DDG Head of Programme

The Danish Demining Group (DDG) is the Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) and Armed Violence Reduction (AVR) unit of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC). DDG started work in South Sudan in 2006 conducting HMA activities including Area Clearance, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Armed Violence Reduction (AVR). DDG currently conducts operations in Unity, Upper Nile and Western Bahr el Ghazal States, South Sudan.

Implementation is supported by an Operations Manager, three Technical Field Managers, an AVR Manager, and a GIS Officer. Other support functions in place includes radio operators, mechanics etc.

About the job

The role of the Head of Programme is to provide the overall management, oversight, and leadership to DDG’s programme in South Sudan.  Reporting to the Country Director, the Head of Programme is part of the overall DRC senior management team (SMT) and provide strategic input to the overall DRC/DDG country operation.

Programme Management: The DDG Head of Programme will report to the Country Director (based in Juba) and have the overall responsibility of the DDG portfolio in South Sudan, including planning, implementation, financial management and monitoring. The DDG Head of Programme will manage DDG programme staff, including people planning, development, capacity building and performance appraisal.

Strategic Direction: In coordination with the other SMT members and under the lead of the South Sudan Country Director, the DDG Head of Programme will play a key role in leading DDG’s strategic direction in South Sudan and ensuring programme coherence with DDG’s global strategy.

Quality: The DDG Head of Programme will ensure a high level of quality throughout the entire operation ranging from implementation of activities, adherence to organizational procedures as well as quality in materials delivered to donors.

External Relations: In coordination with the DRC Head of Programme and Country Director, the DDG Head of Programme will be responsible for donor liaison and for liaison/representation with the local authorities and UN authorities in the areas of implementation, as well as at national level, under the guidance of the Country Director and in coordination with the DRC/DDG South Sudan SMT.

Operational Oversight: With support from the DDG Operations Manager, the DDG Head of Programme will ensure that operational planning for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, Battle Area Clearance (BAC) Teams, Community Liaison, Risk Education and AVR activities is carried out and will maintain a Quality Management (QM) structure that includes monitoring the impact of DDG programming as well as productivity (outputs) and adherence to operational Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in the field. The Head of Programme will ensure that quality reporting is delivered to the Mine Action authority in a timely manner and bear the overall responsibility for ensuring correct and needed equipment is sourced to the programme.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to come from an operation management role with strong leadership skills in the same or similar context, and a strong interest in taking on the role as manager of the entire DDG programme. Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required

• At least 5 years of proven experience with programme management in a senior position (planning, implementation and monitoring) from a complex and fragile environment.
• Proven experience working on Mine Action programming and implementation.
• Experience working and proactively liaising with donors and other external actors
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Proven ability to mentor and coach others. Staff management is important in this position.
• Experience in programme and strategy development with strong writing skills.
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy.
• The capacity and willingness to be flexible and accommodating in difficult and insecure circumstances.

Desirable

• An MA/MSc or equivalent level in a relevant discipline.
• Recognized Mine Action Qualifications.
• Familiarity with relevant evolving HMA concepts and operations including discussions on humanitarian IED responses, etc.
• Experience developing and/or managing AVR type programmes.

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 DRC’s vision and values.

We offer

Contract: 18 months, with good possibilities for extension.
Band: This position is placed at salary level E1. 
Designation of Duty Station: Juba is non-family duty station, and a location allowance is designated for this position.
Start date: As soon as possible

Salary and conditions in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies.

For additional information about our work and organisation, please visit our website http://www.danishdemininggroup.dk/ and http://www.drc.dk/.

Application and CV

Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications sent together with a CV (no longer than 4 pages), in English and marked will be considered.

Application deadline: 26 January 2020

IMPORTANT:  

We only accept applications sent via our on-line system at www.drc.dk under Vacancies. Applications sent directly via email will NOT be considered.

CV only applications will NOT be considered - so pleae remember to upload a letter of application and your CV.

Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels. In the light of this, women are particularly encouraged to apply to bridge the gender gap.

Equal opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employee. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, colour, race, marital status or other protected characteristics