Head of Support Services

Are you ready to pursue an exciting opportunity to join a progressive humanitarian organization in a senior management role? And would you thrive by working in one of the world’s most complex humanitarian and emergency operations - where you really can make a difference to the future of the Iraq people?

Danish Refugee Council is a leading protection agency pursuing our mandate to protect and promote durable solutions to displacement-affected populations on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), DRC apply a regional approach with operational presence in Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and Iraq. 

Present in Iraq since 2003, DRC is today operational in the Kurdish governorates, in and around Baghdad and in several South-Central governorates. Focused both on the influx of Syrian refugees and the current IDP crisis, DRC is providing assistance in a range of sectors including Camp Coordination and Camp Management, Protection, Livelihoods, Emergency Response (including food security, cash, and NFIs), WASH, Shelter and Mine Action. The Iraq programme presently employs some 450 national staff and 45 international staff, and is growing to meet new, emerging needs associated with ongoing and recent conflict in multiple locations. 

The Head of Support Services will ensure that the organization has the required and effective management structure, resources and technical capacity to manage and implement the humanitarian programming of DRC. The position reports to the Country Director.

The Head of Support Services will provide leadership to, and manage senior managers responsible for effective: Finance and Procurement & Logistics. The Head of Support Services will ensure overall compliance with policies, strategies, systems and procedures and continuous improvement to all of these. You will find solutions for operational challenges on a day-to-day basis. As a member of the Senior Management Team the Head of Support Services will, together with the support of the overall management of the organisation, work to ensure that the support functions are efficient and work together to support our beneficiaries and achieve DRC’s overall strategic objectives.

Duties and responsibilities

Resources Management

• To participate as a member of the SMT in the development of the mission, the Country Policies and the Annual Plan in accordance with the DRC relevant Global Policies and guidelines.
• To maintain and improve resource management in the mission, together with SMT.
• To identify both short term and long term resource needs and translate these into objectives and priorities for future DRC projects in Iraq.
• To advise and inform the CD in regards to the development, monitoring and assessment of the ongoing programmes in terms of resource management.
• To participate in drafting project proposals, and on the use of resources according to budgets and policies.
• Together with the DCD Programme to lead the mainstreaming of Project Cycle Management throughout the organization.
• To lead the development and improvement of the resource management component of the annual results contract between DRC HQ and the country office in Erbil ensuring timely quarterly reporting against results and follow-up action. 

• To establish and improve resource management procedures according to DRC standards and guidelines.
• To ensure the overall planning of the resources, including the reviewing and updating of the Country Polices and the Annual Plan in consultation and collaboration with the SMT.
• To contribute to the policy making process of DRC.

• To manage, coordinate and coach functional head of departments and area managers.

• To lead and facilitate change management processes
• To be the senior management focal point and leading the overall country implementation of the new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. The implementation of the new ERP system is expected to take a significant part of DCD Ops work time in 2018. The overall purpose of the ERP Programme is “to improve DRC efficiency and effectiveness by providing adequate IT system support for core business process by implementing one global ERP solution covering Supply Chain, Human Capital Management, and Finance, and update business processes as deemed necessary”.
• Provide strategic guidance in regards to the preparation of master budgets and ensuring that monthly monitoring of expenditure informs management decision making.
• Provide strategic guidance in regards to effective implementation and adherence of organization and stakeholder financial regulations.
• Oversee the operationalization of the contextual/localized finance SOP’s.
• Provide strategic guidance in regards to the implementation of a sustainable and robust supply chain management and budgeting system for the efficient and effective support to all DRC Iraq regular and emergency programmes and support services.
• Ensure the timely implementation of DRC’s internal audit and compliance specialists’ recommendations and contextualize HQ/RO understanding of local challenges.

About you

To be successful in this role you must have:

Required qualification

• Minimum of 8 years of senior management experience with a large humanitarian agency in emergency or post-conflict contexts. Operational experience from Iraq an advantage;
• Experience with Administration, Human Resources, IT, Finance, Logistic Management; and policy principles.
• Relevant educational background, preferably with a specialization at Master’s level in finance, business administration;
• Knowledge of donor guidelines and procedures. 
• Notable experience in project proposals and resource planning
• Strong social/communication skills: representative, stimulating and diplomatic
• Experience in supervising/managing, training and coaching others.
• Able to respond quickly to changing situations.
• Strong ability to collaborate, network and negotiate with local partners, governments, UN, donors and other NGOs, including proven experience in developing fundraising strategies.
• Fluency in written and spoken English;
• Strong computer skills: word processing, spreadsheets, databases, email/internet software.

• Ability to motivate and guide staff and thrive on the capacity building side of your job
• Strong, confident and active leader, who on the one hand is inclusive, approachable and good at delegating, while on the other hand is not afraid to stand alone and take tough decisions.
• Natural talent for working analytically and find that you excel in tasks concerning development of systems and procedures, ensuring compliance, and interpersonal communication.
• Strong problem solving ability. 
• Thrive by working in complex emergency operations within a changing and at times insecure environment and as a result have a natural ability to work well under pressure reflecting your solid personal stamina.  

We offer

DRC will offer the successful applicant a 24 months of contract, renewable dependent on both funding and performance. You must be available to start work as soon as possible and be willing and able to work in Erbil with a frequent travel to field operation sites.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. This position will be placed at level A9, accomodated in the DRC compound in Erbil and an attractive R&R package (every 12 weeks).

Application process

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button. 

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk

Due to the urgency to fill the post, recruitment will be done on a rolling basis. DRC reserves the right to recruit before the deadline.

Applications closed by 24 October 2017.

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of age, sexual orientation, nationality, race, gender or age.

Need further information

For more details on this position please contact Rickard Harmann, Country Director at Rickard.Hartmann@drciraq.dk

Please note that applications sent directly to Rickard Hartmann will not be considered.

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.dk