INTRODUCTION

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), an international non-governmental organization (NGO), has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. DRC promotes and supports solutions to the problems faced by refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs), and migrants. The organization has offices across the region, and has been operational in Ethiopia since 2009.  With funding from bilateral and multilateral donors, DRC is currently implementing a range of activities across Ethiopia and Djibouti, including WASH and shelter provision, child and youth protection, gender based violence response, awareness-raising of migration risks, protection monitoring of migration routes, and livelihoods support for returning migrants or those at-risk of migration.

Overall purpose of the role:

The Area Manager is responsible for overall management and strategic direction of DRC’s emergency and development response in Dimma, Okugo Camp under the direct supervision of the Country Director (CD) based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Area Manager will represent DRC with the local and regional government bodies (especially ARRA), international organizations (especially UNHCR), other stakeholders, beneficiaries, and other (I)NGO’s as part of regular and quality communications to maintain good relations. The post-holder will need to clearly understand and ensure fair, accountable and transparent management of program, finance and human resources and promote a learning environment for staff and the organization. The Area Manager will also be responsible for compliance to Standard Operating Procedures for safety, security and general operations

Responsibilities

Program Management

• Overall responsibility for the design, implementation and effective monitoring of agreed projects and activities with refugees and host communities.
• Overall responsibility for the financial viability of the operation
• Ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and documentation of all activities and processes, and that the analysis of data collected (at various levels) is proactively used to inform activity changes to improve program quality.
• Ensure the development and implementation of all activities in line with Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) and DRC program policies especially gender, age, ethnic background, and disability.
• Seek funding opportunities to scale up and/or expand activities working closely with the Country Director, Head of Program and relevant technical specialists.  This includes identifying and undertaking assessments as well as writing concept notes and proposals. 
  

Technical Program

• To be engaged strategically with all technical sectors as needed and to provide management and strategic input/oversight for all sectors of intervention.
• Oversee and provide strategic support to sectorial teams (for now SGBV, child protection, livelihoods, and mixed migration).  
  

Representation and Relations

• Represent DRC with the regional/local governments, UN bodies and non-government organizations as required.
• Liaise with the ARRA on behalf of DRC.
• Ensure appropriate DRC staff members attend the ad hoc and regular coordination meetings, clusters, technical working groups as applicable to DRCs program and work in the country.
• Engage with all relevant stakeholders as regularly as possible. This includes local and refugee leadership, local and regional governmental bodies, donors, and partners.
• Ensure accurate and on time reporting internally and externally, including contributing to donor reports 
  

Team Management

• Manage DRC Dimma’s Area office in and conduct regular monitoring visits
• Lead regular staff and management meetings at Dimma level.
• Manage direct reports to agreed job priorities and identify learning and development needs for program staff, under your direct and indirect supervision.  Bring human resource/staff management issues to the senior management team for decisions.
• With team leaders, coordinators, and officers manage the program activities budget lines; ensuring effective and efficient use of resources including financial, human and all assets.
• Ensure that program teams work closely with the support team to delivery DRC policies and procedures in finance, procurement and logistics including effective planning weekly, monthly and quarterly. 
• Overall responsibility for security in and around Dimma including ensuring adherence to agreed security protocols, recommending changes to security protocols and delivering the agreed security action plan.
• Conduct any other activities as requested by the Country Director.

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in program development and implementation in emergency context, including quality monitoring and evaluation processes.
• Leadership and management experience.
• Substantial work experience in the areas of emergency aid, camp management, and/or development, especially with displaced/refugee’s communities.
• Relevant technical expertise/experience in the applicable sectors of humanitarian and/or development programming: protection, livelihoods, mixed migration, and/or community development.
• Proven ability to build external relationships with diplomacy, tact, and professionalism in a complex and demanding environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and support multi-sector programs including operational planning and problem solving.
• Demonstrated experience of people management and team-building.
• Demonstrated experience of financial and asset management.
• Demonstrated ability to undertake representation with senior government officials.
• Knowledge of Nuer, Murle or Amharic languages would be a plus.
• Proficiency in common computer packages and financial software i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoints, etc.

Education:

•  Post-secondary degree in law, social sciences, economics, or other relevant field.

Languages:

• Excellent professional written and oral English language skills.
  

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies: 

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: Acting in line with DRC's vision and values