Country Director (long-term) – Mali

DRC in West Africa and in Mali

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been operating in West Africa since 1998. DRC´s aim is to contribute to the peace, protection and promotion of durable solution to crisis-affected populations in the region. The overall strategic objective of the program is: Support peace and stabilization, protect and promote durable solutions to conflict-affected population in Burkina Faso on the basis of humanitarian principles and fundamental human rights.

DRC is established in Mali since January 2013, and operates through 3 field offices (Mopti, Gao and Tombouctou) and a national office in Bamako. DRC shares premises with the Danish Demining Group, the Armed Violence Reduction unit of DRC. DRC’s Mali programme focuses on humanitarian response, community recovery and development in areas affected by forced displacement and local conflicts within the sectors of protection, food security and livelihoods, and peace building. The program is currently funded by DANIDA, EU (ECHO, EUTF, IcSP), Netherlands Foreign Affair Ministry, SDC, Patrip foundation, DRC own funds and Private Donors. The current annual portfolio is app 5.5 million Euro, but set to grow over the coming year. The Mali Country Director will supervise 5 International staff members, as well as more than 130 national staff. A close working relationship will be maintained with the regional management team.

About the job

Under the supervision of the Operations Director for West Africa and North Africa, ODR), the Country Director (CD) for Mali is:

• Ultimately accountable in country for all aspects of DRC’s work in country
• Leading the consolidation and at the same time development of the programme, continuing the process of developing solid impact measurement mechanisms, strengthening accountability initiatives
• Ensuring that the financial management and organizational setup is adapted to the operational context
• Sets direction, leads, maintains team morale, safety and welfare, and manages resources
• Delegates specific duties as necessary, while maintaining oversight and accountability

The CD reports to the Operations Director for West Africa and North Africa based in Dakar and coordinates the work of the Country Management Team in Mali including: the Head of Support Services (HoSS), Head of Programme (HoP), Security Advisor, as well an Area Manager and a Head of Base. You will also have to travel frequently on the field and make occasional travels to Dakar and Copenhaguen.

In particular, you will have the following responsibilities:

Overall programme management

• Provides strategy guidance and management to all program sectors and is responsible for high quality, accountable, program design and delivery
• Ensures representation of both DRC and DDG brands to external actors, ie donors, partners, etc.
• Ensures that the DRC projects are implemented in accordance with DRC standard regulations and operational procedures (e.g. Code of Conduct, DRC Program Manual, DRC Operational Handbook, CHS, Strategic Focal Areas)
• Leads process of developing and updating local Humanitarian Accountability Framework and Quality Management System. Ensure that at all times contact with beneficiaries, target groups and representatives of authorities is conducted in a sensitive and respectful manner
• Ensures input for and participates in the operationalization of the DRC Regional West Africa Strategy
• Ensures that program implementation follows a Rights Based Approach (RBA) and that protection principles are mainstreamed into all sectors

Representation, Coordination with Stakeholders

• High level representation with Government and UN agencies at local and national level, with ability to work with high level officials to negotiate DRC program priorities in Burkina Faso
• Cultivate good relations with key humanitarian actors, including ECHO, UNHCR, OCHA, OFDA, UNICEF and INGOs engaged particularly in protection programming, through regular attendance at technical meetings /clusters and bilateral meetings. Engage in, and where effective, lead coordination processes amongst key stakeholders
• Prepare a program communication strategy, guide staff to communicate, advocate and network clearly, appropriately and strategically
• Ensure that programme activities are well-coordinated with activities of other humanitarian actors in the area

Fundraising, Advocacy, Reporting, Monitoring & Evaluation

• Drive fundraising efforts and play key role in donor contact
• Formulate project proposals, concept papers and budgets using the DRC Program & Operations Handbook
• Identify opportunities for new projects and organize assessment and fact finding missions
• Lead in the team’s advocacy in all DRC key messages
• Ensure that timely and quality reports are provided internally and externally, on time according to DRC & donors requirement
• Responsible for supervision, monitoring and evaluation of the program to ensure that activities/projects are implemented in accordance with agreed strategies, principles, implementation plans, and donor requirements

