Area Manager (Multi Area) at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

The Area Manager will oversee program implementation according to DRC strategies in Nigeria 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, sector working groups, national and International NGOs and UN Agencies. 

The Area Manager is DRC’s primary representative with relevant actors in the area of responsibility; they are the line manager for all management staff with area responsibilities and they are responsible for ensuring a result-oriented team. The Area Manager ensures a safe environment for DRC staff, beneficiaries, and assets through proactively using DRC’s security framework. 

The three locations have different operational contexts but have similar levels of safety (SLS 5) as well as DRC’s core programmatic sector engagement. The specific differences of the positions are outlined below: 

Duties and Responsibilities for all 3 positions: 

Management   

•  Line manages the area program and support staff ensuring inter-department co-ordination. 
• Ensure that the links between Technical Coordinators and Management staff are supported. 
• Closely coordinate with the senior management team ensuring regular information flows. 
• People management of direct reports (including development, people planning and performance). 
• With Managers and Team Leaders, manage the Programme activities budget lines, ensuring effective and efficient use of resources including financial, human and all assets. 
• Ensure overall provision of and adherence to DRC policies, procedures, guidelines, systems, and standard practices.  
• Provide leadership in overseeing logistical/procurement, Human Resources/administration and office services activities and ensure their timely/efficient delivery.  
• Ensure overall provision of and adherence to DRC policies, procedures, guidelines, donor regulations, systems, and standard practices. 
• 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 for ensuring Area Office compliance with internal procedures and donor regulations. 

Representation, coordination and reporting  

• Primary DRC representative in the area of operation and attend all relevant fora/meetings in order to strengthen DRC’s position. 
• Foster relationships with Government authorities and other relevant stakeholders in the area of operation. 
• Maintain close working relationships with donors, national and international organizations and local counterparts. 
• Comply with internal reporting requirements, contribute to, and provide quality assurance of external reports from area of operation. 
• Strengthen efforts to document the impact of DRC activities in the area. 

Programme development  

• Lead the process of adapting DRC national strategy to the local context and circumstances. 
• Provide regular analysis on the context and humanitarian situation in the area for the development of project proposals and safety assessments in cooperation with the Head of Programme and Programme Development and Quality Manager. 
• Participate in DRC internal coordination mechanisms (e.g. SMT, Programme meetings, etc.) as required.  

Crisis And Critical Incident Management 

• Act as the Area-level coordinator for the Incident Management Team (IMT); Ensure are-level IMT members are aware of their responsibilities.  

Safety 

• 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.

About you 

To be successful in this role we expect you to have at least three (03) years INGO or other international agencies experience in Key Programme management in international humanitarian Programmes, a demonstrated ability to set up operational management systems in a large programme and direct experience of delivery of humanitarian programme in an emergency response. 

Required Qualifications. 

• Master's degree in political science, international development, economics, or any other relevant field. 
• In lieu of the above, a Bachelor’s degree and several years in project implementation.  
• Excellent knowledge in reviewing major international donor reports and knowledge of major donor rules including UNHCR, WFP, ECHO, EU, DFID, DANIDA, BHA. 
• Experience working in fragile context and insecure environments. 
• Experience developing and implementing organizational strategy. 
• Previous experience in Nigeria is considered an asset. 
• Previous experience in key programmatic areas: emergency responses, durable solutions programming or working with local partners an asset.  
• Experience working in multicultural work settings. 
• Experience with critical incident management. 
• Experience working in hostile or hazardous environments.