Advert Country manger Yemen

Are you a persuasive and engaging leader, who can drive forward a strategy and effectively build and manage a country team, then come work with us in one of our oldest and most exciting partnerships in the Middle East region?

The 8-year conflict in Yemen continues to be one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world today. The conflict has exacerbated pre-existing food insecurities, caused widespread human suffering, and led to significant damage to the economy, physical infrastructure, service provision, health, and education systems, as well as the social fabric. Today, more than 23.4 million people – almost three-quarters of the population need humanitarian assistance and protection, an increase of 13 per cent from 2021.

Danish Red Cross (DRC) has been working in Yemen bilaterally with Yemen Red Crescent Society (YRCS) for the last 18 years. During early years of the partnership, DRC’s support to YRCS was mainly focused on branch development, as well as health and protection. Following the start of the Yemen conflict in 2015, DRC scaled up its operation and continued to support YRCS in delivering lifesaving humanitarian assistance focusing on Primary Health Care Services, Epidemic Preparedness and Response; WASH, Community based Psychosocial Support (CBPSS), and National Society Development. Furthermore, and in line with the commitments of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and the Grand Bargain, DRC together with other partners seek to strengthen the YRCS capacity through more aligned programming.

DRC’s budget for Yemen is approximately DKK 24 million, with key donors being DANIDA, DG-ECHO, and British Red Cross. The DRC team in country presently consists of a Country Manager, a Programme Delegate, a national Projects Coordinator, Country Finance Officer, as well as a Logistics and Admin officer.

Responsibilities The country manager is overall responsible to ensure that the DRC supported Country Programme and partnership is implemented in line with the DRC International as well as the Country Strategy, Danish Red Cross Standard Operational Procedures, donor requirements and guidelines.

The Yemen Country Manager is based in Sanaa at the Headquarters of the YRCS, and is responsible for:

• Building and shaping a technically effective along with cohesive, and motivated Danish Red Cross Team in country. (delegates and national staff)
• Setting the strategic direction of DRC engagement in country, hereunder implementing the new country strategy
• Providing strategic leadership to the DRC led consortium for the implementation of the Yemen Pilot Programmatic Partnership (ECHO PPP)
• Operationalizing organizational priorities in country (incl. supporting the RCRC Movement’s efforts to promote a more harmonized programme approach aligned with New Ways of Working Initiative)
• Overall management and development of DRC supported portfolio in the country, including monitoring implementation and removing impediments and supporting capacity development efforts towards YRCS
• Overall country budget responsibility
• Representing Danish Red Cross and sustaining strong Partnerships with YRCS; ICRC, IFRC, Partner National Societies (PNSs) and other partners and stakeholders (Danida, ECHO, EU; private sector; national organisations etc.)
• Drive DRC Communication efforts and take the lead in fundraising efforts

This position requires strong leadership and coordination skills, to oversee and guide the strategic direction of the country programme, in coordination with the DRC MENA Head of Region, and technical DRC Headquarter advisors. The incumbent can furthermore count on remote technical support, along with recurrent visits from DRC logistics, MHPSS and Health.

The incumbent will be overall responsible for a diversified programme portfolio, with exciting opportunities for expansion and elements of innovation, and for sustaining a strong and transparent partnership with YRCS leadership and Red Cross partners in country. It is a strong advantage that the Country Manager has solid prior Red Cross experience to adequately support and contribute to ongoing efforts of RCRC harmonisation in country.

The position requires not only strong HR management capacity. It also requires a dedicated interest in exactly that file, e.g. identifying and making a team work well together, in alignment with a shared vision.

Experience and qualifications You have a minimum of 10 years of solid experience in development and/or humanitarian project management, with at least 5 years of relevant field experience in the implementation of emergency programmes:

• Proven expertise with team leadership and staff management is a must
• Proven experience overseeing multi-sectoral and multi-partner programme portfolio with solid project cycle and financial management experience is a must
• Previous experience managing large scale multi-partner consortium
• Proven experience with various donors like ECHO, EU, and ministries of foreign affairs, particularly of their grant application modalities, proposal writing and reporting procedures, is also essential.
• Prior experience with the Red Cross Red Crescent is a necessity
• Solid fundraising and donor-consultation capacity
• Demonstrated understanding of the localization agenda and the ability to motivate and engage others using participatory methods
• Excellent communication, coordination as well as networking and facilitation skills.
• Experience from the MENA region is an advantage
• Interest in the Middle East, and Yemen in particular, along with an ability to work in a challenging multicultural environment.
• Excellent English speaking and writing capability, while Arabic is an advantage.

Employment Conditions The ideal starting date is 1 November 2022 and the length of the contract is 24 months with the possibility of extension. The salary including all allowances and pension payment will be between DKK 46,000.00 and 49,500.00 per month, depending on qualifications and experience.

The duty station is Sanaa, Yemen. This is a non-family duty station with a paid 7-day Rest & Recuperation break permitted after every 8 weeks in-country. Travelling to programme areas within Yemen is possible to the extent that the security situation permits (in accordance with ICRC security regulations).

The Country Manager reports to the DRC Head of Region based at the MENA Office in Beirut

Further information For any specific questions re the position, please write to the DRC Head of MENA Region, Karin Sørensen: [email protected]

See thejob description and Terms & Conditions.