Area Programme Manager at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Location: Michika, Adamawa
Supervised By: Area Manager, Adamawa
Reporting to: Area Manager, Adamawa
Employment Period: 6 Months or until 31 December, 2022, with option to extend
Type of Contract (Expat/National/Trainee): National

Background

• Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has had an operational presence in Nigeria since 2015. DRC Nigeria is the largest DRC country mission in the West Africa region and one of the largest DRC country missions globally.
• Currently, DRC delivers life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable, conflict-affected populations including internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities in the areas of humanitarian mine action, livelihoods, nutrition and food security, protection, shelter and non-food items (NFI) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in 30+ Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states in northeast Nigeria.

Purpose

• We are seeking a strategic, pro-active and innovative Area Programme Manager (APM) to take responsibility for implementation and monitoring of a range of emergency and stabilization/recovery programmes.
• This role is crucial to the delivery of DRC’s integrated response, engaging actively with and managing cross-sectoral activities with DRC programme teams. The duty station is in Mitchika (Adamawa State), where the APM acts as line manager to Economic Recovery, Protection, and WASH Team Leads (TL) in line with DRC and donor guidelines and regulations implementing activities in Mitchika and Madagali LGAs in Adamawa, and Askira Uba LGA in Borno State.
• The position will have regular collaboration and coordination with DRC sectoral Technical Coordinators/Managers (based in Adamawa or Borno States) for quality assurance and technical input.
• Reporting to the Area Manager, this role also works closely with the M&E unit, Technical Coordinators and Managers (Protection, Econ Recovery, WASH, Humanitarian Mine Action – the APM also supports HMA team where needed, but does not line manage the HMA Team), Risk and Compliance, Support Services, and Safety Units.

Responsibilities
We are looking for an exceptional individual to participate in the following requirements:
Programme Management:

• Takes implementation and spending plan from technical managers and TL to draft detailed monthly, weekly, and daily plans along with programme teams, ensuring appropriate and timely implementation of the activities in the sectors of responsibility;
• Ensures and participates in day-to-day field monitoring;
• Coordinates closely with M&E Coordinator and M&E TL to ensure support is provided to the programme team;
• Ensure that all project documents are filed and archived properly in compliance with the projects
• Verify distribution registers and ensure that household information is captured, and that all targeted Persons of Concern (PoC) have acknowledged receipt of their dues;
• Plan and coordinate sector distributions with the team leaders to ensure presence of protection mainstreaming, M&E, and Risk and Compliance to ensure accountability;
• Liaise with teams to ensure timely and relevant vehicle requests are brought to Supply Chain, coordinating to share resources;
• Liaise with the Technical Coordinators/Managers to match quality standards for the respective activities under AoR.
• Ensures the meaningful participation of PoC and communities, particularly those most vulnerable or at-risk, in all stages of the project cycle and where appropriate.

People Management:

• Line management of staff, conducting performance reviews, setting objectives, and ensuring expected performance criteria are met;
• Ensure leave planning is in line with DRC needs, reducing gaps in staffing and ensuring end-of-contract pay-outs are minimized;
• Adapt the team structure according to needs, resources and capacities if required, with support of technical managers as required;
• Support TLs in developing job descriptions, and support recruitment of qualified staff for positions under the Programme sector;
• Identify staff training and learning gaps to recommend for approval to the Area Manager.

Coordination:

• Ensure monthly program review in Grants Overview Meetings, activity plans, lessons learnt, and planning forecast for the next period;
• Attend coordination meetings in Adamawa State as necessary or specified by the Area Manager and Technical Managers;
• Pro-actively coordinate with other I/NGOs working in areas of intervention in Adamawa State;
• Support field staff to develop contacts and coordinate closely with stakeholders including local authorities, security actors, community representatives and CBOs where relevant to establish supportive networks and channels of communication.

Safety, Access and Logistics:

• Work closely with the Safety Unit to support reporting on security incidents, ensure appropriate security plans for field missions are in place, and to discuss needs for new areas of intervention.
• Develop contact networks in area of operation for coordination on alerts, assessments, and responses.
• Contribute to Access and Safety SOPs and other documentation as needed.

Monitoring, Accountability and Reporting:

• Oversee the implementation of recommendations by M&E and Risk and Compliance to ensure continuous improvement of interventions.
• Ensure correct application of AGD protocols during implementation of activities.
• Maintain close links with M&E Coordinators and TL for assessments and responses.
• Representation, External Representation, and Advocacy
• Assist Area Manager and Safety Units in conducting regular stakeholder analyses to ensure that DRC has good understanding of dynamics/relationships;
• Coordination with Area Manager and Technical Coordinators to agree and clarify key messages for advocacy, DRC positions and other external communications;
• Serve as a focal point for interacting with other agencies operating in area LGAs;
• Support the Area Manager, HoP, and TCs in expanding DRC programme portfolio in AoR through various initiatives including contributing relevant information to concept and proposal development if needed;
• The responsibilities listed in the Job Description are not exhaustive and may be adjusted according to operational needs, but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role.

General Regulations:

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework.
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization.
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period.
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization.
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request.

Experience and Technical Competencies
Essential:

• A Degree in Social Sciences or in any of the Technical sectors to be covered by this position.
• Three (3) years minimum experience in staff and team management in a cross-cultural environment
• Five (5) years of experience in programme implementation in a humanitarian context, with experience in complex and high-security environments
• Work experience with any sectors to be covered by the position (WASH, Economic Recovery, and Protection).
• Proven ability to build external relationships with diplomacy, tact and professionalism in a complex and demanding environment
• Proficiency in common computer packages and financial software i.e. Word, Excel, Power point etc.
• Strong, unifying communication skills

Desirable:

• Fluent written and spoken English
• Desirable: Knowledge and experience in NE Nigeria

Education:

• A University level degree in relevant subject
• Technical qualification in relevant sector/s

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

• Fluency in written and spoken English required
• Intermediate to fluent Hausa is desirable
• Experience working in an isolated and challenging environment.

Salary & Benefits
MG F2.