Regional Head of Programmes

Who are we?

DRC is a Danish international non-governmental organisation, which promotes and supports durable solutions to the problems faced by refugees and internally displaced people all over the world. DRC is present in some 40 conflict territories around the world assisting displaced people with shelter, food, income generating activities, legal aid and a wide range of other protection assistance

DRC has been operating in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for over a decade, running a combination of emergency, livelihood, protection and advocacy programmes through Country Offices (COs) in Algeria, Libya/Tunisia, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey and a Regional Office (RO) in Amman. DRC has 17 offices and approximately one thousand staff members across the MENA region. 

About the job

In close collaboration with the Regional Director and MENA regional senior programme staff and advisors, the incumbent’s prime objectives will be to provide leadership and strategic management of the programme-strategic aspect of this process, oversee the strengthening of DRC’s programme development, quality and accountability framework.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.    STRATEGIC LEAD AND ADVISE

• Define and review on regular basis (at least yearly) the regional programme strategy as outlined in the SPD, including regional directions,
• Coordinate the development and review by regional advisors of regional strategic sector frameworks,
• Assist country offices in setting and reviewing their programme strategies,
• Ensure that country programme strategies are in line with the agreed upon regional framework and priorities, including with DRC mandate and vision,
• Participate in the recruitment of HoPs and other senior programme managers/coordinators at country level,
• Develop/update whenever needed adequate strategic tools (for instance, Strategic Programme Framework or Country Action Plan),

2.    TECHNICAL SUPPORT

• Ensure that technical support is provided by regional advisors to country offices either upon their requests or whenever need is identified,
• Coordinate country field visits of regional advisors as per priorities and support needed,
• Monitor country programmes on regular basis and report to country and regional management teams,
• Ensure that technical standards and guidelines are made available to country programme teams,
• Provide induction training via regional induction group training and individually to programme and non-programme staff members,
• Liaise with DRC technical experts in Copenhagen (global specialist leads) and ensure proper coordination, dissemination of policies, standards or guidelines to countries and as well as act as interface between countries and GSLs for specific requests coming from the field.

3.    QUALITY CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT

• Lead regionally the programme quality improvement initiatives including the CHS,
• Plan, design and manage relevant regional external evaluations,
• Develop and coordinate a regional learning system including sharing of evaluation’s recommendations, best practices and lessons learned between countries,
• Coordinate the M&E system at regional level (reports, best practices and tools’ sharing),
• Facilitate exchange of expertise and experience between countries when/if relevant.

4.    GRANT MANAGEMENT AND FUNDRAISING

• Oversee the support provided by the regional grant coordinator to countries on proposal development and reporting,
• Coordinate development of regional proposals and reports to donors,
• In particular, conduct a strategic review of regional proposals and relevant country proposals (as per grant management guidelines),
• Contribute to the fundraising and donor engagement strategy,
• Ensure that country programmes are compliant with regional grant management guidelines (proposal development/reporting and grant meeting guidelines), via monitoring and reporting.

5.    REPRESENTATION AND COORDINATION

• Represent DRC in regional coordination meetings (i.e. 3RP or WoS) and other programme meetings when relevant,
• Represent DRC at country level when relevant and requested by the country programme,
• Organize on regular basis regional programme workshops,
• Develop networking between Head of Programmes to facilitate exchanges,
• Organize relevant regional programme unit meetings to coordinate and plan priorities,
• Play an active role in the regional SMT and related meetings/initiatives (Regional Results-Contract, Regional Review, CD/regional meetings…)

6.    GAP FILLING AND OTHERS

• Act as Head of Programmes at country level for short-term period whenever needed and in agreement with the regional director,
• Coordinate with other regional HoPs and exchange tools and best practices and participate in global internal programmatic discussions (including on global platforms…),
• Any other relevant tasks requested by the MENA Regional Director.

Reporting arrangements

The position is supervised by the Regional Director 

The Regional Head of Programmes directly supervises the following positions:

• Regional Grants Manager
• Regional Protection Advisor
• Regional Livelihoods and Cash Advisor
• Regional Consortiums

Qualifications

To be successful in this role you must have at a minimum of 7-10 years of management experience at a senior level.

• Master’s degree in International Development or related field 
• Proven ability with respect to the design, management, monitoring and evaluation of large scale country and/or regional programmes, preferably with a focus on protection and durable solutions for refugees and displaced people.
• Work related experience from the MENA region or similar complex displacement situations.
• Experience with humanitarian accountability.
  
•  highly desirable.
• Experience with donor liaison.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

• Experience in complex humanitarian environment
• Experience of fund raising, networking, advocacy and coordination
• Arabic is preferred.

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.

 We offer

DRC will offer the successful applicant a two years contract, renewable based on both funding and performance. You must be available to start work from February 2016 and be willing and able to work out of Amman and travel in the MENA region.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates and will be placed at A4 level or Nationals and willl be placed as per the National Terms of employment; please refer to www.drc.org under Vacancies.

Application process

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button. 

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk

Applications close 20 February 2017. 

Need further information?

For more details on this position please contact Gerry Garvey at gerry.garvey@drc.dk.

Please note that applications sent directly to Gerry Garvey will not be considered.

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