Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 800 staff in Ukraine and will continue significant scale-up in 2024 to implement emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.

DRC is currently looking for a highly qualified Base Manager to join our team in Sumy.

The overall purpose of the role:

As the Base Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring that the Ukraine programme and its necessary support structures at the field-office level is well-designed, donor compliant, efficient, resourced and respects DRC accountability principles (Core Humanitarian Standards). You will report to the Area Manage, and will work closely with both Programme managers, as well as the Area Support team in order to assure the highest quality of programme implementation in the area of responsibility. Finally, you will also be responsible for building relationships with key external partners and other stakeholders in the area, and will support programme fundraising as needed.

Your main responsibilities will be:

Management and Leadership

• Provide stable and reliable leadership and guidance to all departments operating in the oblasts. This includes troubleshooting and providing advice, recommendations and guidance as needed.
• Contribute to essential staff management functions of other departments including supporting appraisals, recruitment, disciplinary action
• Supervise finance, admin, procurement and logistics ensuring that expenditure is compliant with DRC procedures, donors’ regulations and national legislation
• Assure the implementation and understanding by staff members of all accountability tools (ie, CHS, Code of Conduct) in the field office
• Ensure the safety and security of DRC staff and assets in her/his area of responsibility, in coordination with the safety team

Programming

• Programme interventions managed from field office may include:
  • Shelter, NFI, Multi-Purpose Cash, Protection, Partnership, Economic Recovery and Humanitarian Mine action.
• Maintain a robust understanding of their local context including understanding the needs, resources and other actors in their area. They should be able to clearly articulate priority programmatic and geographic areas of intervention.
• Support and monitor programme staff planning of activities.
• Support programmes to anticipate their procurement and finance needs based on their planned activities.
• Conduct joint field visits as an independent eye to monitor for quality, efficiency and effectiveness of DRCs activities and help overcome challenges as needed.
• Promote the flow of information between support and programme functions, between field offices as well as between the field offices and the country office, ensuring decision makers have up to date relevant information and staff at all levels have an additional channel to have their voices and expertise heard.
• Support assessments and fact-finding missions to set up new or follow-up projects and provide support as needed to prepare concepts and proposals and reports

Finance and Administration

• Power of attorney and signing authority: you will have the authority to sign binding agreements other documents on behalf of the organization. This requires a high level of familiarity with policies, legislation and internal discussions.
• Support with property management needs. This includes liaising with landlords and identifying new properties as needed.
• Ensure that budgets and budget lines allocated to the Base are designed in accordance with needs. Ensure that expenditures on the budgets and budget lines allocated to him/her are planned and properly managed.

Representation and coordination

• Cultivate good relations with key humanitarian actors, including UN agencies, INGOs and donors, through regular attendance at coordination meetings/clusters and bilateral meetings. Maintain a strong contextual awareness of who is doing what in the area and up to date contacts to the greatest extent possible.
• Represent DRC as required. This includes supporting or leading visits from donors, journalists, diplomats, authorities etc.

Key stakeholders:

• DRC Ukraine field office program and support teams
• Relevant regional/local authorities including Oblast administrations, city councils and territorial communities
• DRC Ukraine SMT, Programme Unit, Support Unit

Reporting to: Area Manager

Direct reports: Base support and program teams

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have at least 3 years of management experience in an INGO or relevant areas.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

• University degree in relevant field
• Previous DRC experience would be an asset
• Strong people management and leadership skills
• Strong writing and public speaking skills in English, Ukrainian and Russian.
• Experience and knowledge of good financial, procurement, safety and HR practiced in Ukraine and in humanitarian organizations
• Experience in project management and proven organizational skills
• Experience dealing with national partners and local/government authorities
• Professional background in working with internally displaced persons and/or refugees
• Fluency in English (speaking, writing, reading) is essential
• Fluency in relevant national languages mandatory

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: 12 months renewable depending on performance and funding after successful completion of 3 months’ probation period.
• Band: F2– management
• Designation of Duty Station: Sumy
• Start date: ASAP

Application process

All 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: 10th October 2024

CVs will be reviewed on a rolling basis, we encouage qualified candidates to apply as soon as possible. DRC is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.