Area Manager Job - Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Job Title: Area Manager

Organisation: Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Reports to: Head of Program

About US:

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, independent, humanitarian organization working on all aspects of the refugee cause in more than 36 countries throughout the world. The aim of DRC is to protect refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) against persecution and to promote durable solutions to the problems of forced migration, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC works in accordance with the UN Conventions on Refugees and the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief.

Job Summary: The Area Manager represents the Danish Refugee Council in West Nile South and has the direct responsibility for the management, implementation and continued development of the DRC outputs and activities. The position also contributes to the achievement of DRC’s humanitarian and emergency objectives and responsible for the planning, development and implementation of the response in West Nile South. Under the overall guidance of the Country Director, and the Management Team in the Country Office, the Area Manager is to ensure quality implementation of projects, ensure compliance to financial and administrative procedures for the programme, and implementation of adequate security precautions within the programme area to ensure the safety of all staff and assets

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Programme Development and Management

Provide input for the continued development of a sustainable strategy for DRC’s multi-sectoral assistance in west Nile South
Provide strategic leadership to the cascading of DRC strategy to staff and relevant stakeholders
Contribute to the development of proposals for emergency response and recovery interventions
Together with the Head of Programs, identify opportunities for new projects
Assist the Head of Program to plan and develop concept papers, budgets and project proposals
Prepare project work plans in accordance with annual planning and funding cycles
Supervise effective, efficient and timely implementation of all projects according to agreed contracts, budgets, policies and in accordance with specific donor requirements

Reporting/Accountability

In consultation with the Country Director and Head of Support Services, ensure correct and timely narrative and financial reporting to donor(s)
Provide regular internal and external reports, and other relevant information on programme activities, policy matters and external relations, based on agreed formats and schedules
Promote/Implement Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS)
Ensure relevant beneficiary data is collected, compiled, analyzed and distributed and that relevant assessments are conducted in the project area
Develop steps and procedures in the planning and implementation of the response in accordance with donor agreements, implementing partners, and internal and external policies and procedures and ensure that activities are in line with budget lines and limitations.
Monitor, evaluate and suggest changes and improvements in programme based on observations for the emergency response.
Provide the CD/HoP with regular update and channel issues relevant to emergency response and recovery interventions
Prepare daily and weekly reports in accordance with milestones for Country Office in emergency response
Prepare regular updates/success stories on emergency response and share for publication
Ensure requisite studies: baselines, evaluations, Knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP) etc.

Administration and Personnel Management

Lead the recruitment of required staff for the emergency response and recovery interventions
Ensure that performance objectives are developed for each job holder, reviewed and reported upon
Ensure continuous capacity building among staff in handling the emergency response
Supervise budgeting and project expenditures, and prepare financial reports with assistance from the Grant and Finance Departments
Supervise project human resources in the field and at offices, and co-manage shared human resources with other programme. This includes further development of staff job descriptions, their training and monitoring, and recruitment
Implement and monitor, and where necessary revise implementation of DRC administrative guidelines and -policies, safety- and security procedures, logistical support and other tasks associated with efficient day-to-day running of the operations
Be responsible for organizational development for the project, including staff assessments
Ensure adherence to Code of Conduct (CoC) for the protection of DRC reputational image; enforce compliance with all DRC procedures and policies External relations
Promote and maintain DRC brand and image among stakeholders
Develop and nurture strategic partnerships with the UN and other donors
Maintain close relations with all relevant stakeholders including donor and UN agencies, officials

External relations

Promote and maintain DRC brand and image among stakeholders
Develop and nurture strategic partnerships with the UN and other donors
Maintain close relations with all relevant stakeholders including donor and UN agencies, officials of the Office of the Prime Minister, District Local
Authorities and Lower Local Authorities and other donor representatives, INGOs, NGOs and CBOs
Participate in relevant sector coordination meetings in the field and ensure DRC’s inputs to development of assistance modalities that adhere to humanitarian principles and other international frameworks that DRC has subscribed to
Ensure effective coordination and visibility to the implementation of the projects with all humanitarian and development actors and relevant stakeholders.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The ideal candidate must hold an Advanced University Degree in Human Rights, Social Sciences, Project Management,
At least five years’ experience in Programme development and implementation in emergency context, including quality monitoring and evaluation processes.
Experience working in refugee operations in more than one context.
Relevant technical experience in some sectors of humanitarian programming such as shelter, livelihoods/resilience, and protection, etc
Demonstrated ability to manage and support multi-sector programmes including operational planning and problem solving.
Demonstrated experience of people management and team-building.
Demonstrated experience of financial and supply chain management
Demonstrated ability to undertaken representation with senior government officials
Experience in project design and reporting including multi-donor programming
Experience in coordination and networking including stakeholder engagement
Experience in security management and ability to work in an isolated and challenging environment.
Proficiency in computer packages and financial software i.e. Word, Excel, Power point etc.
Fluency in English.
Fluency in local languages would be an asset.
Development Studies or related field or equivalent practical experience
Proven ability to build external relationships with diplomacy, tact and professionalism in a complex and demanding environment.