Area Manager at Danish Refugee Council

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified candidate for the position of Area Manager, Mandera Field Office, Kenya.

About the job

DRC has been active in Kenya since 2005. The Kenya Program provides services and support for refugees residing in Kenya and the refugee hosting communities. The key intervention sectors include Livelihoods, Community Development, Protection and Peaceful co-existence. DRC has operational offices in Nairobi, Kakuma, Lodwar, Mandera, Garissa and Dadaab implementing programs directly and in partnership with local NGOs.

The AM also serves as the Senior Project Coordinator for the EUTF BORESHA Consortium and in this function s/he has responsibility for day to day implementation of a DRC-led consortium of 3 agencies implementing a cross-border EU-funded grant across Mandera, Kenya, Dollo Ado, Ethiopia and Gedo, Somalia. The Senior Project Coordinator will support the Consortia Manager with strategic guidance and leadership of the BORESHA grant.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

• Lead 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 and support services staff; provide overview management for the entire Mandera Team.
• Provide on-site support through frequent visits to project sites
• Ensuring the implementation of DRC Risk Management policy at the area level. This includes regular assessment of contextual, programmatic and institutional risks and designing risk mitigation measures.
• 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.
• Supervising all financial reporting and financial procedures, including the monthly schedule for financial reporting, donor reporting and audits, cash flow and liquidity management. This includes maintaining a master budget for the Area Office and regular monitoring of expenditure against the master budget.
• Ensure that DRC Dynamics(ERP) system is fully used in the area office used in managing Supply Chain, Finance, HR and Grant Management.
• Ensure that programs are based on user-identified needs and resources of the targeted population, are well coordinated with other aid actors, 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.
• 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 CHS principles
• Establish and maintain open and productive dialogue with the county government, relevant line ministries, community leaders, power brokers and relevant aid agencies, private businesses and donors.
• Participate in consortium Project Steering Committee meetings and Technical Working Group meetings, and ensure implementation of corrective measures.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you will responsible for DRCs operations in Dadaab Refugee Camps and Garissa Sub-Office. You will be responsible for the program design and implementation, staff safety and security, programme support functions, personnel management, local community relations, resource allocation and budget management.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

• Proven experience in strategic development and program design & writing, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation at least for 5 years. 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. Demonstrated track record of experience with EU funded project.
• Experience with DANIDA, ECHO, 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
• Experience living and/or working in Mandera, Dollow or Dollo Ado strongly preferred
• 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.
• Experience managing complex activities involving coordination with multiple project partners

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

We offer

Contract length: 1 Year, renewable.

Level: Senior Management, E

Designation of Duty Station: Non-Family Duty Station

Start date: 1st January, 2022

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Kenya Nationals. This is a national position for which local terms and conditions apply. Please note that you need to have the right to work in Kenya (through nationality or existing work permit) in order to be considered for this role.