Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 700 staff in Ukraine and will continue significant scale-up in 2024 to implement emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.

DRC is currently looking for a highly qualified Area Programme Manager to join our team in Dnipro. This position is based in Dnipro, with oversight of programming in Dnipropetrovska and Zaporizhska (government controlled) oblasts. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis for a start date as soon as possible.

The overall purpose of the role

• Develop and manage DRC area programming centred around strengthening of protection and resilience, for displaced populations, centred on protection and cash approaches. Displaced populations include internally displaced persons (IDPs), host families, host communities, and returnees.
• Represent DRC in relevant humanitarian coordination forums, engaging with UN & INGO counterparts and proactively seeking to shape agendas in line with DRC and humanitarian priorities. In addition, representation of the programme to partners and authorities will boost DRC’s profile and portfolio.
• Provide vision, leadership and direction to DRC humanitarian team, as well as overseeing the administration and implementation of the area project grants and project teams.
• Support the Senior Management Team in ensuring strategic programming coherent with DRC’s operational platforms, coordinating DRC’s programme development, strengthening DRC’s programme quality, standards and learning, and enforcing DRC’s accountability and M&E frameworks.

Your main responsibilities will be:

Management of DRC area portfolio

• Lead on the planning and kick off new projects in the area (Project Planning, Kick off meetings, Project Implementation Plans development, etc.).
• Provide daily support to sectoral managers and team leaders to implement their activities on time, scope and budget.
• Oversee programme quality of current and proposed projects, participate in drafting of relevant SOPs to facilitate implementation and provide direct support to sector managers and team leader to improve program quality.
• Ensure positions are staffed and projects are on track.
• Provide backstopping and training to Program Head of Departments (i.e., Managers and Team Leaders) in the roll-out of area led reporting mechanisms per project.
• Ensure compliance of current & proposed projects within scope of DRC programme department.
• Develop clear lines of communication between project staff and partners.
• Develop tools and processes to capture, share and incorporate lessons learned and best practices to inform and enhance quality of programming.

Implementation of DRC Project Cycle Management

• Lead on the roll-out and implementation of DRC Project Cycle Management tools.
• Provide mentoring to Sectoral Managers and Team leaders on the implementation of DRC Project Cycle Management phases and tools.

Strategy and funding development and resource mobilisation

• In coordination with the Area Manager and the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Manager, lead and coordinate assessments in the area.
• Regularly provide updates to the Area Manager and the Senior Management Team on needs evolution in the area, results of assessment and engagement with external stakeholders to inform project design.
• At area level, in coordination with the Head of Programme and Area Manager, lead the consolidation of inputs for proposal development.
• At area level, lead the process of adapting DRC national strategy to the local context and circumstance via an area strategy plan.
• Proactively engage area sectoral managers and team leaders to propose innovative ideas for activities in line with DRC’s Ukraine Country Strategy.

Advocacy, coordination and representation

• Represent DRC and articulate the key advocacy points in the relevant clusters and external engagement forums.
• Ensure a coordinated approach to the humanitarian response, geographically and by sector.
• Consolidate and raise needs for advocacy with area teams and inputs to Advocacy Coordinator requests for advocacy talking points, papers, etc.
• Represent DRC to relevant national authorities as delegated by the Area Manager.
• Represent DRC in external forums as delegated by the Area Manager.

As Manager, the post-holder is responsible for the following:

• Accountable for achieving DRC’s strategic goals and objectives within the area of responsibility.
• Accountable for making significant decisions on what the unit does: its purpose, functions and role, and for making commitments and decisions that require the expenditure of significant unit resources.
• Accountable for people management of direct reports, generally at least 3 employees. This includes hiring & firing, objective setting, probation, performance appraisal, development of staff, managing performance, including poor performance, etc.
• Accountable for making sound decisions based on DRC policies, MOPs, standards, and the advice of technical experts in DRC.

Roles reporting to this position: Area Sectoral Managers and/or Sectoral Team Leaders, Partnership Officer

Reports to: Area Manager

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have at least 5 years’ experience in a project/ program management role involving responsibility for developing new and successful proposals and at least 3 years’ experience with people management. Moreover, we also expect the following:

• Skills and experience in project/program planning, delivery, monitoring, reporting, review and evaluation.
• Skills in fundraising, budget management and donor reporting/ accountability/ compliance.
• Experience in working in complex emergencies or challenging security settings and within security management frameworks. Calm and diplomatic in nature.
• Experience in capacity building of staff.
• Ability to produce timely project proposals and high-quality reports.
• Full professional proficiency in English.

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: Open ended contract after successful completion of three months’ probation period.
• Band: F2 management
• Designation of Duty Station: Dnipro
• Start date: ASAP

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 30th of September 2024

This position is open only to national applicants.

CVs will be reviewed on a rolling basis, we encouage qualified candidates to apply as soon as possible. DRC is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.