Head of Programme

DRC has been operating in West Africa since 1998. The DRC West & North Africa and Latin America Regional Office (hereafter: WANALA RO) is based in Dakar, Senegal, and covers over twelve countries outside of Senegal. Led by the Executive Director for West & North Africa and Latin America, the DRC WANALA RO oversees, supports and provides strategic directions for DRC’s Country Offices within the region, which currently includes Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Algeria-Tunisia, Libya, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Mexico.

About the Job

The Roving- Head of Programme reports to the Country Director of the country of temporary assignment. This role leads the project development and implementation for the time of her/ his mission. In practice, the Roving- Head of Programme will coordinate the development of project proposals and oversee the accountability and quality of DRC programming while looking out for funding opportunities. Furthermore, she/ he will provide technical supervision to DRC Mali programmes and the technical unit team (including thematic coordinators). The Roving- Head of Programme sits in the Senior Management Team (SMT) of the country of temporary assignment for the time of her/ his mission.The Roving- Head of Programme is also expected to manage a team of technical experts (Managers, Coordinators or Specialists) which size, profiling and responsibilities may vary from one country to another.

Under the management of the Country Director of the country of temporary assignment and the technical supervision of the Regional Head of Programme, the Roving- Head of Programme will have the following activities and tasks:

People management and internal communication:

• To manage and coordinate a team of technical experts including activities of recruitment, objectives setting, performance and development interviews, giving feedbacks, coaching and capacity building.
• To oversee and support the capacity building of all concerned employees in the fields of programme cycle management, programme implementation, based on an assessment of the critical programme improvement needs of the country of operation
• To work in close collaboration with the other departments, the Regional Office and HQ
• To ensure the implementation of strategical documents and SOPs

Program strategy, proposal development and contract management:

• To develop, disseminate and implement the strategy of the country
• To supervise and coordinate the development of project proposals and budgets, ensuring strong coordination between technical, operational and support teams, including field teams, as well as a close link and consultation with the RO / HQ
• To ensure the quality of project implementation and the reporting requirement and deadlines.
• To follow up on the fundraising strategy in accordance with the program strategy.
• To ensure that multisectoral assessments and programme assessments are responding to needs

Program quality and accountability:

• To oversee and support the continuous improvement of program quality standards, including harmonization between field bases
• To ensure the respect and application of DRC's values and code of conduct, in particular by setting an example
• To evaluate and improve DRC accountability measures in Mali in accordance with commitments under the Humanitarian Standards
• To contribute to high quality Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)
• To support and supervise the timely submission of high quality reports to donors.

In addition to the above, the Roving- Head of Programme may be asked to carry out other duties as requested by the Country Director or the Regional Head of Programme.
 

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you possess the following:

Required:

• Relevant university degree (master or post diploma), in international relations and / or development. political science or similar field
• Past experience in a Protection Coordinator position
• Min. 5 years of experience abroad in complex humanitarian and development emergencies, preferably with refugees and / or internally displaced persons
• Min. 3 years of experience in staff management and development
• Good understanding of displacement issues and related international standards / frameworks.
• Strong experience in program development and proven fundraising
• Substantial experience in project management in an NGO, including responsibility for strategy design, staffing, administrative and financial management, contract management and donor relations.
• Experience in leading programming and strategic planning, implementation, monitoring and learning.
• Proven experience in negotiating and advocating with government authorities and donors for solutions that meet the needs of beneficiaries and civil society by pursuing internationally recognized values ​​of a universal nature in a conflict or post-conflict context, in respect for local culture and traditions
• Ability to manage a multidisciplinary team, heavy workload and multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines
• Team player, excellent communication and strong participatory leadership skills.
• Work experience in analyzing and managing protection data
• Experience working with national partners, local / government authorities and United Nations organizations
• Excellent computer skills (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
• Excellent command of French (reading, speaking and writing) and professional command of English

Desirable :

• Previous experience in West Africa and / or Central Africa
• Experience in an NGO committed to human rights
• Experience with donors such as ECHO, BHA, SDC, DFID, etc.
   

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.

• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required
• Multi-tasking and Organizational skills are necessary
• Adaptable and Flexible
• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace
• Team-oriented & good sense of humor

We offer

Contract length: 12 Months (potentially renewable)

Band: E

Designation of Duty Station: at least 70% of working time spent in WANALA region countries / unaccompanied duty station

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates.

Application Process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English or French. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 14 December 2022

Due to the urgency of the position, DRC has the right to recruit a candidate whose profile matches the required profile before the above deadline.      

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