Area Manager

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified Area Manager for Rabouni, Tindouf in Algeria. As Area Manager you are the most senior DRC staff in Algeria for the Saharawi Response Operation and are responsible for the overall operational and programmatic planning, reporting, and implementation to enable DRC to achieve its objectives through appropriate integrated programme approaches and activities and in compliance with global DRC and donor policies.

About the job

As Area Manager you enable a productive and accountable relationship with all stakeholders, including beneficiaries, community representatives, relevant governmental authorities, NGOs, UN Agencies as well as DRC’s Regional Office in Tunis. You have a strong focus on programme growth and looking at opportunities for expansion into other sectors.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Management 

The Area Manager line manages senior area support and program staff ensuring inter-department co-ordination.

• Ensure effective management of all direct reports (including development, people planning and performance) and ensure general mentoring and capacity building of staff.
• Oversee finance, administration, HR, procurement and logistics of the Sahrawi Response operations, ensuring effective use of resources including financial, human and assets and compliance with DRC procedures, donors’ regulation and national legislation.
• Promote professional development by identifying training and capacity building opportunities and ensure staff are well versed in core sector concepts, DRC's code of conduct, accountability, respectful dialogue with the refugee population, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.  

Representation, coordination and fundraising  

As DRC’s prime representative in the area and at national level, the Area Manager must:

• Foster relationships with relevant government authorities, UN agencies, (I)NGOs and other relevant stakeholders and attend all relevant fora/meetings in order to strengthen DRC’s position. This may involve some travel to Algiers to engage and build relations with stakeholders there.
• Participate and engage in the NGO Consortium (e.g. coordination & adhoc meetings) to which DRC is an active member.
• Maintain and develop strong relationships with current and potential partners and donors (including UNHCR, UNOPS/UNMAS, EU representatives, the French Embassy in Algiers and Danish funds through HQ). This should include regular, proactive communication to keep partners informed of projects and context, participating in donor meetings and joint monitoring exercises organized by donors, and arranging and conducting field visits with donors (when relevant).
• Identify opportunities / new funding opportunities for further developing and expanding the programme & lead proposal development processes

Safety Management 

The Area Manager, with strong technical support from the Regional Safety Advisor, will promote a safe and secure environment for DRC staff, beneficiaries and assets:

• Ensuring local security procedures are up to date and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are being followed.
• Ensure regular review of local safety procedures, including MOSS assessments and updating of DRC’s Safety Level System in line with DRC’s Global safety systems.
• Proactively request and arrange for Safety related support if/when required, including potential field visits from DRC’s regional or global Safety Advisors.
• Actively participate in all safety related meetings and coordination forums at the field level and ensure close collaboration, coordination and communication with all relevant stakeholders including UNDSS, MINURSO, UNHCR, the Saharawi Protection Agency (ASP) and other INGOs.

Program quality and accountability

• Collaborate with the sector or project managers to develop and implement programmatic policies, processes, and standards to promote program quality and accountability to beneficiaries and donors.
• Ensure that kick-off meetings are held for all new projects. This entails ensuring responsible staff develop and regularly update work plans, financial forecasts, procurement plans, and monitoring and evaluation plans.
• Monitor project achievements. When activities are identified as behind schedule or are facing technical or logistical challenges, work with the sector managers, support and implementing teams to identify and implement corrective actions.
• Develop and facilitate a learning system to ensure knowledge management and dissemination of recommendations, best practices, lessons learned and tools are shared across the country program.
• Ensure timely submissions of high-quality donor and internal reports.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have minimum 5 years of experience at a mid-management level, preferably with an INGO. Experience working in North Africa and the Sahrawi Response in particular is an added advantage.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

• Master’s degree in a social science or other relevant subject area.
• Experience working in multi-cultural work settings and ability to work in remote areas and challenging contexts.
• Strong leadership skills and solid experience and competence in people management.
• Experience with financial, Human Resources and administration management.
• Sound understanding of procurement and logistics processes.
• Experience dealing with national partners and local/national government authorities.
• Experience in complex protracted camp settings.
• Excellent communication and report writing skills.
• Experience with donor regulations and compliance. Previous experience in managing UNHCR-and/or EC-funded projects will be an advantage.
• Demonstrated programmatic knowledge and field experience in protection, food security and livelihoods and other core humanitarian and development sectors.
• Demonstrated experience in the development of programmatic strategies as well as the design of multi-sector programming.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising, networking and coordination, including with donors, governmental representatives and other organizations.
• Willingness to travel and live on a remote base. areas.
• Programmatic knowledge / experience in Humanitarian Peace Building and Disarmament / Mine Action is a distinct advantage.
• Previous experience with DRC at management level will be a distinct advantage.
• Excellent written and spoken English required
• French, Arabic and / or Spanish required

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 length: 12 months

Level: Senior Management, E

Designation of Duty Station: Tindouf with regular travel to Algiers and Tunis, non-family duty station

Start date: 1 January 2022

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates or the National Staff Scale.

Application process

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: 28 November 2021

For questions regarding the vacancy please contact rym.cherif@drc.ngo.

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