Job Opportunity at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

About the programme

DRC is the process of opening up a new country programme in Nigeria focusing on responding to the huge humanitarian needs and challenges in the North East of Nigeria. Nigeria’s north-east is currently experiencing a significant humanitarian crisis, which has resulted from the ongoing-armed conflict between Boko Haram, the Nigerian military and the Multi-National Task Force in the north-east. An estimated 10 million people are affected by the conflict, which has led to a state of emergency being declared in three north-eastern states and spill-over effects into neighbouring countries. High insecurity in the region has made access for humanitarian actors extremely difficult, further exacerbating the situation.

DRC operations will initially focus on Yola in Adamawa State and from there we will focus on meeting the basic needs (protection, WASH, food security and shelter) of urban caseloads as well as supporting outreach to affected areas and displacement camps.

DRC is in the process of setting up a small representational and coordination office in Abuja and a larger field based implementation office in Adamawa State. As our Country Director you are expected to travel on a regular basis between both locations, as well as the broader north-east region (depending on access) and other countries within the region. We are still working on a permanent location for the Country Director.

The position

You are expected to provide strategic leadership during this critical first phase of operational startup in Nigeria, including overseeing the setting up of offices, accommodation and warehousing, hiring and training of staff, sourcing of core relief items and transportation in addition to ensuring smooth implementation and delivery of results from the start up of new DRC humanitarian programmes in the north-east of Nigeria.

In more specific terms, you will:

• Be a driving force in terms of developing the new DRC programmes in Nigeria, undertaken in coordination and consultation with local and international partners.
• Represent Danish Demining Group, DRC’s Armed Violence Reduction (AVR) unit, and identifying opportunities for integrated DRC/DDG programme development that focus efforts on conflict transformation, community safety and mine action in collaboration with DDG’s Regional Manager for West Africa and Global Specialist Leads for AVR and mine action.
• Together with a new Head of Finance and Administration (HoFA), oversee the setting up of new financial and management systems for the county programme and provide overall budget monitoring, financial management and expenses control including compliance with minimum DRC/DDG and donor requirements.
• Overall responsible for security including development and ensuring adherence to security procedures, monitoring the development in the security situation, analysing and provision of recommendations.
• Act as representative for the programme to authorities, donors, partners, and in various co-ordination forums.
• To provide strong fundraising abilities and play key role in fundraising and donor contract management.
• Design the Results Contract annually in line with the Regional Strategic Programme Document and report on it quarterly, incorporating adjustments as needed.
• Contribute to the integration of the Nigeria program into the DRC’s regional strategy and set up.

The County Director for Nigeria will report to the Regional Director for West Africa who is based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Your qualifications

You have a minimum of 10 years of senior management experience with a humanitarian agency, including experience with starting up new country programmes and operations - and a relevant educational background (e.g. political or social science, international development, economics). In addition you also have:

• In-depth knowledge of and experience working with displacement issues of both internal to displaced persons and refugees and related international standards/frameworks.
• Proven ability to design, manage, monitor and evaluate programmes, preferably with a focus on protection and durable solutions for refugees, returnees and displaced people.
• Experience with financial management, administration, human resource development and logistics.
• A systematic and ‘by the book’ approach with starting up programmes
• Strong ability to collaborate, network and negotiate with local partners, Governments, UN, donors and other NGOs.
• Proven management experience at senior level including capacity building, training and mentoring, especially in complex humanitarian environments;
• Experience in developing fundraising strategies.
• Fluent in English is essential (spoken and written). Ability to operate in French is an added advantage.
• Work experience from Nigeria and, or the West Africa region is desirable.

Personal qualities

You have the ability to motivate and guide staff working in complex and unpredictable environments and relish the capacity building side of your job. You are known to be a strong and confident leader; who on the one hand is inclusive, approachable and good at delegating while on the other hand is not afraid to stand alone and take tough decisions, all the while able to focus on managing your country at a strategic level.

You have a natural talent for working analytically and find that you excel in tasks concerning negotiation, advocacy and interpersonal communication. Last, but not least, you thrive by working in complex emergency operation within a changing and insecure environment and as a result have a natural ability to work well under pressure - that mirrors your solid personal stamina.

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of age, nationality, race, gender or age.

Conditions Availability: September 2015.
Duty station: Nigeria.
Contract: 12 months

Salary and other conditions in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates, which can be found on our website under Vacancies (Terms of employment; Appendix 3: Employment categories and salary). The position is placed at Level A4.

Further information

You are welcome to contact the Regional Director for West Africa, Mr Jean-Christophe Saint-Estebenat rd.wa@drc.dk for additional information on the position. For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website.