Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council 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.

The Danish Refugee Council 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 operating in the Middle East (ME) region for over a decade, running a combination of emergency, livelihood, protection and advocacy programmes through Country Offices (COs) in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey with a Regional Office (RO) in Amman.

DRC Yemen’s response

Throughout its nine field offices and a workforce of 450 staff, DRC upholds its main programmatic objectives to provide immediate and life sustaining assistance, to strengthen the protective environment, and to reduce displacement related risks and vulnerabilities by promoting self-reliance at household and community level.

About the job

The Area Manager (AM) is responsible for the coordination, management, development, and representation of DRC programming in Hajjah, Hodeida and Sa’ada Governorates. S/he will oversee program implementation according to DRC strategies in Yemen and ensure that operations are implemented within DRC’s regulations, procedures, guidelines, and strategy; enable a productive and accountable relationship with beneficiaries, communities’ leaders/representatives, relevant governmental authorities, regional coordination teams (RCTs), sub-national clusters, donors, national and International NGOs and UN Agencies. The AM is DRC’s primary representative with relevant actors in the area of responsibility; s/he is the line manager for all staff with area responsibilities and s/he is responsible for ensuring a result-oriented team. The incumbent will also ensure a safe environment for DRC staff, beneficiaries and assets through a proactive-acceptance approach using DRC’s security framework.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Representation and Coordination

• Participate in SMT representing Area of Responsibility (AOR)
• Represents all aspects of programs and operations and has overall accountability for their AOR
• Act as the primary DRC representative in Hajjah, Hodeida and Sa’ada Governorates and actively participate in all relevant fora/meetings
• Foster relationships with Government authorities and other relevant stakeholders in the area of operation
• Develop, implement, and regularly revise a DRC engagement strategy aligned to the National Strategy
• In coordination with the CD, Head of Program, and Advocacy advisor ensure that the DRC program in the area contributes to DRC´s advocacy efforts, nationally, regionally, and internationally.
• Maintain close working relationships with donors, national and international organizations, and local counterparts.

Management

• Line manage area support and program staff ensuring inter-department co-ordination;
• Enable an effective team through result-oriented management systems, providing leadership, on-job capacity building and designing staff development strategies.
• Ensure detailed capacity building plan for staff is in place and regularly followed up on;
• Closely coordinate with the senior management team and sector coordinators ensuring regular information flows, adherence to sector strategies, proposal development processes and safety regulations
• Encourage a positive, innovative, and mutually supportive team spirit amongst the area team.

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Programme development

• Lead the process of adapting DRC national strategy to the local context and circumstances in coordination with the Head of Programme and Technical Coordinators
• Support in developing DRC’s program in the area of operation and provide technical and context-specific input for fundraising efforts;
• Provide regular analysis on the context and humanitarian situation in the area for the development of project proposals and safety assessments.

Local Partnerships

• Lead the identification of local partners within AOR for sector-specific interventions
• In coordination with the Partnerships & Localization unit, support the capacity assessment of partners and the development of tailored capacity building plans
• Manage local partnerships at field level (within AOR) and ensure follow-up with partners on quality implementation, in line with DRC policies and procedures.

Safety and Security

• Ensure a safe and secure environment for DRC staff, beneficiaries, and assets by ensuring the local security procedures are up to date and SOPs are being followed in line with the SMP and DRC policy, promoting regular staff training, providing safety and security analysis, recommendations, and follows-ups.

Accountability

• Ensure overall provision of and adherence to DRC policies, procedures, guidelines, donor regulations, systems and standard practices.
• Promote compliance with DRC policies and practice with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, safety and security, anti-harassment, and other relevant policies and procedures.

Operational

• Provide leadership in overseeing of all logistical/procurement, HR/administration and office services activities and ensure their timely/efficient delivering, including office scale-up/scale-down based on funding and contextual changes.
• Lead on recruitment of senior staff in coordination with SMT, as appropriate.
• Maintain oversight of narrative and budget development of proposals and concept notes.
• Ensure quality implementation of Core Competency programs ensuring optimal use of financial resources, regular project follow up, reporting, among other tasks.
• Responsible to ensure Area Office compliance with internal procedures and donor regulations.
• Support the roll-out of new modules and continuous functioning of DRC Dynamics (Enterprise Resource Planning System)

Reporting

• Comply with internal reporting requirements, contribute to, and provide quality assurance and timeliness of external reports from area of operation;
• Participate in DRC internal coordination mechanisms (e.g. SMT, Programme meetings, etc.) as required.
• Strengthen efforts to document the impact of DRC activities in the area.

About you:

To be successful in this role you must have:

• Minimum 5 years of experience managing a large team
• Minimum 5 years of experience in project implementation
• Experience working in fragile context and insecure environments
• Experience developing and implementing organizational strategy
• Previous experience in Yemen or within the Middle East is considered an asset.

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 act in line with our vision and values.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required Qualifications:

• Postgraduate degree in relevant subject area

Languages:

• English fluent (to high standard)
• Arabic an advantage

Key stakeholders: (internal and external)

• Yemen Country Office (Sana’a)
• Yemen SMT
• Regional Coordination Team (RCT)
• Local Government
• Donors

We offer:

Contract length: one-year contract

Band: E – manager

Duty Station: North Yemen ( Hajjah, Hodeida and Sa’ada Governorates)

Designation of Duty Station: Non-Family Duty Station

Start date: As soon as possible.

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

Application process:

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button.All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk Please note that applications sent directly to the email will not be considered.

Applications close on 10 November 2024.

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