Support Services (Finance, HR & Administration, Logistics)

• Finance: Responsible for all project funds in country
• Ensures that funds are spent appropriately, according to the donor contract and to the full
• Ensures that under-spendings & overspendings are monitored and signaled in good time
• Responsible for safe handling of cash in country; Ensures that all control measures are in place to limit the opportunities for fraud & corruption
• HR: Supervises national staff & international staff performance, and provide recommendations on recruitment, promotions, training, Coaching and dismissal to RD & DRC HQ
• Ensures that are in place at capital level and in all offices: Contracts & ToRs for all staff, Staff Policy and Office Manual, Code of Conduct, Staff Complaint Mechanism, Holidays and sick leave monitoring file, Overtime monitoring file, Severance payment overview, Taxation overview, Performance appraisals, Versus salary file
• Logistics: Responsible for all procurement in mission, ensures that for all procurement the proper documentation exists and is archived correctly
• Ensures that logistics guidelines are applied for the use of vehicles, fuel, communication equipment, generators etc
• DRC Dynamics ERP System: Support the implementation of ERP system and follow up

Security

• Overall responsible for the security of DRC/DDG staff in country and the programs
• Responsible for security planning including regular updating of security and evacuation plans and measures, and implementation of security and contingency plan and update of DRC´s SLS (Safety Level Systems)
• Ensure the follow up of DRC Security procedures and that the DRC set up in Burkina Faso follows them. Responsible for developing local security rules
• Ensure that DRC is part of security networks with all possible stakeholders at the national level and that appropriate information regarding security in the area of operations is collected
• Ensure that all DRC security management protocols and procedures are updated, made locally relevant and applied consistently.
• Ensures that security incidents are reported to RD & DRC HQ

As Manager the post-holder is responsible for the following:

• Accountable for achieving DRC’s strategic goals and objectives within the area of responsibility
• Accountable for making significant decisions on what the unit does: its purpose, functions and role, and for making commitments and decisions that require the expenditure of significant unit resources
• Accountable for people management of direct reports, generally at least 3 employees. This includes hiring & firing, objective setting, probation, performance appraisal, development of staff, managing performance, including poor performance, etc.
• Accountable for making sound decisions based on DRC policies, MOPs, standards, and the advice of technical experts in DRC

About You

To be successful in this role you must have:

Required

• Advanced university degree in development studies and project management, law, human rights, political and/ or social sciences or in related field
• Professional background in humanitarian work with proven ability with respect to the design, management and implementation of programs with a focus on protection and emergency response for refugees and displaced persons
• A minimum of 8 years of humanitarian field experience, including at least 3 to 5 years working in the field in refugee/IDP situations; at least 3 years in a senior management position
• Experience with relief/emergency response activities, especially assessment and set up
• Experience with implementation of operations in insecure environments; Proven experience in security management is a must
• Experience in sectors such as Protection, food security/ early recovery / livelihoods
• Experience with donors such as DANIDA, ECHO, EU and SDC
• Demonstrated management capacity as well as hands on experience in Administration, HR, Finance and Logistics sectors
• Prior experience overseeing organizational change processes an asset
• Willingness to live and work in an insecure environment with limited physical amenities
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Full professional proficiency in French (Daily working language)
• Full professional proficiency in English

Desired

• Previous work experience in the Sahel area
• Experience in working with remote management

All employees should master DRC’s core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. You strive to produce accurate, thorough and professional work with optimal use of time and effort
• Collaborating: You cooperate with and involve relevant parties, actively seeking their opinion and sharing key information with them. You support and trust others while encouraging feedback
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and prioritize my job according to DRC’s overall vision and goals. You take the initiative when confronted with a challenge or an opportunity and aim for innovative solutions.
• Communicating: You write and speak effectively and honestly while adjusting my style and tone to the situation. You listen actively to others and involve them in the dialogue
• Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer:

• Contract length: 1 year renewable. An initial contract of 2 years can also be considered
• Level: Management D
• Duty Station: Bamako
• Designation of Duty Station: Non-Family duty station
• Expected start date: As soon as possible

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates;