Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding Manager

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency pursuing our mandate to protect and promote durable solutions to displacement-affected populations based on humanitarian principles. Our response in the occupied Palestinian territory is centred on empowering conflict affected communities to meet their basic needs and promoting safety and dignity by addressing protection risks. Operating from two hubs in Deir al Balah and Gaza City, and with a coordination office in Ramallah and a representation office in East Jerusalem, the DRC maintains an active presence with over 30 national and international staff and four civil society partners. DRC now aims to grow our operation into a Country Office, as part of the Middle East Hub, which also comprises Türkiye, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan.

About the job

Overall, Purpose of the Role: DRC started Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (HDP) activities in oPt in 2024. The bulk of the HDP portfolio centres on Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA). Currently, HDP activities in oPt include Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) and Victim Assistance (VA), with planning underway to conduct Non-Technical Survey (NTS), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), and support to national partners such as the Palestinian Mine Action Centre (PMAC). DRC intends to scale up its HMA response in both 2025 and 2026 as well as to expand it to include Peacebuilding activities. The role of the HDP Manager is to provide the overall management, programmatic direction, oversight, and leadership to DRC’s HDP portfolio in oPt. This includes developing areas of the sector beyond HMA where relevant. Reporting to the Head of Programme and with Technical Line Supervision from the HDP Unit in Copenhagen, the HDP Manager is part of the overall DRC Senior Management Team (SMT) and provide strategic input to the overall DRC country operation, including the development and implementation of DRC oPt’s response strategy.

Responsibilities:

PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT:

• The HDP Manager will report to the Head of Programme and have the overall responsibility of DRC’s HDP portfolio in oPt, including planning, implementation, financial management, and monitoring. The HDP Manager will manage DRC’s HDP programme staff, including people planning, development, capacity building, and performance appraisal;
• Participate in donor engagement and fundraising initiatives in collaboration with the Head of Programme
• Provide relevant HDP operational, technical, and strategic input/updates to senior management;
• Responsible for the overall HDP budgets, HDP team management, budget follow up, project management and delivery as per standard DRC PCM processes, procurement planning, and tracking;
• Development of national capacity building and nationalization plans for key roles within the programme.
• Engagement with local partners on HDP technical components when relevant, in addition to capacity assessment and training development and delivery

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND QUALITY:

• Coordination with other DRC oPt’s sectors on cross-sector programme planning and implementation (Protection, Site Management), in close collaboration with the Programme Manager and Area Manager, to integrate HMA with other activities to achieve more impact for affected communities;
• Team guidance and oversight with respect to HDP programme development, and leading on roll out of programming focused on conflict sensitive programme adaptation;
• Guidance and input to development of HDP country-level sector strategies.

FUNDRAISING:

• Development of project proposals particularly in view of multi-sector project proposals;
• Provide technical leadership, inputs and engagement for fundraising and donor engagement on HDP programming.

EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION & ADVOCACY:

• In coordination with the Head of Programme and Country Director, as well as the HDP unit in Copenhagen, the HDP Manager will be responsible for donor liaison and for liaison/representation with local authorities and UN coordinating agencies in areas of implementation, as well as at national level
• Engagement in policy forums, including the Cluster System, regarding HMA good practice, and representation of DRC on issues relating to conflict sensitivity across the humanitarian sector in oPt;
• Support to National Mine Action Authority/Centre (NMAA/C) in addressing needs and challenges related to HMA in oPt.

OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT:

• Direct line management of the HDP teams and coordination with support units of DRC oPt (HR, Supply Chain, Finance) to deliver and implement in line with DRC procedures. Monitoring of outputs and guidance to teams regarding work planning and course correction;
• The HDP Manager will ensure that operational planning for all HMA activities are carried out and will maintain a Quality Management (QM) structure that includes monitoring the impact of DRC programming as well as productivity (outputs) and adherence to operational Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and National Mine Action Standards (NMAS) in the field.
• The HDP Manager will ensure that quality reporting is delivered to the NMAA and DRC’s Headquarters Office in a timely manner in close collaboration with the Programme Manager and the HDP Unit in Copenhagen;
• Conduct regular internal Quality Assurance (QA) as well as external Quality Control (QC) of local partners, NTS, EORE, and VA teams and activities, implementing corrective actions as needed, and ensuring appropriate QM systems are in place for EOD and/or clearance activities;
• Support QA reviews by the Country Office MEAL team, ensuring timely implementation of their recommendations;
• Facilitate external QA processes and follow up on resulting recommendations to ensure compliance and improvements.

 Experience and technical competencies:

Required

• A minimum of 5 years of working experience providing technical guidance and training within HMA, Peacebuilding, conflict management or similar sectors.
• Minimum 2 years of project management experience at the programme implementation level.
• Mandatory living experience in hardship duty station and demonstrated resilience across challenging operational and living settings .
• Mandatory demonstrated experience with fundraising, proposal development and project management, donor and financial management and reporting.
• Demonstrated experience ensuring conflict-sensitive programming at the programme implementation level.
• Demonstrated experience training staff in critical analysis and / or project management skills.
• Fluency in verbal and written English.
• The ability to develop and translate realistic strategic plans that shape programming.
• Experience coordinating across departments and sectors at field and country office levels.
• Successful experience with fundraising, budget design and monitoring, and managing multiple funding grants.
• Experience with the liaison with donors and government authorities.
• Experience in working in complex and politically-sensitive contexts.
• A team player – able to demonstrate a constructive, cooperative and problem-solving approach.
• Ability and flexibility to understand the cultural and political environment.

Desirable

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Proficiency in Arabic is a distinct advantage.
• Experience working as a field-level project manager is highly desirable.
• Working experience in the Middle East is desirable.
• Experience working in challenging and insecure security environments.

EOD/IEDD IMAS Level 3 or higher are considered an added value, but not a prerequisite.

Education:

Masters degree in conflict management, conflict prevention, development studies, and social sciences or other relevant field from a recognized institution, or relevant working experience (minimum 5 years working in Mine Action, Peacebuilding, conflict management or similar sectors

Languages:

• Excellent verbal and written proficiency in English;
• Proficiency in Arabic is a distinct advantage.

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

Fixed Term contract subject to funding.

Band: F1/ Management

Work location: Gaza/ Ramallah with occasion travel to Amman

Start date: 01/02/2026

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: 03/12/2025 Due to the urgency of the position, the applications will be reviewed on the

on-rolling basis
 

For more information about the Danish Refugee Council, please visit our website drc.ngo.

Danish Refugee Council is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are considered for employment regardless of personal characteristics or attributes.