RYSE Consortium Manager

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 displacement 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 fulfilment 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

The programme, titled ’Resilient Youth, Socially and Economically Empowered (RYSE): Engaging Syrian Refugee and Vulnerable Conflict Affected Youth in Jordan to Build Better Futures for Themselves and Their Communities’  is an ambitious attempt to incrementally develop and mobilize a dynamic, powerful, multi-stakeholder initiative focusing on empowering at least 25,000 displaced and conflict-affected youth to become much-needed positive change agents in a region marred by war and political instability. The vision is to develop a flagship model, in which youth, governmental entities, UN-organisations, private sector companies as well as investors and civil organizations together educate, embolden and enable youth to fulfil their critical role in a future Syria and Jordan and to pursue their life ambitions. The key target group are Syrian youth who are displaced and living as refugees in Jordan but also vulnerable young Jordanians who have been massively affected by the conflicts in the region.

The first objective of the programme is to enable youth to be agents of change in their communities by empowering them with transformative civic skills and meaningful opportunities for civic participation. Through both formal and informal educational system, institutions and organizations, youth will receive age-appropriate life skills training that will strengthen their civic skills, before being supported to utilize their skills in community- and school-based initiatives. The second objective is to give the youth the opportunity to increase their capacity and opportunities for income creation through focused soft skills and hard skills trainings, conducted mainly by private sector actors. A dedicated workstream is initiated to target the extremely vulnerable, modeled over the solid and well-tested ‘graduation model’ in which households are targeted with tailor made support ensuring that a holistic intervention with coaching, general family guidance, cash support and individually designed pathways for family members to ‘graduate’ towards sustainable livelihoods. The third objective is to promote a more youth-inclusive  civic and economic environment, recognizing that the long-term success of this intervention lies within the larger context of institutional and policy changes. Therefore, the project will work directly with government stakeholders  and the private sector to increase their capacity to respond to the needs of young people in Jordan. 

The project is complementary to UN’s No Lost Generation workstream as well as the UN Durable Solutions Strategy. Furthermore, it aims to complement both Jordan’s Refugee Compact and the recently endorsed Youth Strategy.

About the Consortium: DRC is a leading humanitarian organization globally and the largest NGO in Denmark. In 2018, DRC provided assistance to 5.7 million people in nearly 40 countries. DRC’s expertise is used in collaboration with inter-agency efforts to provide protection and assistance, influence policies, and impact positive change for forcibly displaced people. Protection and income generation activities represent DRC’s largest sectors of programming. To address the complex issues in Jordan, DRC has mobilized five major organizations working with youth and refugees. The consortium partners comprise Generations for Peace, INJAZ, the Jordan River Foundation and Mercy Corps.

DRC Jordan is looking for a qualified Consortium Manager will have an appropriate balance of leadership, managerial, technical, and interpersonal skills and experience. She/He shall have a deep understanding of the overall goals and objectives of the programme and will be able to articulate the strategic vision. S/he is responsible for close coordination and collaboration with the consortium partners in order to provide overall leadership, management, and general technical direction to the entire programme, ensuring an integrated vision among technical components and partners and a focus on achieving high quality programming and results. S/he will ensure progress toward targets and timely implementation; identify issues and risks related to programme implementation.  In response to monitoring and evaluation information, s/he will work with the partners and the donor to adjusting programme interventions as and when appropriate in order to enhance results. S/he will also prepare annual work plans, progress reports, and technical deliverables related to achievement of programme results.

About the job

The individual will report directly to Consortium Steering Committee, and line managed by DRC’s Head of Programmes in Jordan.

. Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

     Programme management:

• Provide overall strategic and operational leadership to the consortium;
• Develop and implement the strategic and operational plan;

• Provide oversight and support to consortium partners on implementation, coordinating with them closely to ensure the timely and quality delivery of activities and outputs as per the proposal and log frame;
• Monitor and update work plan and keep partners accountable to programme commitments;
• Review actual financial performance against the budget, and explain variances on a regular basis;
• Ensure quality and timely internal and external reporting;
• Facilitate and improve sharing and learning between partners;
• Coordinate and support the endline and midline Evaluation for the programme;
• Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching and mentoring. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports;
• Oversee the development of staffing plans and the recruitment process of consortium staff and consultants.
• Lead and coordinate the development of complimentary concepts notes and/or full proposals, from conception to submission.

   

  Coordination and Representation:

   

• Chair Steering Committee meetings and ensure that clear agendas are set and meeting minutes produced and circulated in line with the Steering Committee TOR;
• Coordinate and attend the technical Steering Committees ensuring they are presented with key decisions and information on which to make their decision;
• Support the Youth Steering Committees regular convening and the follow-up of their recommendations.
• Represent the Consortium in coordination mechanisms with partners and donors;

• Ensure proper coordination and project representation to the donor and other local and international stakeholders, including line Ministries;
• Ensure that key information on the project is available to senior members of the consortium and decisions are taken to support the effectiveness of the consortium;
• Maintain excellent relationships with all consortium partners and working groups;
• Share operational and technical lessons learnt with wider humanitarian sector within Jordan and internationally to enable the sharing of best practices;
• Bring new partners to the programme as relevant and as possible with the aim of expanding the programme footprint.

   

  Compliance and Risk management:

   

• Ensure donor compliance and harmonized approaches between consortium members;
• Ensure the timely delivery of agreed outputs of the Consortium and ensuring quality programme; implementation in line with the agreed strategy;
• Periodically review overall project budget and alert concerned partner of any identified risk of over or under spending;
• Ensure all Consortium procedures (M&E, SoPs, policies etc.) are followed by consortium partners;
• Provide timely reporting to the Steering Committee on any risks, challenges or delays and in coordination with the Steering Committee, ensure major risks and obstacles to delivery are tackled and actions taken with agreement of consortium partners;
• Through Steering Committee, ensure major risks and obstacles to delivery are escalated and actions taken with agreement of consortium partners.

    Technical support and overview:

• Oversee high quality delivery of Consortium objectives;
• Regularly review project work plan to ensure the Consortium meets its strategic objectives;

• Supervise the implementation of the MEAL strategy;
• Ensure that the consortium advocacy strategy is followed and promote the use of Consortium-generated knowledge and learning;
• Conduct internal planning and progress review meetings and ensure regular progress monitoring is taking place at different levels in coordination with other members;
• Oversee knowledge sharing between partners, and ensure that monitoring and evaluation results are understood and used to improve programme implementation;

•   Provide strategic leadership on external communications in line with Steering Committee guidance

About you

Required / Desirable

• A post-graduate degree in international relations, law, business administration; management, human rights, social sciences or related field;
• Minimum 10 years professional work experience in senior management roles in international humanitarian or development work, including in the MENA region;
• Demonstrated project, programme, and human resource management and coordination experience
• Experience in donor funded projects;
• Extensive experience in communication and networking;
• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings. Experience in private sector engagement
• Demonstrated experience in managing and leading large Consortia or complex partnerships;
• Strong MEAL experience, including in complex programmes with high-profile evaluations;
• Proven experience in successfully applying for institutional donor funding and knowledge of donor rules, regulations, and procedures;
• Experience in economy recovery and/or youth civic engagement programming;

• Experience of working at a senior level in Jordan
• English (fluent) and Arabic (asset)

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.

Designation of Duty Station: Amman

This position will be placed at Grade: F

Start date: ASAP

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: 16 December 2019 , Previous candidates are requested not to reapply. 
 

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit drc.ngo/jobsupport.

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