Background
DRC is operational in South Sudan since 2005, working with the overall aim of achieving durable solutions for displaced populations. The Danish Demining Group (DDG) started Humanitarian Mine Action in 2006.
Danish Refugee Council main program objectives (2018-2020) in South Sudan are:
- To save lives and alleviate suffering among displaced people and their hosts
- To reduce displacement related risks and support and facilitate solutions
- To promote peaceful, inclusive and resilient societies and address root causes to displacement
DRC primarily operates across Upper Nile and Unity states, both of which are heavily affected by conflict and experience high numbers of internally displaced populations as well as refugees in need of humanitarian assistance. DRC has operational bases in Maban, Malakal, Kodok and Aburoc in Upper Nile and in Bentiu, Mayom, and Ajuong Thok in Unity state, supported by a country-office in Juba.
Responsibilities
The Area Manager for Maban has overall responsibility for the implementation and strategic direction of DRC’s projects in Maban, one of DRC’s largest bases in the country. A highly qualified Area Manager will be responsible for leading relationship building and coordination with major UN agencies and other partners in the area and leading DRC’s overall programmes and operations across the area, working with a highly skilled and diverse team.
Reporting to the Country Director based in Juba, the Area Manager is the direct supervisor of an international team of Project Managers and Support Services experts who in turn oversee large teams of international and national program and support staff.
The Area Manager provides routine support and guidance to project teams on strategy, project cycle management, budgeting, proposal development and operational functions, including finance, logistics and procurement. In addition, the Area Manager provides oversight to ensure the successful implementation of all projects, with the support of the Technical Coordinators and constantly monitors the context to ensure programing is relevant and responsive to priority needs. In this capacity, the AM is also responsible for representing DRC publicly at the site level, including in coordination fora, with other agencies and with UNHCR, and for providing the direct link in communications between DRC’s Maban and Juba offices, seeking Juba program direction and input on important programmatic and operational issues in a timely manner.
Finally, it is essential that the Team Leader provides strong security management of the Maban team and ensures all safety and security measures, including contingency plans and standard operating procedures, are in place and well understood and observed by all staff.
Roles
To achieve the objectives of the position, the Area Manager will perform the following tasks and undertake the following responsibilities:
Coordination/Representation
- Actively participate and represent DRC in coordination meetings with UNHCR and coordination meetings with NGO colleagues, meetings conducted by local and state authorities, UN agencies and stakeholders
- Liaise with partners, local authorities, and local communities whenever it serves the objectives of the programs
- Identify gaps in service provision to refugees and host communities, proactively referring those gaps to relevant forums or advocating with government authorities or humanitarian partners for additional support
Programme Management
- Overall responsibility for managing the DRC Maban programme staff including ensuring positive and collaborative working relationships and building links between sectors.
- Overall accountability for the planning and timely implementation of all activities (shelter, construction, garage workshop, protection, GBV, camp management, FSL) ensuring adherence to DRC and donor policies and procedures and regular reporting to DRC and Donors
- Contribute to the strategic direction of the DRC programmes, in close collaboration with the Technical Coordinators in Juba, including development of an area level strategic plan.
- Work with the Technical Coordinators, Grants Management Coordinator, Head of Programmes and Finance Manager to contribute to new project development, including both narratives and budgets
- Maintain regular interaction and consultations with other DRC Area Managers to promote synergy and cross learning among DRC teams and projects in other program areas of the country.
