Head of Support Services

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified, and enthusiastic professional to lead its Support Services in Georgia.

DRC has had presence since 1999 in Georgia proper, with an opening of an operation in Abkhazia in 2005. Addressing vulnerabilities in a responsible way and engaging in poverty reduction are central to DRC work in the South Caucasus. To support the integration of displaced and conflict-affected persons, the DRC South Caucasus program covers the following sectors: livelihoods, access to social services, governance, education and shelter/housing, and small and medium-scale infrastructure at the community level. The main DRC donors currently in the South Caucasus in 2025 are SIDA, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Union. The operations span across the whole of Georgia with over 28 employees in 4 offices, including two field offices in Abkhazia.

About the job

The Head of Support Services (HoSS) will ensure smooth, effective, and efficient operations of the support services in the areas of finance, human resources, supply chain, administration, and IT. The HoSS will play a key role in developing and implementing country-specific strategies as well as continuously improving operational systems, processes, and policies in support of DRC’s operation in Georgia in line with DRC’s global operational standards and procedures. Head of Support Services is member of the Senior Management Team (SMT). Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Financial Planning & Analysis

• Responsible for the Mission Master Budget and forecast tracker for the country programme and updates on a regular basis.
• Review and compile budget proposals, including budgeting for support costs for the Country Office, collaboration with Area managers and support service functions.
• Check consumption, allocation and revision of the Country Office budgets.
• Ensure monthly meetings are held with project managers to discuss key variances, reasons for these, and any remedial action that is required.
• Ensure timely delivery of quality financial reports to donors and internal reports to colleagues and HQ.
• Ensure thorough and effective budgetary control in the country programs in coordination with the Country Director.
• Liaise with relevant Managers on key financial issues for all programs in the country, including co-funding, financial reporting, key variances, and any remedial action.
• Make quarterly analyses based on project forecasts, costs to cover, working capital to outline the organization financial performance at country level.
• Collecting liquidity forecasts from all Area Managers and request funds in a timely manner.
• Maintain a continuous overview of funding levels and pay particular attention to shared support costs, including staff salaries.
• Ensure all required documentation for financial audits in cooperation with support staff and HQ.

Accounting

• Ensure compliance with relevant country statutory and other financial obligations such as tax, levies, and statutory returns.
• Ensure compliance and deadline with accounting closure.
• Be the audit focal point; prepare national staff for incoming audits and gather audit findings together with programme staff.

Management

• Lead, manage and motivate the support team, (including people planning, performance, well-being, and development).
• Establish high performing support teams ensuring high-quality approaches are maintained.
• Responsible for the strategic development, management, and implementation of support functions.
• Develop and improve operational approaches, compliance, and systems by supporting the Country Director in building and delivering effective and sustainable interventions.
• Establish and ensure implementation of relevant internal procedures and policies within the areas of responsibility.
• Ensure relevant technical support is available to programs, in line with organizational priorities.
• Ensure provision of support for annual planning, budgeting, and review processes.
• Direct responsibility for ensuring that the DRC operates in accordance with its support function guidelines.
• Establish strategic directions within the areas of responsibility and lead organizational change.

Management of Support Services and HR

• Support the Country Director and the Senior Management Team in liaising with donors and authorities, especially in relation to the reporting, compliance, and audit.
• Supervision, audit, controlling and implementation of DRC’s operational standards within the support functions.
• Ensure the accuracy and regular maintenance of all finance, supply chain and administration systems.
• Develop a risk management plan for the country that identifies the major financial and operational risks and implements the related mitigation strategy.
• Work to build the capacity of support staff through frequent in-service training sessions and mentoring support.
• Ensure that DRC retains and continuously develops its operational capacity to provide adequate response within its Supply Chain systems.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of DRC’s global development initiatives.
• Safeguard uniformity across the operations with two different set ups, one in Georgia Tbilisi-administered territories and one in Abkhazia.
• Support and consolidate the development of partnerships with selected sub-Grantees through tailored guidance in areas pertaining to support services to ensure compliance and an effective transfer of competences in line with DRC intended phasing over and localization agendas.
• Drive and support all HR related activities such as recruitment and selection, onboarding & exit process, liaison with Health Insurance Company, performance management process.

DRC Dynamics ERP System

• Ensure ERP functionality is properly used by relevant staff.
• Apply reports and data analytics from DRC Dynamics to improve overall performance.
• Act as a heavy user for most of the Projects & Finance functionalities.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to A minimum 7 years of senior leadership experience in operations management roles with at least 3 years of experience in a similar role. Moreover, we also expect the following:

• Experience in NGO sector is desirable.
• Proven leadership skills and competence in people management at least for 4 years.
• Proven operational management experience and capability.
• Experience in grant management and understanding of institutional fund-raising.
• Proven significant financial management experience.
• Significant experience in procurement and tender processes.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills with a well-developed ability to motivate and persuade at high levels.
• Excellent Computer Skills and an advanced proficiency in Excel are required.
• Experience of working in ERP systems would be an advantage.
• University degree in Economics, Business Administration or Management, or another relevant field is required.
• Full proficiency in English and Georgian.

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 length: Until 28 Feb 2026

Band: Management E1

Work location: Tbilisi, Georgia

Start date: Preferable 01 March 2025

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for national contracts. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact [email protected]