Jobs
Danish Refugee Council (DRC) Vacancy for a Country Director
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, independent, humanitarian
organization working on all aspects of the refugee cause in more than
twenty five countries throughout the world. The aim of DRC is to protect
refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) against persecution
and to promote durable solutions to the problems of forced migration, on
the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC works in
accordance with the UN Conventions on Refugees and the Code of Conduct
for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief.
The protection and assistance to conflict affected population is
provided within a long-term, regional and rights-based approach in order
to constitute a coherent and effective response to the challenges posed
by today’s conflicts. Assistance consists of relief and other
humanitarian aid, rehabilitation, support to return and repatriation as
well as promotion of long-term solutions to displacement and its causes.
In addition, support and capacity building of local and national
authorities and NGOs form an integral part of DRC’s work.
Are you ready to pursue an exciting opportunity to join a progressive
humanitarian organization in a top leadership role? And are you the
experienced and knowledgeable Country Director who can lead the Danish
Refugee Council’s new country operation in Nigeria? Then we want to hear
from you.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Country Director
Location: Nigeria
Availability: September 2015.
Contract: 12 months
About the Programme
DRC is the process of opening up a new country programme in Nigeria
focusing on responding to the huge humanitarian needs and challenges in
the North East of Nigeria. Nigeria’s north-east is currently
experiencing a significant humanitarian crisis, which has been the
result of the ongoing-armed conflict between Boko Haram, the Nigerian
military and the Multi-National Task Force in the north-east. An
estimated 10 million people are affected by the conflict, which has led
to a state of emergency being declared in three north-eastern states and
spill-over effects into neighbouring countries. High insecurity in the
region has made access for humanitarian actors extremely difficult and
further exacerbating the situation.
DRC operations will initially focus on Yola in Adamawa State and from
there we will focus on meeting the basic needs (protection, WASH, food
security and shelter) of urban caseloads as well as supporting outreach
to affected areas and displacement camps.
DRC is in the process of setting up a small representational and
coordination office in Abuja and a larger field based implementation
office in Adamawa State. As our Country Director you are expected to
travel on a regular basis between both locations, as well as the broader
north-east region (depending on access) and other countries within the
region. We are still working on a permanent location for the Country
Director.
The position
- You are expected to provide strategic leadership during this
critical first phase of operational startup in Nigeria, including
overseeing the setting up of offices, accommodation and warehousing,
hiring and training of staff, sourcing of core relief items and
transportation in addition to ensuring smooth implementation and
delivery of results from the start up of new DRC humanitarian programmes
in the north-east of Nigeria.
In more specific terms, you will:
- Be a driving force in terms of developing the new DRC programmes
in Nigeria, undertaken in coordination and consultation with local and
international partners.
- To provide strong fundraising abilities and play key role in fundraising and donor contract management.
- Design the Results Contract annually in line with the Regional
Strategic Programme Document and report on it quarterly, incorporating
adjustments as needed.
- Contribute to the integration of the Nigeria program into the DRC’s regional strategy and set up.
- The County Director for Nigeria will report to the Regional Director for West Africa who is based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
- Represent Danish Demining Group, DRC’s Armed Violence Reduction
(AVR) unit, and identifying opportunities for integrated DRC/DDG
programme development that focus efforts on conflict transformation,
community safety and mine action in collaboration with DDG’s Regional
Manager for West Africa and Global Specialist Leads for AVR and mine
action.
- Together with a new Head of Finance and Administration (HoFA),
oversee the setting up of new financial and management systems for the
county programme and provide overall budget monitoring, financial
management and expenses control including compliance with minimum
DRC/DDG and donor requirements.
- Overall responsible for security including development and
ensuring adherence to security procedures, monitoring the development in
the security situation, analysing and provision of recommendations.
- Act as representative for the programme to authorities, donors, partners, and in various co-ordination forums.
Your Qualifications
- You have a minimum of 10 years of senior management experience
with a humanitarian agency, including experience with starting up new
country programmes and operations - and a relevant educational
background (e.g. Political or Social Science, International Development,
Economics). In addition you also have:
- Proven management experience at senior level including capacity
building, training and mentoring, especially in complex humanitarian
environments;
- Experience in developing fundraising strategies.
- Fluent in English is essential (spoken and written). Ability to operate in French is an added advantage.
- Work experience from Nigeria and, or the West Africa region is desirable.
- In-depth knowledge of and experience working with displacement
issues of both internal to displaced persons and refugees and related
international standards/frameworks.
- Proven ability to design, manage, monitor and evaluate
programmes, preferably with a focus on protection and durable solutions
for refugees, returnees and displaced people.
- Experience with financial management, administration, human resource development and logistics.
- A systematic and ‘by the book’ approach with starting up programmes
- Strong ability to collaborate, network and negotiate with local partners, Governments, UN, donors and other NGOs.
Personal Qualities
- You have the ability to motivate and guide staff working in
complex and unpredictable environments and relish the capacity building
side of your job. You are known to be a strong and confident leader; who
on the one hand is inclusive, approachable and good at delegating while
on the other hand is not afraid to stand alone and take tough
decisions, all the while able to focus on managing your country at a
strategic level.
- You have a natural talent for working analytically and find that
you excel in tasks concerning negotiation, advocacy and interpersonal
communication. Last, but not least, you thrive by working in complex
emergency operation within a changing and insecure environment and as a
result have a natural ability to work well under pressure - that mirrors
your solid personal stamina.
- We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of age, nationality, race, gender or age.
Remuneration and Condition of Service
Salary and other conditions in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment
for Expatriates, which can be found on our website under Vacancies
(Terms of employment; Appendix 3: Employment categories and salary). The
position is placed at Level A4.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online
Application and CV
Only motivated applicants that address the stipulated duties and meet
the required qualifications sent together with a CV will be considered.
Please provide references, but do not attach any written
recommendations.
Further information
You are welcome to contact the Regional Director for West Africa, Mr Jean-Christophe Saint-Esteben at:
[email protected]
for additional information on the position. For general information
about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website.
Note
- Application are to be submit in English
- Applications are not to be sent to Mr Jean-Christophe
Saint-Estebenat. We only accept applications sent via our online
recruitment system on our website under Vacancies/Current
vacancies/Country Director - Nigeria
Application Deadline 31st July, 2015.
