Deputy Country Director

Danish Refugee Councilassists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, honesty and transparency. DRC Afghanistan is one of the largest DRC country operations supporting Afghans through provision of emergency lifesaving assistance, early recovery, protection, WASH and Humanitarian disarmament and peacebuilding programs across 16 provinces.

About the job

The Deputy Country Director (DCD) is overall responsible and accountable for the timely and compliant delivery of DRC’s programme activities in the field, as outlined in the Strategic Programme Document. The DCD has budgetary authority for all programmatic expenditure.

The DCD line manages and provides guidance and support to four Area Managers in Central, East, South and West Afghanistan, to develop and ensure delivery of their Area Strategies. The DCD works collaboratively with the Heads of Programme (HoPs) to ensure development of strategic interventions relevant to the context and to facilitate high quality delivery of DRC’s programmatic interventions through delivery of donor-funded projects in line with Technical Guidance and in compliance with DRC and donor regulations.

The DCD works with the Head of Support Services to facilitate the smooth implementation of activities with the engagement of HR, Admin, IT, Finance and Supply Chain teams. The DCD will provide liaison between Area offices and Country office during audit processes.

The DCD will work proactively with Safety and Access colleagues to ensure timely and relevant support to Area Offices, facilitating engagement with authorities on a regular basis and ensuring safe delivery of DRC operations in line with humanitarian principles.

The DCD will proactively support Area Managers to ensure implementation of DRC Accountability mechanisms at the field level.

The DCD will act as OIC on a regular basis and will be a proactive member of the country level Senior Management Team as well as representing DRC in a range of coordination forums and external meetings.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

• Budgetary authority for delivery of DRC programmatic interventions at field level
• Management oversight on expenditure against budgets and on delivery of activity targets and outcomes
• Engaging regularly and proactively with Area Managers and Heads of Programme, to ensure delivery of high quality, relevant, timely, and principled programming at the area level
• Contributing to strategy development, proposal development, implementation planning and donor reporting as required, representing Area offices when necessary
• Working with Area Managers, Heads of Programme and Head of Support Services to ensure compliance with DRC and donor guidelines, including engagement in internal and external audit processes
• Troubleshooting and providing guidance, advice, and support to Area Managers on day-to-day challenges including through regular visits to Area office locations and ongoing remote support
• Working proactively with the Head of Support Services to ensure relevant and timely support is provided to Area offices
• Act as liaison between Area and Country office to ensure timely response to internal and external audit processes
• Regular interaction with Safety and Access colleagues to ensure timely support for Area offices in safety and access challenges, working proactively to find context-sensitive solutions in line with humanitarian principles
• Ensure compliance of Area offices to a range of accountability mechanisms (incl e.g. Code of Conduct, PSEA, G&DM)
• Proactive member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), engaging in weekly core SMT meetings and in regular extended-SMT meetings
• OIC responsibility in the absence of Country Director, engaging with internal and external actors
• DRC representative in coordination forums and external meetings

About you

To be successful in this role we expect the following:

• University degree/ masters in social science, economics or other relevant sectors
• 5-7 years senior management experience in the I/NGO sector, preferably in Afghanistan.
• Advanced communication skills, including in negotiation with authorities and other actors, at local, national, and international level
• Extensive experience of implementing activities in the Afghanistan context
• Knowledge of support services would be an advantage
• Previous experience as an Area Manager would be an advantage
• Previous experience working with DRC would be a strong advantage
• Previous experience as an Area Manager is an advantage
• Full professional proficiency in English is required
• Full professional proficiency in both Dari and Pashto is required.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract lenght: 2 years

Start date: As soon as possible.

Salary and other conditions are offered in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment for National Staff salary scale.