Country: Somalia
Closing date: 19 Sep 2013
Area Manager
Somaliland
Background
DRC has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. Using a human rights framework, the DRC Horn of Africa and Yemen (HOAY) operation focuses mainly on Somalis who are affected by displacement, but also oversees programmes for internally displaced in Kenya, Yemen and Ethiopia. DRC aims to create a synergy between the different humanitarian aid and development projects in the HOAY – both in terms of geographical coverage and types of activities implemented in support of refugees and populations displaced or otherwise affected by conflict, consequences of climate change and natural hazards in the region.
DRC’s mandate is driven by three global strategic objectives within the DRC Assistance Framework: Saving lives and alleviation of immediate suffering among people affected by conflict, Safeguarding, restoration and development of livelihoods, and, Institutional and organisational change that contributes to protection of people’s rights and peaceful handling of conflict.
DRCs current regional objective is to support and strengthen a regional protection framework for displacement affected communities throughout the Horn of Africa and Yemen. HOAY have developed a programme framework specific for the current context in which all projects and programmes contribute. These are five main pillars: Integrated Emergency Response (IER); Community Driven Recovery and Development (CDRD); Turning the Tide (TtT); Gain Resilience, Opportunities and Work (GROW); and Integrated Protection and Empowerment (IPE).
DRC strives to be one of the absolute leading displacement focused INGOs in the Somalia region in terms of relevance, impact and quality. Currently, focus is shifting from emergency programming to an increased pursuance of durable solutions and sustainable livelihood strategies for the displaced population as well as building better strategic, programmatic and operational coherence and synergy across the wider Somalia region.
The Somalia programme has currently over 300 staff working in six main field offices, which include Hargeisa, Bossaso, Galkacyo, Mogadishu, Dollow and Beletweyne. DRC Somalia implements broad emergency, and recovery programming including protection, livelihoods and food security, water and sanitation, and governance and other programmes that fall within five pillars of programme namely: Integrated Emergency Response (IER); Integrated Protection and Empowerment (IPE); Community Driven Recovery and Development (CDRD), Turning the Tide (TtT) youth programme; and the Gain Resilience, Opportunities and Work (GROW) programme that focus on rural livelihoods.
Overall Objective
The Area Manager is responsible for managing all activities within Somaliland. The Area Manager contributes to strategic planning and leads in the management of the operations in Somaliland. S/he is responsible for high quality, effective and accountable program design and delivery. The Area Manager retains a high degree of management autonomy.
Purpose
The Somaliland Area Manager’s prime objectives will be to provide leadership and strategic management with a view to position DRC as the leading INGO in Somaliland on protection and promotion of durable solutions; oversee the strengthening of DRC’s programme development, quality and accountability framework and be a pro-active partner in the Somaliland strategic and programme development process in close collaboration with the Country Director; Deputy Country Director, other AM colleagues and senior programme staff and advisors,
The AM supervises the senior management team for Somaliland including the Deputy AM, Operations Manager and other national senior staff. The Somaliland operation includes five sub-offices supported by the Hargeisa main office, and serves as a hub for DRC Country Programme technical staff responsible for providing technical support in Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somalia. Currently there is over 90 DRC staff working in Somaliland.
Key Responsibilities
• Strategic management and development Contribute to the local and regional program strategy and assist in the development and implementation of pillar projects according to the SPD and Somalia operational strategy. Tasks include: a) lead strategy development, context analysis and set annual plans, implementation and monitoring for Somaliland programme, b) play a leading role in annual program portfolio analyses, c) develop Somaliland strategic initiatives, d) manage strategic partnership and support fundraising and donor contract management.
• Program Development and Quality Management Responsible for Somaliland programme quality including monitoring evaluation and learning, accountability, partnerships, alliances, communications and programme cycle management, including: a) ensuring DRC policies, standards and approaches are met in programmes, b) Ensuring quality checks of projects, proposals & reports against organisational and donor standards, c) ensure internal and external reporting is completed on-time and to organisational and donor standards, d) ensuring all staff have work plans which are in line with strategic priorities, e) apply performance management systems, and f) ensure standard approaches and learning across programmes and contribution to Somalia learning initiatives
• Safety and Security With technical support from the Regional/Assistant Regional Security Advisor and Safety Liaison officer, responsible for ensuring programs are delivered in a safe and secure manner pursuant to Operational Handbook Chapters 19 & 20, and that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure duty of care to staff. Tasks include: a) work to ensure that security management protocols and procedures are updated, made locally relevant and applied consistently, b) to be overall responsible for ensuring security analyses and safety risk assessments are being done collectively and regularly, c) ensuring that risks to staff, beneficiaries and assets are mitigated through a deterrence, acceptance, protection and program-enabling lens, and d) ensure compliance to MOSS standards and improvement plans in all field offices
• Funding, Grant and Finance management
Responsible for achieving program compliance with quality and accountability commitments. Key actions include a)Maintain excellence in area level Donor liaison, fundraising and proposal development, b) manage area level fiscal function and performance, ensuring compliance to policies of risk management and that all risks are managed within Somaliland, c) ensure agreed standards and indicators are being met across programmes, d) Ensure timely country reporting to Country, e) ensure area internal and donor reports are to the appropriate organisational and donor standards, and f) manage area level finances and master budgets, monitor financial input at area level is to organisational and donor standards, and ensure compliance to internal and external standards
• Human Resources and Support Services Management Oversight of the HR/Admin, Finance and Logistics teams to ensure effective support for program needs. Tasks include: a) ensure implementation of HR policies and procedures at area level and compliance with recruitment and performance management policies, b) ensure effective Performance management and development of staff, c) ensure consistency and legal compliance with Somaliland requirements, d) ensure that support services are adapting and responding to programmatic needs, c) play a very active oversight role in sensitive areas, such as recruitment, discipline and complaints handling, e) ensure compliance and roll out of DRC brand and use in all communication media, and f) support country level media, digital and corporate communication strategies and initiatives to help DRC achieve its organisational goals,
Reporting Arrangements
The post holder reports to the Country Director of Somalia.
Qualifications
Essential • Minimum of a relevant university level education or equivalent • Three years management experience, as head or senior member of humanitarian or development INGOs or UN agency with large and diverse programmes • Good communicator and proven diplomacy with all types of stakeholders • Committed to upholding dignity and diversity • Proven commitment to accountable practices and knowledgeable of quality assurance systems • Hands on experience of managing staff in insecure locations • Proven financial and well developed human resource management skills • Experience of managing budgets and multiple donor contracts • Knowledge of protection issues • Fluent and articulate in spoken and written English • Ability and willingness to engage with all levels of staff and stakeholder
Preferable: • Experience in conflict and disaster related displacement issues • Experience in humanitarian advocacy
Conditions:
Contract: 12 month renewable contract
Other employment conditions in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Global Expatriates recruited by the Horn of Africa Regional Office. This position is rated as A10 on the DRC salary scale available at www.drc.dk For National staff the terms of employment will be in accordance with DRC terms for National staff. Duty Station: Hargeisa with travel to field sites in Somaliland. This is a non-family duty station. Availability: 1 November 2013
Commitments
DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability committments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework
How to apply:
Application and CV
Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit updated CV and cover letter explaining their motivation and why they are suited for the post. Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications will be considered. CV-only applications will not be considered.
Please forward the application and CV, in English and marked “Area Manager, Somaliland”, to drcjobs@drchoa.org no later than 19 September 2013.