Heads of Base at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

About the job
This is a dynamic position managing innovative programming in a complex and rapidly changing context. Under the supervision of the Country Director, and in coordination with the Head of Admin and Finance (HoFA), the Head of Base (HoB) will set up DRC´s base and oversee the implementation of activities in Maiduguri, Borno State in northeastern Nigeria. The programme in Maiduguri will support IDPs and host communities affected by the conflict. The Head of Base will coordinate with local and international staff members and also with thematic officers/coordinators (shelter, protection, MRE, armed violence reduction, livelihoods and M&E). S/he will be responsible for supervising programme staff in Maiduguri and for ensuring that DRC procedures are streamlined in the project implementation. The HoB is responsible for representing DRC and DDG at local and State levels, and coordination and liaison with authorities, ministries, INGOs, UN agencies and other stakeholders. The Head of Base will also be responsible for compliance with Standard Operating Procedures for safety, security and general operations.

Duties and Responsibilities
The key responsibilities for this position are outlined below:

Set up and support the operation

• The Head of Base will conduct all actions necessary in regards to set up and strengthening DRC/DDG´s base and operations in Maiduguri, in collaboration with the HoFA, Security Advisor, Logistic and Procurement Manager, and thematic officers/managers, and under the supervision of the Country Director.

Programme Management

• Overall responsibility for the design, implementation and effective monitoring of agreed projects and activities in areas of Shelter, Protection, and Livelihoods (Cash / NFI/ relief Item distribution) with IDP’s and host communities. In addition, the HoB will be working together with Mine Action team to support all aspects of project management cycle.
• Ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and documentation of all activities and processes (e.g. organise and facilitate cash/NFI post distribution monitoring) and that the analysis of data collected is proactively used to inform activity changes to improve program quality.
• Ensure the development and implementation of all activities in line with Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) and DRC program policies especially gender, age, ethnic background, and disability.
• Seek funding opportunities to scale up and/or expand activities working closely with the Country Director, and relevant technical specialists. This includes identifying and undertaking assessments as well as supporting concept notes and proposal writing.
• Close coordination with DDG’s Mine Action and Armed Violence Reduction managers, based in Yola, to ensure quality delivery of DDG programme activities in Borno state
• Provide strategic guidance and contextual understanding to DRC/DDG technical staff in order to ensure quality programme delivery in Borno state.

Reporting:

• Ensure that progress reports are prepared and shared within given deadlines
• Draft and contribute to donor reporting
• Capture lessons learned and document case studies that could be used for donor reports and for DRC/DDG communications materials

Team Management

• Supervision, coordination and performance management of programme staff based in Borno state
• Conduct regular monitoring visits to all project sites
• Lead staff and management meetings and share the minutes to all concerned
• Bring human resource/staff management issues to the CD for decisions
• Manage the program activities budget lines, ensuring effective and efficient use of resources including financial, human and all assets.
• Ensure that programme teams work closely with the support team to delivery DRC policies and procedures in finance, procurement and logistics including effective planning weekly, monthly and quarterly.

Security Management

• Overall responsibility for security in and around Maiduguri including ensuring adherence to agreed security protocols, recommending changes to security protocols and delivering the agreed security action plan.
• In collaboration with the National Security Advisor, monitoring of security trends, reporting on any issues and incidents in a timely manner as per DRC security guideline
• Contribute to updating and reviewing security policies/guide lines and Standard Operating Procedures as per given deadlines
• Ensure that all staff are aware of DRC security policy/guideline/SoPs and they are implemented according at all levels
• Immediately report any violation of security protocols and recommend appropriate actions as per DRC procedures
• Ensure that DRC represents in security coordination meetings at local and State levels

Representation and Relations

• Represent DRC/DDG as required in Borno state
• Liaison and close coordination with UN agencies, international and local NGOs.
• Liaison and close coordination with government authorities and other stakeholders.
• Engage with all relevant stakeholders as regularly as possible. This includes local and IDP leadership, local and regional governmental bodies, donors, and partners.

Reporting Line
The Head of Base Maiduguri will report to the Country Director, Nigeria.
About you
To be successful in this role you must have:

Required qualifications

Education
University degree (Masters level) in management, international development or equivalent education in related field

Work experience

• Minimum 8 years’ humanitarian experience with international NGOs at a senior level
• Minimum 5 years’ experience of working in difficult conflict-affected contexts
• Excellent knowledge on humanitarian standards and tools and working experiences of implementation of standards and tools
• Prior experience implementing programming to respond to the needs of IDPs/Returnees/Refugees/Host communities
• Prior experience engaging donors and writing funding proposals
• Demonstrated ability and experience working in difficult contexts and engaging local/national authorities in a diplomatic manner

Competencies/skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Flexible and high adaptability
• Excellent team player
• Experience of living in shared guesthouse accommodation
• Experience of managing team diversity in terms of sex, race, nationalities, culture, faith, etc.