Job Vacancy at Danish Refugee Council

About the job

The DDG Head of Programme (HoP) has the management responsibility for DDG’s work on Conflict Management and Security Governance in Kenya.  He/she must ensure the timely delivery of planned results to quality, within budget, ensure adherence to applicable and policies, oversee the capacity building of DDG project staff, spearhead fundraising and programme development, safeguard staff and assets, represent DDG’s work in Kenya and on cross border initiatives towards internal and external stakeholders, including DDG donors, contribute to planning, coordination and learning within DRC/DDG Kenya and the organisation as a whole.

Responsibilities

• Strategy Development
  • In co-ordination with the DDG Regional HoP and DDG technical coordinators on conflict management and security governance, lead the strategic development of DDG’s work in Kenya and cross border initiatives into neighbouring countries.
  • Support the Country Director in drafting, promoting, and rolling out of all DDG-relevant strategic planning documents in broad consultation with all staff. These documents include the country strategic plan, as well as strategies for all program sectors.
  • Ensure proper understanding of these documents by relevant actors (e.g. staff members, partners, NGOs, government counterparts, and donors).
  • As an SMT member, ensure regular and critical review of the country strategic and action plans. Follow-up on the action plan and report against its indicators.
• Management
  • Management, operational oversight, coordination and implementation of DDG projects within the DRC/DDG Kenya programme.
  • Ensure high quality project implementation for DDG and DRC/DDG joint projects in accordance with donor and DRC/DDG regulations as well as in line with agreed indicators, budgets, and work plans.
  • Support and supervision of DDG project staff. This includes coaching, ensuring co-ordination between local managers, recruiting and development of staff.
  • Provide appropriate and timely feedback to DDG staff regarding their performance, including annual staff performance appraisals. Identify with staff their needs and opportunities for professional development.
  • Serve as a member of the Senior Management Team and work as acting Country Director as necessary.
  • Directly managing three direct reports, namely AVR Manager, MEAL Officer, DDG Project Coordinator
• Programme development
  • Develop and expand the DDG components of the DRC/DDG Kenya programme.
  • Be a driving force in terms of developing AVR projects within the DRC/DDG Kenya programme objectives.
• Finance and administration
  • Responsible forbudget monitoring, financial management and expenses control including compliance with minimum DRC/DDG and donor requirements and ensuring that the necessary systems are in place.
  • Signatory of official documents (contracts, payments, purchase orders) within approved parameters and in compliance with the organisation’s and donor’s rules and regulations, and Kenyan law.
• Security       
  • Responsible for ensuring that DDG staff adherence to security procedures, monitoring the development in the security situation, developing contingency plans etc.
• Reporting
  • Ensure proper and timely financial and narrative reporting in compliance with internal and external reporting requirements including procurement.
• Representation/Liaison
  • In close coordination with the DRC/DDG Country Director and the DDG Regional HoP, act as representative for DDG’s work in Kenya towards local government authorities, donors, partners, UN agencies and international and local NGOs and various local co-ordination forums.
•  Fundraising
  • Actively identify and respond to relevant funding opportunities. The funding environment in Kenya is challenging and will require significant focus and capacity.
  • Lead proposal development to maintain and expand DDG’s portfolio in Kenya and on borderlands
• Accountability
  • Guided by the DRC Programme Handbook, continuously monitor and develop relevant accountability initiatives in the field as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact of DDG’s activities.

• Minimum of five years working experience with International NGOs or operational UN agencies, including at least two years' experience of community-level programming.
• Minimum of five years proven experience in conflict sensitive programming, conflict management, security governance and related fields in a management capacity.
• Proven experience in project management, including budget expenditure, donor relations, reporting, proposal writing, staff management, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Demonstrable leadership and management skills, including team building and management by example.
• Demonstrable capacity to be articulate, imaginative and innovative. The capacity to 'think outside of the box' is essential.
• Demonstrable ability to think strategically, prioritize, and meet deadlines in a complex and challenging environment.
• Demonstrated ability to mobilize resources and expand programmes.
• University degree, preferably Master's, in Conflict Resolution, International Relations or other relevant field.

Excellent writing and verbal skills in English for project proposals, reports, and communications; Swahili skills is an added advantage.

Competencies

All employees with DRC are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies, which will mean the following for your role:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. More specifically, you will have strong analytical and problem solving capabilities with a focus on development.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You will demonstrate proven leadership skills and competencies in people management with an ability to motivate and guide staff, while working in a changing complex operational environment characterized by substantial uncertainty.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with DRC’s vision and values.

We offer

Contract length of 12 months, renewable dependent on both funding and performance. You will start as soon as possible.

Level A10 (unacompanied) compensation in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under vacancies.

You will be located in Nairobi with frequent travel to field sites.