Country Director

OVERALL OBJECTIVES
The Country Director (CD) for Ethiopia is responsible for managing all activities within the Ethiopia country programme, which currently includes the country office in Addis Ababa and the field operation in Jijiga (Somali Region), but which is likely to expand to other areas of Ethiopia within the coming year. The CD provides strategic guidance and management to all sectors, and is responsible for high quality and accountable programme design and delivery. In DRC, the CD retains a high degree of management autonomy, within a clearly defined regional strategic framework.

DRC’s Ethiopia programme focuses on emergency and community recovery and development within the sectors of WASH, livelihoods and shelter. The current annual portfolio is app 1 million USD, but set to grow over the coming year.

The Ethiopia Country Director will supervise two expatriate staff, as well as the team of senior national staff. A close working relationship will be maintained with the regional senior management team; the regional support teams and DRC Country Directors in Yemen; Somalia and Kenya.

BACKGROUND
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. Using a protection of human rights framework, DRC has mainly focused on Somalis who are displaced by conflict. Programmes include protection, livelihoods, food and NFI distribution, water and sanitation, and advocacy amongst others.

There are 4 main programme offices in Somali region, one in Yemen, one in Kenya and one regional office in Nairobi. There are also non operational region wide initiatives, focusing on advocacy and capacity building, which are supported from the Nairobi regional office (RO). Currently there is over 350 DRC staff in the region. The last two years have seen some growth in programme size, but primarily there has been a growth in the number of support and management functions demanded and required by the programme offices, in order to maintain quality and accountability.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Programme Strategy
To develop and update the Ethiopia programme strategy, within DRC’s overall regional and global strategic frameworks. Tasks include: a) ensuring staff understand the regional and global frameworks, b) leading a consultative process for local strategy development, c) leading annual programme portfolio analyses and reviews.

Programme Delivery
To be responsible for all aspects of delivering a high quality and accountable programme, including developing detailed programming into overall programme direction and vice versa. Tasks include: a) ensuring a local quality assurance system is developed and followed, b) providing staff with direction and input at all major stages of programme cycle, c) ensuring timely implementation and reporting, d) ensuring all staff have work plans which are in line with strategic priorities, e) apply performance management systems, f) ensure full implementation of strong monitoring, evaluation and documentation processes.

Fundraising
To provide strong fundraising abilities and play key role in fundraising and donor contract management, including a) identification of funding opportunities, b) leading concept and proposal development with support from technical and management staff at country, regional and HQ levels.

Quality and Accountability
To be responsible for ensuring programme compliance with the organisational quality and accountability commitments. Task include: a) With RO, ensure that Programme Handbook is known throughout DRCs field offices, b) lead process of developing and updating local Humanitarian Accountability Framework and Quality Management System, c) enabling staff to reach compliance with HAF and follow QMS, d) ensure complaints handling mechanisms are in place for all programmes, e) preparing the quarterly report and including section on compliance, f) promote accountability concepts and practices amongst humanitarian community.

Safety and Security
To be overall responsible for ensuring that DRCs Ethiopia programme is delivered in a safe and secure manner. Tasks include: a) working with DRC’s RSA (Regional Security Advisor) to ensure that all DRC HoA security management protocols and procedures are updated, made locally relevant and applied consistently, b) to be overall responsible for ensuring security analyses is being done collectively and regularly, c) ensuring that good security management becomes a cultural and procedural norm for staff.

Representation Coordination and Stakeholder management
To ensure that DRC maintains excellent and productive relations with all key stakeholders, especially beneficiaries, local authorities, the humanitarian community and donors. Tasks include: a) high levels of representation with Government and UN agencies at national and regional level, with ability to work with high level officials to negotiate DRC programme priorities in Ethiopia, b) representing DRC at relevant and senior forums/ meetings, c) ensuring other staff are appropriately representing DRC at relevant forums/ meetings, d) maintaining agreed profile of DRC at country level, e) conducting regular stakeholder analyses to ensure that DRC has good understanding of dynamics/ relationships, f) ensuring that all staff maintain beneficiaries and communities at the centre of DRC’s stakeholder list, g) engaging in, and where effective, leading coordination processes amongst key stakeholders.

Communication and Networks
To lead the Ethiopia team’s communication and networking in all DRC’s key areas. Tasks include: a) with RO, preparing a programme communication strategy including identifying key networks, b) guiding staff to communicate and network clearly, appropriately and strategically.

Accounts and budget accountability
To be overall responsible for ensuring financial accountability. Tasks include: a) responsible for all aspects of budget management, b) managing the finance team, c) ensuring that all financial systems are followed and that financial reports submitted are accurate, d) ensuring the finance and programme teams have a productive relationship.

Support services
To ensure that HR/ Admin and Logistics teams are effectively supporting programme needs. Tasks include: a) ensuring that HR/ Admin and logistics protocols and procedures are being followed, b) ensuring 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.

Capacity building and staff development
Ensure that staffs in Ethiopia are continuously developing their ability to fulfil their job descriptions as well as the organisational requirements. Tasks include: a) with RO, preparing a capacity building strategy and action plan, b) securing resources to enable capacity building, c) implementing a variety of capacity building techniques and initiatives.

REPORTING ARRANGEMENTS
The position is supervised by the DRC’s Deputy Regional Director for DRC Horn of Africa & Yemen operation.

The Country Director supervises the following positions:
• Senior Programme Coordinator (Jijiga)
• Finance and Administration Officer (Jijiga)
• Logistics Officer (Jijiga)
• Regional Programme Adviser (Addis Ababa)
• Finance and Administration Assistant (Addis Ababa)

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Essential
• Proven ability with respect to the design, management, monitoring and evaluation of programmes, preferably with a focus on protection and durable solutions for refugees and displaced people;
• Proven management experience at senior level including capacity building, training and mentoring, especially in complex humanitarian environments;
• Proven skills of negotiation and diplomacy with governments, UN and donors;
• Experience with humanitarian accountability;
• Strong experience of fundraising, networking, advocacy and coordination;
• Financial management skills and experience;
• Experience in security management;
• Strong analytical skills.
• Excellent writing and editing skills in English for external audiences (including governments and donors);
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability.

Preferable
• Work related experience from the Horn of Africa region.

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of age, nationality, race, gender or age.

CONDITIONS
Availability:
April, 2011.

Duty station:
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with frequent travel to DRC Field Offices in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa is a family duty station.

Contract:
1 year renewable contract.
Salary and conditions in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Global Expatriates (available at www.drc.dk under Vacancies). This position is graded as A3.

FURTHER INFORMATION
You are welcome to contact Programme Coordinator Sisse Kristensen on email: sisse.kristensen@drc.dk or Deputy Regional Director on email: anne.laenkholm@drc.dk for further information on the programme and the position.

Please note that applications are not to be sent to Ms Kristensen or Ms Laenkholm; we only receive applications via our online-application form at www.drc.dk under Vacancies/Current vacancies/Country Director - Ethiopia. APPLICATIONS SENT DIRECTLY TO EITHER OF THE ABOVE CONTACTS WILL NOT BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.drc.dk.

COMMITMENTS
DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability committments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.drc.dk/HAF.4265.0.html).

CV-only applications will not be considered.

We only accept applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.dk under Vacancies/Current vacancies/Country Director - Ethiopia.

Please forward the application and CV, in English and marked “Country Director Ethiopia”, no later than 27. February, 2011.

PROBLEMS WITH ON-LINE APPLICATION?
Please contact Anne Oxholm, job@drc.dk, if you experience problems with your on-line application.

View the original article here