Regional Operations Director

Contract

This is a DRC - Expatriate or National contract. More about DRC - Expatriate or National contracts.

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently recruiting 6 Operations Directors to provide leadership and direction to Country Operations within our new regional structures. This position will be for East Africa and Great lakes and the duty station is Narobi, Kenya

To be able to assist refugees and the displaced, protect their rights and empower them towards a better future, we must ensure that our Country Operations are at the center of what we do, with clear, standardized and efficient support structures around them. For this reason, DRC is transitioning into four regions of similar size, structure and turnover (Asia & Europe, Middle East, East Africa & Great Lakes and West-North Africa & Latin America) – ensuring that we, at all times, are optimally equipped and able to provide the same high-level support to all countries.

Within the new structure, Country Directors will be reporting to Operations Directors and be part of the extended regional team. East Africa and Middle East will have one Operations Director each, whereas the two other more geographically dispersed regions will have two Operations Directors each.

ABOUT THE JOB Reporting to the Regional Executive Directors, the Operation Directors will provide overall leadership to Country Operations within their respective geographic areas. In dialogue with the Country Directors - as well as the Regional Executive Director and other Regional Senior Management Team members - you will provide guidance, define and agree on objectives and priorities for each Country Operation. Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

• Lead, manage, coach and provide advice to Country Directors.
• Spearhead and inspire DRC leadership based on the DRC leadership principle: Freedom of action with responsibility.
• Ensure that Country Operations operate in line with global and regional priorities and in accordance with global policies, standards and procedures.
• Support and advise Country Directors in establishing appropriate Senior Management Teams and structures.
• Provide leadership on crisis and issue management in close cooperation with Regional Executive Directors, Regional Senior Management Team members and relevant global units.
• Oversee that compliance processes are established and maintained at country level. Coordinate closely with other Regional Senior Management Team members to ensure effective support is provided to country operations.
• Monitor the execution of agreed budgets (through delegated authority by the Regional Executive Director). In dialogue with Country Directors and other regional staff, provide financial management advice and support, while elevating critical issues to the Regional Office or Headquarters.
• Keep the wider organization abreast of major programmatic and operational trends, changes, capacity challenges and programmatic shifts both globally and within the region.
• Support and advise countries on matters of advocacy, donor relations and fundraising. Cross-regional representation as required (the Operations Director positions for Europe and Latin America will include donor and stakeholder representation functions).
• Responsible for overseeing Risk Management of Country Operations. Lead respective regional Crisis Management Team structures as required.
• Responsible for ensuring Safety and Duty of Care for Country Operations

ABOUT YOU To be successful in this role we expect you to have extensive experience with developing and implementing programme responses and operational structures in displacement contexts. Accountability to affected populations is the driver of your engagement and you have a comprehensive humanitarian experience both operationally and from a policy perspective.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

• At least 7 years’ experience as a senior manager (managing other managers) within the humanitarian sector. Extensive leadership experience in complex organizational environments; used to leading change processes and building and leading strong teams and other leaders within highly technical expertise areas.
• Good at setting and maintaining direction with a strategic mindset and demonstrated experience in planning, coordinating and leading processes that include multiple stakeholders.
• Inclusive, inspiring and facilitating leadership style, always striving to empower, motivate, and develop your team while also seeking inspiration from others and consulting with colleagues.
• Extensive experience with developing and implementing programme responses in displacement contexts and with programme innovation.
• Ability to deal with programmatic and operational complexity and master the balancing act of finding the right approach and decisions relevant for DRC’s mandate.
• Experience with translating technical requirements and programmatic complexity into programming that is efficient, delivers results and convenes locally driven and sustainable solutions.
• Excellent advocate, firmly rooted in the rights-based approach, and ability to explain the business case to potential new partners.
• Comprehensive humanitarian experience both operationally and from a policy perspective, and with a strong network within the sector. Understanding and experience working within the humanitarian coordination architecture.
• Practical experience with several of DRC’s five core sectors and believe in the value of reaching results through multi sector integrated programming and via multi stakeholder engagement.
• Strong in triple nexus programming, the Core Humanitarian Standard, and the normative and legal frameworks relevant for our displacement mandate.
• Strong communicator capable of communicating technical complexity in an easy-to-understand way. Fluent in English (fluency in French an added advantage.)

In this position, you are also 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.

CONDITIONS Contract: 4 years with possibility of extension ,

Salary & Conditions :In accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for either National or Expatriate staff .

Availability: May 2022

Duty station: This position is based in Nairobi - Kenya. This is a non-accompanied position.

Providing equal opportunities We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are considered for employment without attention to race, age, ability, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other factor. At DRC we celebrate diversity and appreciate our employees for the people they are and their unique skills, backgrounds, and perspectives. We encourage all interested candidates to apply.

Promoting high standards : DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process.

Application and CV All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. You will be able to indicate any preferences in regard to Duty Station when submitting your application. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

DRC only accepts applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.ngo under Vacancies

For questions regarding the vacancy please contact Executive Director for Operations, Shanna Jensen ([email protected]).

Closing date for applications: 26th January 2022