Area Programme Manager

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

DRC has been operating in the Middle East (ME) region for over a decade, running a combination of emergency, livelihood, protection and advocacy programmes through Country Offices (COs) in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey with a Regional Office (RO) in Amman.

DRC Yemen’s response

Throughout its nine field offices and a workforce of 450 staff, DRC upholds its main programmatic objectives to provide immediate and life sustaining assistance, to strengthen the protective environment, and to reduce displacement related risks and vulnerabilities by promoting self-reliance at household and community level.

About the job

Overall purpose of the role:

The Area Programme Manager (APM) is responsible for the quality and timely implementation DRC’s programs in Aden and field offices. The APM is a key Area Management position ensuring cross-cutting programmatic management in alignment with a cohesive programmatic vision for the area. They must ensure that policies, systems and people are continuously and accurately working in a coordinated manner resulting in a coherent and comprehensive program design, reporting, and implementation.

Main responsibilities :

Staff Management

• Direct supervisory of Sectoral Project Managers in IRG-controlled areas in Yemen.
• Ensure performance objectives and key performance indicators are established and regularly reviewed for direct reports.
• Provide regular constructive feedback to direct reports, and support direct reports in performance management of their team members.
• Develop staff competence through recruitment, leadership, training and coaching of key program technical staff.
• Ensure that a capacity building plan is in place for national staff, and support nationalization efforts as necessary and relevant.
• Support PMs in ensuring sufficient staffing structures are in place for project teams to ensure delivery of programs.
• Support PMs in operational aspects of programme implementation, and liaise with relevant Support functions.

Program Implementation & Reporting

• Ensure that efficient and effective systems are in place to strengthen Project Cycle Management in the South.
• Lead on monthly program reviews for grants implemented by South Area Office teams to ensure quality and timely program implementation according to work plans, targets, and with appropriate levels of spending throughout the project duration.
• Maintain oversight of monthly progress against project indicators and ensure reported figures are accurate and in-line with workplans.
• Ensure high-quality internal and donor programmatic reports are submitted in a timely manner; support capacity building of program staff on reporting as required.
• In close collaboration with the Support Services Manager, ensure that procurement plans and accurate budget expenditure forecasts are continuously updated and reviewed to ensure timely delivery of project activities.
• Support PMs and the Base Manager in project implementation, identifying integration opportunities and ensuring geographic convergence.
• Identify risk areas to delivery of projects and coordinate solutions and mitigation measures in a timely manner.
• Assure compliance with DRC standards and procedures and donor compliance regulations, through regular coordination with support services teams at Area Office and Country Office level.
• Ensure project kick-off and closure meetings are conducted and that project staff have access to all relevant documents, tools and reports required for implementation of the project; lead on grant opening and grant close out meetings for grants when assigned as a focal point.
• Ensure that technical direction for implemented projects is aligned with DRC Global and National strategies, in collaboration with technical coordinators.
• Responsible for actively promoting, supporting and driving lessons learnt and adherence to relevant quality standards.
• Support project managers and base managers in identifying technical capacity building needs for their teams, and coordinate delivery of relevant trainings and capacity building efforts, in collaboration with technical coordinators.
• Ensure that technical support is provided to the field programs by the Programs Unit at the Country Office, and act as a bridge between the Country technical coordinators and the program managers
• Frequent travel to the program sites for direct support, representation and identification of opportunities for organizational growth.
• Ensure projects have sufficient exit strategies in place that are implemented by the project teams for a streamlined closure of activities and/or exit from communities as required.

Program Development and Fundraising

• Contribute to planning and implementation of needs assessments, in close consultation with technical coordinators, including identification of potential new areas of operation.
• Maintain oversight of contextual changes and their potential impact on program delivery and/or changes in needs of communities in IRG-controlled areas of Yemen.
• Coordinate with the Country Office program development and grants department, the technical coordinators and the PMs to ensure coordinated efforts towards developing quality proposals.
• Lead narrative and budget development of proposals,concept notes, and reports for the Area Office for programmes.
• Work with PMs to develop programmatic strategies relevant to the evolving context and contribute towards Area Office programmatic planning and logframes.

Representation

• Represent DRC at relevant coordination forums/ meetings in South Area.
• Represent programmes in the South Area Office within the Area SMT, and lead effective coordination with Technical Coordinators and the Head of Programme at the Country Office level.
• Develop good rapport with the Key Stakeholders at Aden, Mocha andfield levels
• Assist Area Manager in conducting regular stakeholder analyses to ensure that DRC has good understanding of dynamics/relationships within Yemen South.

General

• Maintain high level of security awareness and adhere to all safety regulations provided by DRC for safety and security of DRC staff and assets in Aden as member of the Area Management Team.
• Comply with DRC policies and practice with respect to child safeguarding, code of conduct, safety and security, anti-harassment, and other relevant policies and procedures.

About you

Experience and technical competencies

To be successful in this role, we expect you to be a positive, mature program leader with a proven track record of developing effective initiatives, programmes, and impact. You are an effective people manager and enjoy working with teams of committed staff to build collaboration and capacity within the South Area Office programmes team and building strong relationships with the country program team.

• Minimum 5 years of program development and implementation experience in a volatile and complex humanitairna setting is required, with preference for a candidate with technical program experience in one or more of DRC Yemen’s key sectors of implementation such as WASH, protection, livelihoods.
• Minimum 4 years in staff management in a highly operational INGO; a strong preference for demonstrated capacity building and coaching skills.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills – verbal and written.
• A strong understanding of donor compliance.
• A strategic thinker who is able to collaboratively contribute to and convey a programmatic vision to the area team.
• Ability to adapt to the complex and stressful working conditions of the area of operations along with willingness to follow security policies and procedures.
• High-level knowledge and practice with Word, Excel, Outlook, etc., as well as data analysis.
• Ability/willingness to work with extremely tight deadlines and balance multiple tasks.

Education:

• Master’s degree in relevant field such as humanitarian action and development; or an additional 4 years of relevant work experience in lieu.

Languages:

• English (Fluent)
• Arabic (Highly Desirable)

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: one year contract

Band: F1 manager

Duty Station: Aden

Designation of Duty Station: Non-Family Duty Station

Start date: ASAP

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment.