Head of Programme

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified Head of Programme to provide leadership and oversight of DRC’s programming across Tanzania and Burundi and support the Country Director in donor engagement, liaison and fundraising.

About the job

The Head of Programme will be the program lead in both Tanzania and Burundi, contribute to strategic planning and lead in management of all technical experts.

The Head of Programme will oversee and coordinate programmatic issues related to quality and delivery with a focus on program sector integration and collaboration. S/he is responsible for high quality and accountable programme design and delivery, and ensures compliance with DRC’s procedures and guidelines within the operation.

The Head of Programme leads the development of new programming strategies and program reporting. S/he has a close working relationship with the Area Managers in Tanzania & Burundi as well as the Head of Support Services (HoSS) and Grants Manager based in Kibondo, Tanzania.

The Head of Programme will be part of the executive management team. S/He retains a high degree of autonomy, within a clearly defined regional strategic framework, and will report to the Country Director.

In more detail, your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Management Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership in the design, delivery and ensure the quality of DRC Tanzania-Burundi operations.
• Responsible for managing and developing staff under her/his supervision and ensuring that DRC’s values are incorporated and upheld.
• Support the Country Director (CD) in achieving goals, maintain program quality and when necessary serve as the Acting Country Director in the absence of the CD.
• Support the development of expertise in each sector and supports the agenda for capacity building of national staff.
• Responsible for ensuring that the programme is donor compliant and respects DRC accountability principles.

Fundraising and new programme development: 

• Lead in the development of the DRC Tanzania-Burundi fundraising strategy.
• In collaboration with the CD and the Grants Manager responsible for fundraising and donor contract management
• Support fundraising from traditional and new donors.
• Supports opening of new strategic locations for program expansion. 

Programme strategy within DRC’s overall Country, Regional and Global strategic frameworks:  

• Ensure all staff understand the regional and global frameworks
• In collaboration with Regional Office, manage a consultative process for local strategy development, and play a leading role in annual programme portfolio analyses
• Responsible for the coordination of quarterly meetings, project kick off and closure meetings, and the Annual Review meetings
• Facilitate synergy between DRC’s program activities
• Promote development of sectoral strategies that contribute to programme strategy.

Programme delivery:

• Enable and overseeing effective, efficient and timely implementation of all projects according to agreed contracts, budgets, policies and in accordance with specific donor requirements
• Ensure that relevant beneficiary data is collected, compiled, analyzed and distributed and that relevant assessments are conducted in the project areas
• Provide regular internal and external reports, and other relevant information on programme activities, policy matters and external relations
• Ensure the local quality assurance systems are developed and followed
• Provide staff with direction and input and prioritize technical expertise according to programme needs
• Cooperate closely with Area Managers to develop sector synergy.

Quality, accountability, and programme compliance:

• Ensure implementation in accordance with Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) 
• Ensure complaints handling mechanisms are in place for all programs,
• Supervise and prioritize M&E and learning activities to ensure effective quality monitoring and evaluation
• Support program teams in ensuring learning across the programs and replication of best practices.

Representation, coordination and stakeholder management.

• Ensure that DRC maintains excellent and productive relations with all key stakeholders, especially beneficiaries, local authorities, the humanitarian community and donors.
• As agreed with the CD, represent DRC at relevant and senior forums/ meetings such as donor meetings, fundraising forums, field donor meetings, consortium meetings etc.
• Ensure the senior staff under your supervision are appropriately representing DRC at relevant forums/ meetings,
• Maintain agreed profile of DRC at country/ programme level,
• Conduct regular stakeholder analyses to ensure that DRC has good understanding of dynamics/ relationships in Tanzania-Burundi
• Take the lead with specific donors based on gaps identified in the program.

Advocacy and communication:

• Lead in developing a program advocacy and communication strategy for the two countries
• Support the CD in the development and review of communication materials, including brochures, case studies as well as press releases.

The above list of responsibilities is not exhaustive, but other tasks may be required to adapt to programmatic needs.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect the following experience and technical competencies:

• A post-graduate degree in relevant social disciplines such as international relations, social sciences business administration, management, law/human rights
• Minimum 7 years professional work experience in displacement setting and/or humanitarian/ recovery/ development work 
• Technical expertise and experience in livelihoods, WASH, protection, durable solutions, infrastructural programming in post conflict setting is an advantage
• Strong understanding of MEAL in complex programmes;
• Proven analytical and strategic planning skills
• Strong communication skills and demonstrated experience in donor contacting, fundraising and networking
• Excellent writing skills and ability to negotiate effectively between different stakeholders, and to represent DRC at high level forums
• Extensive experience in representation and networking, in particular with Government authorities, EU, humanitarian and development actors
• Demonstrated project, program and human resource management experience, including working with local partners;
• Experience of managing budgets and multiple donor contracts
• Hands on experience in managing staff in insecure and remote locations with strong human resource management skills in general.
• Proven commitment to accountable practices and knowledgeable of quality assurance systems
• Fluent and articulate in French and English (speaking, writing, reading) is essential.

Moreover, 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.

We offer

Contract lenght:  1 Year renewable subject to Performance and Funding. 

Band: Salary and conditions in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Global Expatriates (available at www.drc.dk under Vacancies) graded as Band M.E. For qualified Burundi nationals’ terms of employment will be in accordance with DRC terms for National staff in Burundi. 

Duty Station: Bujumbura – Burundi; Non-Accompanied Position

Start Date:   15 September 2020

Commitments: DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.drc.dk/HAF.4265.0.html).  All DRC staff must be committed to the Red Cross Code of Conduct, as well as the Core Humanitarian Standards.

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

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