Nigeria programme strategy, within DRC’s overall country, regional and global strategic frameworks
• Ensures all staff understand the regional and global strategy frameworks and strategic priorities that reflects DRC’s mandate and commitment
• In collaboration with CD, Regional Office (RO) and others, manages a consultative process for sectoral and country strategies development including annual programme portfolio analyses
• In collaboration with the CD and Quality Assurance Manager (QAM), contributes to fundraising and donor relationship
• In consultation with CD, responsible for the coordination of quarterly meetings, project kickoff and closure meetings, and the Quarterly and Annual Review
• Facilitates development of synergy between DRC and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding sector activities in Nigeria.

Fundraising and Programme Development:

• In collaboration with the QAM, DDG HoP, Technical Coordinators, Project Managers and Area Managers, takes the lead in the development of new programmes and activities as required to respond to critical needs of affected people in North East Nigeria
• Work closely with QAM to ensure development of quality concept notes and project proposals, and support fundraising from traditional and new donors especially BHA, ECHO, UN agencies, DFID, and other institutional donors as well as private sectors
• Ensure justifications, and necessary management directions for opening of new strategic locations for programme expansion
• Assist and support the CD in fundraising through employing individual as well as consortia approaches
• Work closely with QAM for a donor mapping and develop/review fundraising strategy for Nigeria that includes resource mobilization from private sectors.

Programme Delivery:

• In collaboration with QAM, ensures that all projects aim, objectives, outcomes and activities are monitored against approved logframes, monitors expenditures and recommends necessary measures to ensure spending are done according to agreed budget and in line with donor guideline
• Works closely with QAM and Technical Coordinators to ensure qualitative and quantitative information is analyzed, used and reflected in plan of actions
• Ensures all programmes and units have work plans which are in line with approved projects and in line with donor agreement
• In consultation with CD, provides directions to Technical Coordinators and Area Managers for
• timely implementation, management and monitoring of projects/programmes
• Ensures timely and high-quality reporting in English as per agreed deadline and in line with donor agreement

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Finance and Administration:

• Works closely with HoSS, Supply Chain Coordinator, Area Managers, Technical Coordinators, Project Managers as well as Regional and HQ focal points to ensure that budgets are designed in accordance with programme / project needs
• Ensures that expenditures are planned and properly managed in coordination with HoSS, Technical Coordinator, Project Managers, Area Managers and Regional and HQ focal points
• Ensures that DRC policies, procedures and management principles are disseminated and adequately applied at all levels of programmes / projects

Quality and Accountability:

• Ensures programme compliance, quality, standard and accountability. Tasks include:
• In collaboration with QAM, ensures that donor compliance is met and DRC accountability framework is functional
• Provides necessary guidance and support to QAM so that the MEAL Department is effectively functional to ensure quality monitoring and evaluation, capturing lessons learned and best practices and disseminating them across the team/organization
• Works closely with the QAM and Technical Coordinators to ensure that all programmes/projects meet Humanitarian Accountability Framework (HAF) and Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) requirements
• Works closely with QAM and Area Managers to develop / review and implement complaints and feedback (CFM) mechanisms for all programmes / projects

Representation and Coordination:
Ensures that DRC maintains excellent and productive relations with all key stakeholders, especially beneficiaries, local authorities, the humanitarian community and donors. Tasks include:

• In agreement with CD, ensures representation of DRC programmes at State level including in working groups / clusters, NEMA, SEMA, UN and other forum / events organized by the humanitarian community, government officials / departments, etc.
• Ensures that Technical Coordinators and other senior staff under his / her supervision are appropriately representing DRC at relevant forums / meetings
• Together with DRC team, conducts regular stakeholder analyses to ensure that DRC has good understanding of and maintains dynamic relationships in Nigeria
• In the absence of CD, represents DRC Nigeria in strategic forums as required
• Ensures internal coordination across the sectors / units including the Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding sector
• Serves as the programme manager for upholding organizational values and principles

Human Resource (HR) Management:

• Responsible for managing and developing staff under his / her supervision and ensures DRC values and competencies are understood and promoted accordingly
• In collaboration with CD and HoSS, participates in recruitment-related tasks, ensures all staff performance objectives are agreed, reviewed on time and capacity needs are identified and met as per plan for career growth within the organization
• Ensures that all staff are inducted and have adequate knowledge and appropriate attitude on DRC policies, procedures including logistic, financial and safety guidelines/SoPs and follows them accordingly
• Works closely with HoSS, Technical Managers and HoBs in developing capacity building of national team

Advocacy and Communication:

• Supports CD, in collaboration with country programmes team and RO, in the development and implementation of advocacy and communication strategy aimed at durable solution for displaced population
• Provides guidance to staff on how to advocate clearly, appropriately and strategically
• In agreement with CD, works with relevant team members in the development and dissemination of communication materials, including brochures, case studies and press releases

About You
To be successful in this role we expect the following:

Required:

• Minimum of 7 years of overseas experience in the humanitarian and development field (including 4 years at senior management level) in complex emergencies, preferably with refugees and/or IDPs
• Experience in strategic programming and planning, field implementation, monitoring and implementation
• Strong experience in programme development and documented skills in formulation of programme / project proposal as well as budgets and reports
• Preference will be given to candidates with experience in Nigeria and other ECOWAS countries.
• Familiarity with EU-ECHO, DFID, UN and US donor guidelines
• Ability to conceptualize and implement within a complex context, with a view to the broader social and political environment
• Knowledge about international and national human rights protection standards with primary focus to those related to the human rights observance in law enforcement and community-based policing activities
• Proven experience of representing externally to key stakeholders, including donors, embassies and clusters
• Proven experience in working with international or local organizations on similar assignments is an asset
• Past experience of working in conflict-affected countries desirable; Experience in West Africa, in particular NE Nigeria, is a strong advantage

Skills & Qualities:

• Mature judgment combined with a proactive, resourceful and energetic approach to problem-solving
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; and strong organizational and time management skills
• A team player and self-starter able to inspire and influence action
• Ability to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner
• Proven ability to work effectively under minimum supervision
• Demonstrated behavior of professional and personal ethics
• Ability to write high quality programme reports
• Willingness to undertake regular field visits and interact with different stakeholders
• Basic computer skills and experience in use of applications such as Microsoft Office
• Ability to coordinate different stakeholders in a complex work environment

General Regulations:

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request

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: 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.

Salary and Conditions
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates.

Application Deadline

8th December, 2020 at 4:00 PM Abuja time.

Method of Application

Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

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

Note

• DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.
• DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process.
• Due to the urgency of the position, DRC has the right to recruit a candidate who matches the required profile before the above deadline.
• Applicants must be aware that DRC cannot employ, under an expatriate contract, a citizen of the country in which she / he is going to be stationed (in such case, the Republic of Nigeria).