DanChurchAid
Are you looking for an opportunity to lead a team of humanitarian and mine action professionals in one of the world’s most challenging contexts? Can you lead an established programme to excellence and growth, and ensure quality and accountability?
As our new Country Director, you will lead the DCA country team of 184 national and 16 international staff. You will inspire and lead the strategic direction and organizational development of the programme, and be responsible for nurturing relations with national authorities, donors and other stakeholders, as well as for identifying fundraising opportunities and ensuring a strong focus on security management and duty of care for all staff.
DCA Syria Programme
DCA implements a protection-focused programme in Northeast Syria (NES), implementing a range of holistic activities linking both humanitarian and mine action components. As the humanitarian needs are high and, due to remoteness of the locations, response from other humanitarian actors is limited. In this regard, DCA aims to protect vulnerable communities in NES, and to contribute to efforts to improve stability and social cohesion by addressing and mitigating the consequences of conflict and displacement. Specifically, DCA Syria provides life-saving assistance to IDPs, returnees and host communities in areas of intervention (including but not limited to mine action/clearance, cash grants, private shelter and public infrastructure rehabilitation and psychosocial support) while supporting self-reliance, resilience and longer-term livelihoods opportunities. We utilise multi-sector expertise to support change through integrated programming, applying a people-centered approach to tackle interlinked humanitarian and security needs. At the center of our work is our belief that local communities are the best agents of change.
Key responsibilities of the Country Director include:
- Overall leadership and management of the country programme
- To define and implement DCA’s country strategy together with the newly developed 5-year country programme
- To resource the vision and strategy and pave the way for growth
- To ensure delivery with relevance, effectiveness, transparency and accountability in all areas of work including all relevant country office performance indicators
- To lead and mentor our team of dedicated international and national staff
- To represent DCA in Syria with national and local authorities, international and national humanitarian stakeholders and communities
- To lead on fundraising and oversee donor, grant and stakeholder relationships
- Responsible for ensuring that DCA Safety and Security systems are fully functional and operational
We are looking for the following qualifications and experience:
- Minimum 5 years leadership experience at a similar level, preferably in complex humanitarian environments
- Strong programme implementation experience and the ability to make things happen under trying circumstances
- Strong communications skills, both spoken and written. Arabic would be an advantage
- Strong ability to plan, coordinate and lead processes that include multiple stakeholders and interests
- Proven ability to mentor, coach and develop staff, and create a conducive working environment
- Experience with fundraising, networking, donor liaison and coordination
- Strong analytical skills and capacity
- Good command and interest in grants and financial management and compliance
- Cultural sensitivity, strong communication and diplomatic skills, with the ability to build relations both within and outside DCA
- A relevant academic qualification
- Experience from the country or region is an added advantage
- Prior work experience from the humanitarian mine action sector is an added advantage, as is experience and understanding of working in conflict environments and fragile states.
We offer:
- A one-year renewable contract
- Non-family posting based in Derik, Northeast Syria
- A competitive salary package, including hardship allowance, to be negotiated based on experience level
- 6 weeks of paid vacation and a generous R&R package
- Insurance as per industry standards
- An opportunity to make a difference in a challenging environment and improve the lives of people living in conflict and poverty
Only applications in English and consisting as a minimum of a CV and a cover letter will be considered, and only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Please note that only applications submitted through our recruitment system will be considered: https://www.danchurchaid.org/join-us/jobs/international-vacancies.
To apply please upload your CV and cover letter no later than 7 June 2023. Please note, interviews may be held on a rolling basis, and DCA reserves the right to select a candidate prior to the deadline.
For further information regarding this position, please contact Lene Rasmussen, HRMA Team Leader and Senior Mine Action Program Advisor on [email protected].
For more information on DCA please visit our website, http://www.danchurchaid.org
Work related travels are expected in this position.
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, abilities or ethnic affiliation are encouraged to apply for the vacancy. DCA conducts an anti-terror check as part of the recruitment process. It is a prerequisite that you can pass this check and maintain this status throughout your employment with us. Everyone applying for a job with DCA must be ready to comply with our Staff Policy on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment and our Child Safeguarding Policy.