Response Manager

Contract

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

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to promote and protect durable solutions to conflict and displacement affected populations on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC is implementing a multi-sector response to support Ukraine refugees, IDPs and host populations both within Ukraine and in the neighbouring countries of Poland, Romania and Moldova and wider Europe.

Due to the ongoing conflict that began in February 2022, Ukraine is experiencing one of the largest humanitarian crises in Europe since World War II. Currently, there are an estimated 6.3 million displaced people who have crossed the international border, with 549,333 crossing into Moldova to date and with between 70 to 90,000 remaining in Moldova.

DRC Moldova will respond in three pillars:

1. Establish partnerships agreements with national NGOs engaged in the response and enhance their coverage
2. Provide technical support to partners, the wider civil society, and state actors engaged in the response
3. Implementation of humanitarian interventions in various sectors (Protection, Mine Risk Education and Site Management Support).

About the Job

The Response Manager’s prime objectives will be to provide leadership and management with a view to positioning DRC as the leading INGO in Moldova for the protection of displaced populations and people on the move, as well as the promotion of durable solutions, both directly and through a partnership with CSO and national NGOs in Moldova. Oversee the strengthening of DRC’s programme development, quality and accountability framework and be a proactive partner in the wider Europe regional strategic and programme development processes,

Main Responsibilities:

Program Management

• Overall responsibility for the design, implementation, and effective monitoring of projects and activities with refugees and host communities.
• Liaise with the DRC partners and monitor the implementation of the DRC-funded project activities.
• Overall responsibility for the financial viability of the operation.
• Ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, and documentation of all activities and processes, and that the analysis of data collected (at various levels) is proactively used to inform activity changes to improve program quality.
• Ensure the development and implementation of all activities in line with Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) and DRC program policies, especially regarding gender, age, ethnic background, and disability.
• Seek funding opportunities to scale up and/or expand activities working closely with the protection, CD, Regional Head of Program, and relevant technical specialists. This includes identifying and undertaking assessments as well as writing concept notes and proposals.
• Closely coordinate with the senior management team ensuring regular information flows.
• Conduct regular monitoring visits to all field offices.

Technical Program

• Engage strategically with all technical sectors and provide management and strategic input/oversight for all sectors of intervention.
• To facilitate linkages and support with the DRC Country Office in Ukraine, Poland, and Romania and the Regional Office in Europe.
• Oversee and provide strategic support to protection and program teams.

Representation and Relations

• Represent DRC with the regional/local governments, state and municipality stakeholders, institutional donors, UN bodies, and non-government organizations as required and in relevant related to the coordination of the Polish response.
• Represent DRC in the coordination of the response and keep the Country team updated.
• Ensure appropriate DRC staff members attend the ad hoc and regular coordination meetings, clusters, and technical working groups as applicable to DRCs program and work in the country.
• Engage with all relevant stakeholders regularly, including local/refugee leadership, local/regional governmental bodies, donors, and partners.
• Ensure accurately and on-time reporting internally and externally, including contributing to external donor reports and required reporting to the government of Moldova as required.

Team Management

• Manage DRC Moldova’s office in Chisinau, as well as all field offices in other areas of Moldova.
• Lead regular staff and management meetings at the Moldova level and ensure inter-department coordination.
• Manage direct reports to agreed job priorities and identify learning and development needs for program and support staff, under your direct and indirect supervision. Bring human resource/staff management issues to the Country Director for decisions.
• Ensure that DRCs code of conduct, reporting mechanism, and complaint response mechanisms are well understood by staff and other stakeholders and are well functioning at the field level.
• With team leaders, coordinators, and officers to manage budgets; ensuring effective, efficient use of resources including financial, human, and all assets.
• Ensure that program teams work closely with the support team to apply DRC policies and procedures in finance, procurement, and logistics including effective planning weekly, monthly and quarterly.
• Ensure overall dissemination of and adherence to DRC policies, procedures, guidelines, systems, and standard practices.
• Provide leadership in overseeing supply chain, finance and administration, and office services activities and ensure their timely/efficient delivery. Ensure processes are harmonized across all offices in the Country and base/satellite offices receive adequate and timely support.
• Overall responsibility for security in and around Moldova including ensuring adherence to agreed security protocols, recommending changes to security protocols, and delivering the agreed security action plan.
• Conduct any other activities as requested by the Country Director.

Analysis and Reporting

• Update the program progress and ensure timely reporting from managers and senior staff in the Area Office.
• Provide updates to DRC Europe Region on the humanitarian situation and the collective response.

About You

To be successful in this role we expect you to have a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in planning, implementing, and monitoring activities and projects according to internal and national guidelines, agreements, and international standards. Moreover, we also expect the following:

• University degree in political science, international development, or another relevant field.
• Demonstrated, strong experience in team management and capacity building and training of staff and target groups.
• Proven experience working in complex emergency contexts, including the provision of technical advice to field teams and program development.
• Excellent planning, management, and coordination skills, with the ability to organize a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities and to delegate.
• Excellent communication skills in English, including the ability to present complex technical information in a simple way.
• Ability to understand and integrate protection issues.
• Detailed knowledge of humanitarian principles, guidelines, and standards.
• Fluency in English. Moldovan language skills will be considered an advantage.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s 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 act in line with DRC’s vision and values.

We Offer

Contract length: September 2022 - February 2023, with the possibility of extension depending on funding.

Band: Management, E

Duty base: Chisinau with frequent travel to other field locations

Start date: ASAP

We offer a competitive salary and benefits in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National Staff.

Application Process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: August 28th, 2022.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and we, therefore, encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact Evangelia Trikili, evangelia.trikili@drc.ngo