Programme Support Manager (Grants and Partnerships)

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) 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 fulfillment of the wish to return home.

DRC 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, and honesty and transparency.

DRC has been working in Afghanistan for twenty years, first through engagement with the Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees (DACAAR) and through DRC’s mine action unit, the Danish Demining Group (DDG) and since 2012 as part of a full DRC country operation, working in the sectors of mine action, protection, livelihoods and emergency response.  DRC Afghanistan’s operation now includes a Country Office in Kabul, a network of five main Area Offices across the country and a range of smaller temporary and permanent satellite sites, providing close to nationwide reach for its team of over 600 staff.

About the job:

Overall purpose of the role                                                                               

The Programme Support Manager (PSM) is responsible for ensuring ‘quality’ throughout relevant designated parts of the project cycle. In close coordination with Head of Programme (HoP) and the Head of Operations (DCD), the PSM plays an essential part in country’s fundraising efforts and leads and coordinates proposal development.

During the grant cycle, the PSM is responsible for the coordination, finalization and submission of financial and narrative donor reports, in close collaboration with the programme and support services departments. Within this reporting responsibility, the PSM also oversees the registration of grants and reporting against grant financial and narrative targets on a biannual and end-of-project basis for the Government of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Economy and relevant Line Ministries, such as MoRR, MoLSA and DMAC.

The PSM is also responsible for overseeing partnerships with national and international organizations, including management of sub-grantees throughout the project cycle (from identification of the partner and due diligence assessment to the management of the sub-award).

Finally, the PSM – together with the HoP - is responsible for overseeing communication and visibility outputs for the country programme, keeping track of media approaches, activities etc.

Main Responsibilities:

Proposal development
 

• Act as the lead writer/coordinator/editor for concept notes and proposals, as needed. Project proposals will be designed in collaboration with HoPs, Technical Coordinators, Head of Operations, and Area office teams (Area Manager and Area Program Manager), ensuring alignment with donor strategies and requirements and that DRC’s programme handbook guidelines are incorporated into proposal design.
• Ensure streamlined and clear communication between all departments (finance, program, and area operations) in the drafting of budgets.
• Contribute (alongside relevant colleagues and especially the MEAL Manager) to the development of strong logical frameworks and monitoring & evaluation plans that are in line with the logic of intervention and clearly described within each proposal.

Fundraising and donor liaison

• Support the development of DRC's fundraising strategies
• Support fundraising efforts in coordination with the country director and HoP, including undertaking donor mapping and providing briefings to in-country donor representatives
• Liaise with donor representatives and coordinate donor visits to programme sites, in support to the CD, the HoOps and the HoP

Grants management

• Ensuring development and submission of specific reports alongside relevant colleagues. This includes following reporting/proposal development deadlines and planning. As well as, but not limited to, communicating with relevant staff members to ensure timely and quality inputs, verifying data and donor compliance.
• Provide guidance on and ensure compliance with donor and DRC rules, regulations, and guidelines and raise issues affecting external/ internal compliance Oversee grant management processes, including proposal amendments, grant extensions, etc.
• Assist senior management in donor liaison and communication. Represent DRC in other external meetings with stakeholders and coordination meetings.
• Maintain up-to-date information on DRC portfolio, donor priorities and funding opportunities, as part of a fundraising plan and to identify new donors and funding opportunities in line with the strategic priorities of DRC Country and Regional Office
• Coordinates Grants Management Meetings in line with established methodology, ensuring that project management tools are updated.
• Ensure quality information management related to grants (including managing the DRC Grants Management System (GMS) and in-country documentation and trackers) and promote timely and efficient communication to all relevant focal points regarding important Grant information impacting implementation, including any amendment to scope of the intervention, budget and targets.
• Lead application process and ensure compliance regarding (no-)cost extensions, amendments, top ups, reallocations.

Grant management support to local implementing partners (subgrantees)

• Provide technical support, guidance, and tools to implementing partners at proposal development process
• Support in the partnership capacity assessment to local implementing partners and collaborate with the partnership development manager in designing capacity building plans including grants management support

Capacity development

• Provide technical guidance and deliver trainings on DRC and donor guidelines and proposal development and reporting to field offices.

DRC Dynamics ERP System

• Ensure DRC Dynamics is used to its full capacity
• Ensure proper application of ERP grants and projects processes in the country 
• Apply reports and data analytics from ERP system to improve performance in the country 
• Ensure that Country ERP support is in place (i.e. super users)

Communication and Media

• The PSM will work closely with the Communication Officer (CO) and the Communication Specialist (RO) to further develop a comprehensive media and communications strategy, ensuring smooth flow of information, good relations with high profile visitors and the media, and high-quality reporting to showcase DRC Afghanistan activities and achievements.

As Manager the post-holder is responsible for the following:

• Line Manager of DRC Afghanistan Program Support Unit, including Program Support Specialist, Program Support Officer, Program Support Officer (Partnerships) and Program Support Officer (Communication)
• Accountable for achieving DRC’s strategic goals and objectives within the area of responsibility
• Accountable for making significant decisions on what the unit does: its purpose, functions and role, and for making commitments and decisions that require the expenditure of significant unit resources.
• Accountable for people management of direct reports, generally at least 3 employees. This includes hiring & firing, objective setting, probation, performance appraisal, development of staff, managing performance, including poor performance, etc.
• Accountable for making sound decisions based on DRC policies, MOPs, standards, and the advice of technical experts in DRC

Key Deliverables: 

• Development and maintenance in conjunction with HoPs of a fundraising strategy (including donor outreach plan)
• Effective proposal writing in coordination with relevant DRC team members
• On time submission of reports to management, donors, government in coordination with relevant DRC team members
• Efficient follow up on partnerships with national and international actors, including inputs in DRC Afghanistan partnership strategy and effective management of sub-grant agreements and support to sub-grantees
• Streamlined and effective organization and coordination of project kick-off and close out meetings and grants review meetings
• Implementation of the organizational annual communication plan and the maintenance of grants’ archives

About you      

• Master's degree in international relations, humanitarian or development studies, business administration, or other relevant field
• At least 5 years' experience in proposal, project, or programme development, reporting, or grants management in an INGO
• At least 3 years' experience with people management
• Excellent knowledge of donor rules, regulations, and procedures including but not limited to US and European donors, EU funding mechanisms, and UN agencies.
• Proven experience in successfully applying for institutional donor funding
• Previous proven experience in programmes implemented through local partners or in remote management
• Proven experience in capacity building and training of national staff and local partners
• Ability to design, develop and implement processes
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft office
• Full professional proficiency in English (written and orally)
                                                                                                   

DRC core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process
• Collaboration: 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-DDG vision and values.

We offer:

DRC will offer the successful applicant a one-year Contract, extendable depending on funding availability and performance.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriate staff. This position will be placed at salary M.F

Availability: As soon as possible.

Duty station: Country Office Kabul.

Application process:

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on Apply button.  All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV only applications will not be considered.

Note:  Application will be reviewed on a rolling basis, therefore the post might close before the stated deadline.