- Ensure the timely and quality delivery of weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual project re-ports and staff contributions to organizational monitoring and evaluation requirements to ensure project quality, relevance and accountability to DRC’s beneficiary populations
- Contribute to fundraising by leading the team to generate ideas for new proposal development and budgeting as well as extension of existing programs
Area Management and Administration
- Overall responsibility for managing DRC Maban office, including efficient and effective financial operations and budgeting, administration, human resources, logistics, procurement and security in compliance with DRC and donor regulations
- Effective supervision of the Support Services Manager
- Maintenance of a site-level budget overview and collaboration regularly with the Juba-based finance team to monitor spending and ensure the timely utilization of all grants
- Ensure full compliance with DRC and donor financial guidelines and policies while managing the projects
Human Resources
- Lead the implementation of an area nationalization/staff capacity building strategy which feeds into the National Staff Nationalization policy
- Support site-level recruitment processes and ensure that relevant staffing structures are in place, are reflective of appropriate gender balance, and promote opportunities for nationalization
- Promote professional development by identifying training and capacity building opportunities and
- Ensure staff are well versed on DRC’s Code of Conduct, accountability, respectful dialogue with the refugees and host communities, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse
- Collaborate with the Juba Human Resources department to ensure staff performance plans and evaluations are conducted on a regular basis
Logistics and Procurement
- Effective supervision of the Logistics Manager
- Guide the Logistics staff, technical managers, program coordinator, support staff and Juba-based logistics and procurement team to develop and track the implementation of site-specific procurement plans
- Ensure the observance of DRC procurement, logistics, warehousing and asset management procedures procurement and also full compliance with Donor regulations and policies and standards
Safety and Security
- Assume overall responsibility for staff safety in the area of operation
- Ensure that all relevant information regarding safety, security and the context is collected, updated and shared in a regular and timely manner
- Make decisions and assist the Safety focal point to manage security incidents at local level, in consultation with the Country Director and the Country Safety Advisor
About you
To be successful in this role, we expect you to be a positive, mature leader with a proven track record of developing effective initiatives, programmes, and impact.
In this position, you are expected to demonstrate each of DRC’ five core competencies:
- Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results through the country team both to position DRC and ensure excellence in all deliverables.
- Collaborating: You lead country initiatives and processes by involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
- Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
- Communicating: You listen to other stakeholders and staff; and you communicate concisely and persuasively.
- Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with DRC’s vision and values.
Moreover, we also expect the following:
Essential qualifications:
- Strong field experience (4-6 years) relevant to conflict-affected or post-conflict contexts, and specific operational experience with emergency and recovery programming
- A Post-graduate University Degree in Political/Social Sciences, International Development or Business Administration.
- Excellent programme management and strategic development experience, particularly in relation to protection, food security & livelihoods, camp management, shelter or access to justice.
- Solid experience in project cycle management, including proposal writing, budget management and donor reporting
- Demonstrated experience in meeting high, evidence-based monitoring and evaluation standards
- Excellent HR and staff management experience, incuding both expats and national staff in challenging environments
- Proven experience of capacity building and training of internal staff
- Knowledge of budgeting, financial monitoring and follow up tools
- Ability for rapid analysis of very complex issues, strong decision-making, and translation of programmatic learning and priorities into operational strategies
- Excellent interpersonal skills, cross-cultural communication and ease in managing a multi-ethnic team
- Good team leadership and conflict resolution skills, consensus team building, and adaptability
- Good computer and IT skills and strong communication and writing skills
Desirable qualifications
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
- Prior experience in South Sudan an added advantage;
- Self-motivated and able to work with a minimum of guidance and supervision;
Conditions
Availability: 1st March 2020
Duty station: Maban – South Sudan; this is a non-family and unaccompanied positon.
Reporting: Country Director
Supervising: Project Managers (protection, shelter, camp management), Support Services, supply chain Manager, Safety Focal person)
Duration: 12 months, contract possibility of extension, subject to performance and funding.
Contract: Salary and conditions in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Global Expatriates available at www.drc.dk under Vacancies graded as Band M.E level 2. For qualified South Sudan staff the terms of employment will be in accordance with DRC terms for National staff in South Sudan.
Commitments: DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.drc.dk/HAF.4265.0.html). All DRC staff must be committed to the Red Cross Code of Conduct, as well as the Core Humanitarian Standards.
Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels. In light of this, women candidates are particularly encouraged to apply to bridge the gender gap.
Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, colour, race, marital status or other protected characteristics.
More Information
- Job City Maban
