Head of Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified Head of Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding for Juba, South Sudan.

DRC started work in South Sudan in 2006 conducting Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (HDP) activities including Area Clearance, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Peacebuilding (PB). DRC currently conducts these activities in Unity, Upper Nile and Western Bahr el Ghazal States, South Sudan.

About the job

As Head of HDP you provide the overall management, oversight, and leadership to DRC’s Mine Action and Peacebuilding programming in South Sudan.  Reporting to the Country Director, you are a part of the overall DRC senior management team (SMT) and provide strategic input to the overall DRC country operation. Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT

• The Head of HDP will report to the Country Director (based in Juba) and have the overall responsibility of DRC’s Mine Action and Peacebuilding portfolios in South Sudan, including planning, implementation, financial management and monitoring. The Head of HDP will manage DRC programme staff, including people planning, development, capacity building and performance appraisal
• Capacity building of key programme staff in project management functions for HMA and PB projects, including budget follow up, procurement planning and tracking
• Development of national capacity building and nationalization plans for key roles within the programme.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND QUALITY

• Team guidance and oversight with respect to HMA programme development, eg. ensuring socio-economic outcomes of clearance and information management systems supporting these considerations. Management of a Community Liaison Coordinator, responsible for developing prioritization, referral and impact monitoring systems supporting agricultural productivity on land cleared by HMA teams
• Team guidance and oversight with respect to PB programme development, including management of a PB Project Manager and Coordinator, and leading on roll out of programming focused on conflict sensitive programme adaptation across a multi-partner food production and income generation consortium .
• Guidance and input to development of HMA and PB country-level sector strategies

FUNDRAISING

• Development of project proposals
• Focal point for all fundraising and donor engagement on HDP programming

EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION & ADVOCACY

• In coordination with the DRC Head of Programme and Country Director, the Head of HDP will be responsible for donor liaison and for liaison/representation with local authorities and UN coordinating agencies in areas of implementation, as well as at national level, under the guidance of the Country Director and in coordination with the DRC South Sudan SMT
• Engagement in policy forums, including the Cluster System, regarding good HMA and PB good practice, Includes representation of DRC on issues relating to conflict sensitivity across the humanitarian sector in South Sudan
• Support to National Mine Action Authority regarding International Humanitarian Law commitments relating to HMA

OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT

• Roles include immediate safety oversight, master budget development and analysis, HR functions (eg. recruitment, contract renewals, terminations) covering Mine Action in Magwi (Eastern Equatoria State) and Maban (Upper Nile State), and Peacebuilding in Wau / Jur River (Western Bahr El Ghazal State), Rubkohna and Guit (Unity State) and Maban (Upper Nile State). Includes procurement tracking and follow up, budget follow up and forecasting. Monitoring of outputs and guidance to Operations Manager regarding work planning and course correction.
• With support from the HMA Operations Manager, the Head of HDP will ensure that operational planning for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, Battle Area Clearance (BAC) Teams, Community Liaison,  Explosive Ordnance Risk Education and PB activities are carried out and will maintain a Quality Management (QM) structure that includes monitoring the impact of DRC programming as well as productivity (outputs) and adherence to operational Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in the field. The Head of HDP will ensure that quality reporting is delivered to the National Mine Action Authority and DRC’s Headquarters Office in a timely manner
• Programme lead for ensuring safety and compliance standards across HDP programming in South Sudan.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have the following qualifications:

Required

• A minimum of 5 years of working experience providing technical guidance and training within Mine Action, Peacebuilding, conflict management or similar sectors
• Extensive understanding of working on issues related to conflict management, conflict sensitivity, community-based approaches, awareness raising, and development of policy recommendations;
• Minimum 2 years of project management experience at the programme implementation level 
• Bachelors or Masters degree in conflict management, conflict prevention, development studies, and social sciences or other relevant field from a recognized institution, or relevant working experience (minimum 5 years working in Mine Action, Peacebuilding, conflict management or similar sectors)
• Demonstrated experience ensuring conflict-sensitive programming at the programme implementation level 
• Demonstrated experience training staff in critical analysis and / or project management skills
• Experience designing and delivering training of trainers (ToT) sessions
• Fluency in verbal and written English
• The ability to translate develop realistic strategic plans that shape programming
• Experience coordinating across departments and sectors at field and country office levels
• Experience designing and / or managing the delivery of MEAL plans
• Successful experience with fundraising
• Experience with the liaison with donors and Government authorities
• Experience in working in complex and politically-sensitive contexts
• A team player – able to demonstrate a constructive, cooperative and problem-solving approach
• Ability and flexibility to understand the cultural and political environment

Desirable

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply;
• Experience working as a field-level project manager is highly desirable;
• Working experience in South Sudan;
• Experience in data analysis and Information Management
• Experience designing and drafting conflict analysis reports
• Experience working in challenging and insecure security environments.

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: 24 months

Level: Senior Management, E

Designation of Duty Station: Juba, family – accompanied duty station

Start date: 1 February

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact charity.dube@drc.ngo.

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: 31 December

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