Regional Head of Programmes

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacment routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

DRC has been operating in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for over a decade, running a combination of emergency, livelihood, protection and advocacy programmes through Country Offices (COs) in Algeria, Libya/Tunisia, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey with a Regional Office (RO) in Amman. DRC has 17 offices and approximately one thousand staff members across the MENA region. Following an internal HQ restructuring, from 1^st January 2018 the region is focusing on the Middle East, hence Algeria, Tunisia and Libya will transition to a new region during the course of 2018, while Yemen will join the Middle East region.   

About the job

In close collaboration with the Regional Director and regional senior programme staff and coordinators, the incumbent’s prime objectives will be to provide leadership and strategic management of programme-strategic processes, and oversee the strengthening of DRC’s programme development, quality and accountability framework.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Define and review on regular basis the regional programme strategy and programmatic directions, as outlined in the Strategic Programme Document, monitoring and assessing regional trends and taking the lead on regional reporting and planning processes.
• Coordinate the development and review of regional strategic sector frameworks by and with Regional Technical Coordinators and the roll-out of Programme Platforms and respective Theories of Change.
• Assist country offices in setting and reviewing their programme strategies in yearly Country Action Plans, ensuring their alignment with the agreed upon regional framework and priorities, including with DRC mandate, vision and global strategy.
• Strategically advise and support regional platforms (Mixed Migration and Durable Solutions), facilitating programme development processes, linkages and coordination up-stream to HQs, horizontally with other Regional Offices, down-stream to Country Offices.
• Ensure that new program opportunities for programme responses are identified and analysed, working in close collaboration with field teams and relevant HQ departments. Lead and strategically advise on new, multi-country initiatives/consortia and develop/update programme frameworks and strategic tools when needed.
• Support programme development when activities are not in a single country but in the Region as a whole or, in some cases, groups of countries within the Region.
• Participate in the recruitment and appraisal of country HoPs and other senior programme managers/coordinators at country level.

   

• Ensure that technical support is provided by Regional Technical Coordinators to country offices whenever need is identified.
• Coordinate country field visits of Regional Coordinators as per priorities and support needed, based on the established in-country support request procedure.
• Monitor the performance of country programme teams in the country operations in the Region, reporting to country and regional management teams and offering relevant advice and capacity-building.

• Play a key role in promoting and representing DRC as a main actor within protection and displacement issues in the region, ensuring enhanced external representation and engagement in regional fora (e.g. 3RP, WoS, NLG, etc.), and programme meetings when relevant (e.g. Syria Resilience Consortium).
• Coordinate the identification of and relationship-building with potential donors, partners and key personnel, following trends in technical and regional area. Ensure an analysis of donor priorities, opportunities and trends to develop regional and/or crisis-specific business development strategies. Support specific Country Offices on relationship building (with existing and potential donors and partners) and fundraising - including with the UN coordination mechanisms (eg. HRP processes).
• Organize regional programme meetings on regular basis and facilitate exchanges and networking between country Heads of Programmes.
• Play an active role in the regional SMT, related meetings/initiatives and Annual Review processes.
  
• Ensure that technical standards, tools, SOPs and guidelines are made available to country programme teams, support their review (for quality control and harmonisation) and monitor their implementation.
• Provide induction training via regional induction group training and individually to programme and non-programme staff members.
• Liaise with DRC technical experts in Copenhagen (Global Specialist Leads) and ensure proper coordination, dissemination of policies, standards or guidelines to countries and as well as act as interface between countries and GSLs for specific requests coming from the field.
• Any other relevant tasks requested by the Regional Director.

Reporting arrangements

The position is supervised by the Regional Director and will require some traveling (up to 30% of the time).

The Regional Head of Programmes directly supervises the following positions:

• Regional Protection Coordinator
• Regional Livelihoods and Cash Coordinator
• Regional Consortium Managers
• Regional Cluster Coordinator
• Regional Programme Development Advisor (from mid-2018)

Qualifications

To be successful in this role you must have:

• 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.
• Experience with humanitarian accountability.
• Experience of fund raising, networking, advocacy and coordination highly desirable.
• Experience with donor liaison.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability.
• Work related experience from the Middle East region or similar complex displacement situations.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Arabic will be an 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 act in line with our vision and values.

We offer

DRC will offer the successful applicant a two years contract, renewable based on both funding and performance. You must be available to start work from February 2018 and be willing and able to work out of Amman and travel in the Middle East region.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.org under Vacancies. This position will be placed at A4 accompanied position – large family package.

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

Applications close 26^th of January 2018. 

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

Need further information?

For more details on this position please contact Gerry Garvey, Regional Director, at gerry.garvey@drc.dk.

Please note that applications sent directly to Mr. Garvey will not be considered.

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