Area Manager

Overall Objective:

Working under the Country Director (CD), the Area Manager (AM) is responsible for DRCs operations in Kenya’s North Eastern counties (NEP). S/he is responsible for program design and implementation, security, support functions, personnel management, community relations, funding and budgetary functions.

Background:

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. DRC has been active in Kenya since 2005. The Kenya Program provides services and support in the sectors of livelihoods, community development, protection and for refugees residing in Kenya and the resident hosting communities. DRC has operational offices in Nairobi and Dadaab implementing programs directly and in partnership with local NGOs.

Job Purpose:

The AM’s core function is to ensure development of programming that is efficient, accountable, need driven and based on best practices. The AM will lead strategic planning and program development, ensure that operations are implemented within DRC’s regulations, procedures, guidelines and strategies; enable a productive and accountable relationship with beneficiaries, members of the local and refugee community, relevant line ministries, L/INGOs and UN agencies. The AM is DRC’s primary representative with relevant actors in NEP. The AM is the overview manager for all staff based in NEP and is responsible for ensuring a result oriented team. The incumbent will also ensure a safe environment for DRC staff, beneficiaries and assets through a proactive-acceptance approach using DRCs security framework.

Responsibilities:

Management

• Enable an effective team through result oriented management systems, providing leadership, on-job capacity building and designing staff development strategies.
• Provide direct management of senior program, support and security staff; provide overview management for the entire NEP team.
• Ensure programs are developed, implemented and evaluated within clear monitoring systems and against clear people/program/finance planning that meets DRC and donor regulations and humanitarian and HAP principles.
• Provide on-site support through frequent visits to project sites

Security

• Ensure a safe and secure environment for DRC staff, beneficiaries and assets through: operationalizing DRCs security procedures, providing safety and security analysis, recommendations and follow-ups.
• Organize for regular staff training on the use of security systems.HR, Finance, Logistics and Administration
• Ensure compliance to DRC, donor and national policies, rules, regulations and systems in a timely, responsible, documented, accurate & appropriate manner; ensures that support services are cost effective and efficient.
• Ensure a diverse and professional workforce through efficient, effective and transparent recruitment, evaluation and disciplinary processes.
• Ensure procurement is carried-out in a fair, transparent, effective and well documented manner.
• Supervising all financial reporting and financial procedures, including the monthly schedule for financial reporting, donor reporting and audits, cash flow and liquidity management

Program

• Ensure that programs are based on user-identified needs and resources of the targeted population, are well coordinated with other aid actors (including actors in Somalia), address lessons learned (from DRC and other actors) and steered towards ensuring accountability to the people to whom the services/inputs are indented to serve.

External relations

• Establishes and maintains open and productive dialogue with the county government, relevant line ministries, community leaders, power brokers and relevant aid agencies, private businesses and donors.
• Attends and contributes to discussions, workshops, working groups and other forums where operations and other issues that may impact operations or the people DRC serves are discussed.**
  Skills & Qualifications:**

Essential

• Advanced university degree in relevant field (relief, development, recovery) with at least 5-years relevant experience; or basic university degree and at least 8-years relevant experience; at least 3-years’ experience managing large-scale multi-sector programming.
• Proven experience in strategic development and program design & writing, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Experience in livelihoods, community development, protection and relief highly desired.
• Practical and extensive financial, HR and administration management experience with extensive knowledge of budget development/management and finance documentation, tracking and archiving; understanding of HR and administration principles and ethics. Experience with UNHCR, ECHO, European Aid, and BPRM guidelines will be an added advantage.
• Result-oriented management experience of a large, diverse and dynamic team, and a commitment to good leadership. Must have a proven ability to foster teamwork and commitment to on-job training/support.
• Practical and proven skills in negotiation and conflict resolution with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience in security and safety management in highly dynamic security environments
• Analytical and problem solving skills and an ability to work independently and as a team needed.
• Proven excellent communication skills and fluency in written and spoken English essential. Excellent report writing skills is a must.

Preferable:

• Past experience in East Africa.
• Experience in a refugee setting and knowledge of refugee issues.

Reporting: The AM reports to the CD and manages the department heads in Dadaab. S/he is supported by the Kenya Program and the Regional support departments and technical advisors in Nairobi.

Conditions

Commencement: Immediately

Duty Station: Dadaab, Garissa County, Kenya. Non-family duty station.

Contract: 1 year renewable contract. Salary and conditions for expatriates in accordance with the DRC’s Terms of Employment for Global Expatriates (available at www.drc.dk under Vacancies). This position falls under grade A10.

Post-holder must be medically fitand able to adapt to isolated and potentially insecure environments.

About DRC

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, independent, humanitarian organization working on all aspects of the refugee cause in more than twenty five 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.
The protection and assistance to conflict affected population is provided within a long-term, regional and rights-based approach in order to constitute a coherent and effective response to the challenges posed by today’s conflicts. Assistance consists of relief and other humanitarian aid, rehabilitation, support to return and repatriation as well as promotion of long-term solutions to displacement and its causes. In addition, support and capacity building of local and national authorities and NGOs form an integral part of DRC’s work.

How to apply:

Applications

Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit their applications which should include a 1-page cover letter clearly stating their motivation and qualifications and CV. CVs longer then 4-pageswill not be considered. Applications should include contact details of three professional referees. One referee must be the applicant’s most recent manager.

We only accept applications through our online system at www.drc.dk – About DRC - Vacancies - "Area Manager – North Eastern Province" in English no later than Monday, 22nd September, 2014.Only applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications will be considered.