Country Director at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

About the job

The Country Director will lead DRC operations in Nigeria. S/He is ultimately accountable in country for all aspects of DRC’s work. This includes:          

Strategic planning and programme management 

• Ensure the operationalization of the global DRC 2025 Strategy
• Ensure efficient implementation of projects
• Provide strategic guidance and management to program sectors to deliver high quality programmes that follow a Rights Based Approach and mainstream protection principles
• Ensures that timely and quality reports are provided internally and externally, on time according to DRC & donors requirements

HR & Administration, Finance, Supply Chain

• HR: Supervises national staff & international staff performance, and capacity development. Ensure that the recruitment of staff is transparent and timely. Proactively adjust team structures based on needs and funding. Ensure that the salary scale for national staff is competitive and in line with available funding.
• Finance: Ensures that funds are spent appropriately, according to the donor contract and DRC policies. Ensures that under-spendings & overspendings are monitored, signaled in good time and acted upon.
• Supply chain: Ensure that procurement are made on time and in compliance with rules of origin and nationality. Ensures that for all procurement the proper documentation exists and is archived correctly.
• DRC Dynamics (ERP System): Support the implementation of ERP system and follow up.

Safeguarding and Code of Conduct

• Overall accountability for matters of compliance, ethics and Code of Conduct in accordance with relevant DRC guidelines and Operations Handbooks.
• Ensures that DRC's Safeguarding, PSEAH Policies and Zero Tolerance to SEAH are strictly enforced.
• Ensures that the team is informed about DRC's transparency policy and whistleblower procedures.

Access and safety 

• Overall responsible for the security of DRC staff in country and the programs.
• Responsible for security planning including regular updating of security and evacuation plans and measures, and implementation of security and contingency plan and update of DRC´s SLS (Safety Level Systems).
• Overall responsible for having optimal access in the various contexts of intervention and hard-to-reach areas
• Ensure that all employees adhere to security procedures.
• Ensure that security incidents are reported and escalated in real-time.
• Contribute to the management of critical incidents in coordination with the regional office and headquarters.

Partnership management

• Ensure that partnerships are built on both complementarity and added value, designed and managed in a spirit of equal partnership, in with DRC's strategy at the national, regional, and global levels.
• Analyze potential partnerships using documented selection methods and ensure that all partnerships comply with DRC's requirements and regulations, as well as those of the donors.

Fundraising

• Ensure that DRC has an updated understanding of the socio-economic context of the country, trends among donors, needs and gaps, who is doing what, and where in the country.
• Drives fundraising efforts and plays key role in donors engagement.
• Identifies opportunities for new projects and organizes assessment and fact finding missions.
• Oversees the formulation of project proposals, concept papers and budgets using the DRC Operations Handbook.

Representation and external coordination

• High level representation with Government and UN agencies at local and national level, with ability to work with high level officials to negotiate program priorities
• Cultivate good relations with key humanitarian actors and local and international NGOs engaged particularly in protection, economic recovery and peace programming, through regular attendance at technical meetings /clusters and bilateral meetings. Engage in, and where effective, lead coordination processes amongst key stakeholders.

The Country Director reports to the Operations Director for the region based in Dakar. S/He will travel frequently on the field, and occasionally to Dakar and Copenhagen.

Key Requirements -

To be successful in this role you must have:

• Advanced university degree in development studies and project management, law, human rights, political and/ or social sciences or in related field.
• A minimum of 8 years of humanitarian field experience, including at least 3 to 5 years working in the field in refugee/IDP situations; at least 3 years in a senior management position.
• Proven ability to design, manage and implementation programs with a focus on protection, emergency response and resilience for refugees and displaced persons. Experience in sectors such as protection, food security/ early recovery / livelihoods, and peacebuilding.
• Experience in implementing operations in insecure environments. Proven experience in security management
• Proven track record in setting up equitable partnership with counterparts (National/local NGOs).
• Ability to promptly analyze situations and adjust strategies in response to contextual changes.
• Experience with donors such as DANIDA, ECHO, FCDO, BHA and BPRM. Proven track record in raising funds in underfunded context.
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Full professional proficiency in English. (Daily working language).