DRC: Area Programme Manager – Sumy

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 800 staff in Ukraine and implements 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 Sumy.

The overall purpose of the role

• Develop and manage DRC area programming centered around strengthening of protection and resilience for displaced populations, centered on protection and cash approaches. Displaced populations include internally displaced persons (IDPs), host families, host communities, and returnees.
• Manage the provision of direct humanitarian assistance and strengthening of partners, including identification and capacity development of local authorities and civil society organizations.
• Represent DRC in relevant humanitarian coordination fora, 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 and 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.

Geographic scope: Area North

This role has an area focus and ensures compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines within the area. The role contributes to developing area strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The role provides support and/or technical guidance to base operations.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

1. Management of DRC area portfolio

• Lead on the planning and kick-off of 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 to drafting relevant SOPs to facilitate implementation, and provide direct support to sector managers and team leaders 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 projects
• 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 the quality of programming

2. Implementation of DRC Project Cycle Management

• Lead on the rollout 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

3. Strategy and funding development and resource mobilisation

• In coordination with the Area Manager and MEAL Manager, lead and coordinate assessments in the area
• Regularly provide updates to the Area Manager and SMT 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 the 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

4. Advocacy, coordination and representation

• Represent DRC and articulate the key advocacy points in the relevant clusters and external engagement fora
• 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 fora as delegated by the Area Manager

5. As manager, you will be 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 three 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, Specialists, 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:

Required

• 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 and local partners.
• 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: 12 months contract (renewable depending on performance and funding). Preliminary 3-month probation period.

Band: F2-management.

Designation of Duty Station: Based in the Sumy office (Non-family duty station) with travels within the region.

Start date: As soon as possible.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National or Expatriates; please refer to our website for more details.

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: May 31st, 2026

We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible, interviews might be conducted on a rolling basis. DRC reserves the right to select candidate before the vacancy close date once a suitable candidate has been identified.

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