Regional Project Manager

Founded in 1956, The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organization providing direct assistance to conflict-affected populations – refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs) and host communities – in more than 40 countries around the world.

The EAGL Regional Office covers the following country operations: Burundi, Djibouti, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

Overall purpose of the role:

The Regional Project Manager is responsible for providing vision, leadership and direction to the regional project and its activities, supervise project implementation and ensure the project meets stated goals.
She/he ensures the project has a coherent strategy that responds to the requirements of people the project intends to support.
The role takes a leadership role in coordination and advocacy among donors, key stakeholders and implementing partners.

This role has a regional focus and ensures compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines within the whole regional area. The role contributes to the development of regional strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The role provides support and/or technical guidance to country operations while overseeing activities with regional scope.

The Regional Project Manager holds overall responsibility for the achievement of project intended results, ensuring that deliverables are submitted on time and to a high standard and that the programme is delivering against its intended objectives, and ensuring an integrated vision among different components and actors. The Regional Project Manager will serve as the principal point of contact with the donor, oversee the programme components, be responsible for risk management of the programme as well ensuring robust and meaningful programme learning and adaptation is embedded.

The position can be based in Nairobi (Kenya) and opened for national and international applicants and is non-accompanied.

Responsibilities:

Management & Leadership

• Ensure high-quality technical program monitoring through hands-on guidance and support grounded in the program’s strategic objectives and adherence to donor requirements. Overall responsible for program and budget monitoring
• Recruit and directly supervise project staff in line with DRC HR policies and input from the consortium members.
• Co-Chair the project steering committee, ensuring key information on the project is available to senior members of the consortium and decisions are taken to support the effectiveness of the consortium.
• Document and disseminate key steering committee decisions, roll-out the decisions and follow-up as required.
• Monitor work plan and keep partners accountable to program commitments.
• Oversee and manage the programme’s relationship with local government authorities and other stakeholders, including representing the programme in local, national, and international meetings and events as appropriate.

Compliance & support

• The Regional Project Manager will manage and guide a Finance Coordinator to provide supervision and monitoring of the programme support aspects of the consortium;
• Provide logistical oversight to consortium partners on contract inception, implementation, and closeout activities, including preparation of the sub-grants, sub-grant briefing materials for partners, required approvals, waivers, allowances, funding, procurement, property inventory, and audit file documentation as well as maintain a knowledge base of different processes and requirements for fund and project management ;
• The Regional Project Manager will provide support to the Finance and Admin Coordinator, to verify all financial reports and expenditure, lead and coordinate the auditing process, maintain knowledge of all donor requirements and be able to provide advice to partners in finance, procurement, human resource, and visibility requirements;
• Oversee financial management, project accounting systems, sub-grant management, and ensure operational efficiency through monitoring partner financial reports, providing guidance on cost eligibility, acting as the donor focal point to clarify rules and processes, and supporting the implementation of corrective measures when required;
• Maintain country-specific and project wide risk register, consolidating agency specific risks at the consortium level, ensuring all risks have appropriate ownership, are monitored and mitigation and response measures are in place;
• Respond accordingly to risk escalation and ensure periodic review and discussion of risk management with relevant risk owners and relevant consortium governance bodies.

Program implementation & Strategy.

• Ensure synergies and inter-communication between project and support staffs
• Ensure the timely delivery of agreed outputs of the project and ensuring quality program implementation in line with the agreed strategy
• Ensure the effective implementation of project activities in country through direct leadership of the country-specific governance bodies and working groups. Provide hands on support and guidance to the team leaders
• Supervise and coordinate the implementation of project sub-components and activities with partners
• Lead the work planning process with partners and coordinate between partners to ensure complimentary activities and sequencing among activities and between projects.
• Ensure quality technical inputs into the design and delivery of the program activities including field implementation
• Oversee activities between result areas to ensure that they are integrated and synergistic
• Ensure the timely delivery of agreed outputs of the consortium and ensuring quality program implementation in line with the agreed strategy
• Oversee planning, program design and delivery of consortium objectives, and budgets

Representation & Advocacy

• Serve as primary project representative to donor and other local and international stakeholders, responsible for addressing all project matters;
• In coordination with country level Advocacy Working Groups and relevant partner focal points, develop and maintain positive relations with relevant ministries and other government counterparts, donors, local organizations and program partners ;
• Provide support to the development and roll-out of project communication strategies, including compliance with donor’s branding and marking requirements ;
• Assists with the coordination of visits of donors, and/or partners related to the project.

Reporting & communications

• Monitor program implementation and ensure regular reporting ;
• Lead the development of final donor reports ;
• Establish and maintain clear lines of communication with project staff ;
• Provide technical assistance, as needed, to staffs on financial compliance and reporting ;
• Support the Finance and Admin Coordinator receive, consolidate, prepare and submit annual and quarterly financial and reports to the donor ;
• Ensure timely financial and narrative reports in line with donor and DRC system requirements ;
• Review actual financial performance against the budget, and explain variances on a regular basis ;
• Ensure that the Finance and Admin Coordinator share regular budget vs actual reports and other financial information required for effective project management ;
• Ensure the DRC online project management database is regularly updated.

Business Development

• Identifying, researching and developing new funding opportunities
• Lead and coordinate and the development of full proposals, from conception to submission.

About you

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s 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 act in line with our vision and values.

Experience and Technical competencies (included year of experience)

• A minimum of 5 years’ senior management experience working in international humanitarian and/or development aid, ideally with experience in a similar role (Regional Project Manager, Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, Team Lead, Deputy Team Lead);
• Demonstrated experience in managing large multi-location programs in complex operating environments, preferably with experience managing multi-organization teams;
• Master’s degree in international relations, business administration, management, human rights, social sciences or related field;
• Robust analytical and strategic planning skills; · Strong experience in management of finance and budget monitoring, financial forecasting, and risk management; ·
• Demonstrable track record of meeting or exceeding program targets, whilst maintaining technical quality.
• High-level communications and interpersonal skills; ·
• A demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with donors, partners, local organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Full professional proficiency in English.

What we offer

Contract: 1 Year Contract with the possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance.

Salary: in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment Management Band/ F.

Availability: 15th May 2024.

Duty station: Nairobi (Kenya)

Reporting Line: Operations Director – EAGL

Providing equal opportunities: We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are considered for employment without attention to race, age, ability, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other factor. At DRC we celebrate diversity and appreciate our employees for the people they are and their unique skills, backgrounds, and perspectives. We encourage all interested candidates to apply.

DRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff within its programs. As such, we strongly encourage national and diaspora candidates to apply for this position.

Promoting high standards : DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process.