PROGRAM ASSISTANT (maternity cover, 80% part-time position) Geneva, Switzerland

About the job

The DRC Representation serves as an advocacy and policy-influencing hub that engages with UN agencies, member states to the UN as well as the INGO community in Geneva to influence policies in the area of forced displacement. The Representation seeks to use DRC’s accumulated policy expertise, analytical capacity, and wide-ranging operational base in 40 field missions around the globe to add value to policy debates in Geneva.

Against this background the goal for 2022 for Geneva Representation is to enhance the DRC footprint in global policies on humanitarian assistance, coordination, inclusive programming, and effective partnership and in dialogue with DRC field operations and DRC HQ push for desired breakthroughs in close collaboration with Geneva-based partners.

This vision is supported by the following sectoral engagements, each representing its own work processes and outputs.

• Representation: Referring to the core function of a Representation, this entails work with partners as NGO, UN Agencies, Permanent Missions, and selected Geneva based policy processes at technical, representational, and diplomatic level.
• Grand Bargain: As a new signatory to the Grand Bargain the Representation reinforces DRC’s capacities to improve cost-efficiency of humanitarian assistance by engaging in and influencing global debates and supporting the operationalization of reforms within the organization.
• UNHCR: The Representation will contribute to enhanced donor compliance and contribute to DRC's increased operational and strategic engagement with UNHCR at global and regional levels.
• Peacebuilding and Disarmament: Added in 2021 as a new sector in the Representation, this effort is ensuring humanitarian systems are more responsive and effective to the needs of communities affected by conflict, by promoting integrated programming.
• Humanitarian Coordination: Based on last year outreach and stakeholder analysis the Representation will enhance and support DRC’s engagement in humanitarian coordination mechanisms and improve information sharing and dialogue between country offices and Geneva players.

The Program Assistant assumes a supportive role to several efforts related to the broad scope of engagements stated above, including agenda development, documenting, and sharing information within and outside DRC. Some more concrete engagement will focus on Representation as well as Humanitarian Coordination where areas of autonomous work will be possible and are desired.
The following tasks and responsibilities are envisaged:

• Support the Representation in all forms of advocacy work internally and externally;
• Support visits of DRC staff to Geneva and related visits, arrange agendas, prepare document, and share notes from meetings;
• Supporting DRC field outreach and information dissemination to UN and NGO partners;
• Uphold contact with key partners of the Representation.

About you

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

• Swiss or Schengen nationality or existing residence and work permit for Switzerland (please note that due to the fact that this is a position covering maternity leave, we cannot embark on pursuing any permits);
• 1-2 years of work experience in the wider humanitarian sector, ideally with a focus on advocacy and possibly also field experience;
• Team player with extraordinary social skills, easy and fun to work with, taking pride in a flexible and agile workstyle;
• Proven ability to organize complex agendas and tasks, ability to multitask and learn quickly on a number of topics;
• Initial understanding of humanitarian coordination and related humanitarian architecture.

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 uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: until 30 June 2023 (please note this is a position covering the maternity leave of a DRC staff member)

Band: I, Assistant level at 80% (part-time position)

Start date:  as of 01 July 2022

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Geneva Representation Terms of Employment. This position will be placed at Employment Band I, which is an non-management Assistant level on the DRC Geneva salary scale with a monthly gross salary of approximately 3600 CHF (for 80% part time). From this amount the candidate will contribute to social security, income tax and mandatory health insurance. DRC does not pay any additional allowances (schooling, housing etc.).

Application Process and Information

Interested? Then apply below by 09. June 2022.

All applicants must upload a cover letter (max 1 page) and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications sent by email will not be considered. If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.ngo

A shortlist of qualified candidates will be invited to undertake a written assessment, based on which a final shortlist will be selected for a competency-based interview.