Job Vacancy: Regional Head of Program, DRC

Background:  DRC has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. Using a human rights framework, the DRC East Africa and Great Lakes (EAGL) operation focuses on people who are affected by displacement, including refugees, internally displaced, migrants, and host communities in Burundi, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan Tanzania and Uganda. The EAGL Regional office also supports non-operational initiatives, focusing on Durable Solutions, mixed migration issues, civil society engagement, as well as advocacy and policy initiatives related to displacement.

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

The Regional Head of Program reports to and works closely with the Regional Executive Director to provide leadership, management and strategic program direction for the region and country operations, and in promoting programmatic and operational compliance and development.   The RHOP supports quality regional and country programming by providing and mobilizing regional technical support for the country operations and program teams hosted within the region. The Regional Head of Programme is part of DRC Regional Senior Management Team and has direct line-management of the programme technical team manager, MEAL Manager, Business Development and Partnership Manager, the Regional Mixed Migration Centre Manager, and the two Regional Durable Solutions Secretariats Managers.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

STRATEGIC AND PROGRAMMATIC DEVELOPMENT

• Supports the Regional Executive Director in providing overall strategic leadership, including the development and implementation of regional strategic priorities.
• Assumes specific responsibility for coordinating, developing and overseeing the implementation of programmatic strategies for the East Africa and Great Lakes region. In this capacity, the position ensures strategic coherence and vision in alignment with the organization and monitors key displacement-related trends and issues that may impact DRC programming or operations in North Africa.
• In coordination with the region’s country offices, provides technical support and review of country-level program and technical strategies.
• In collaboration with the Regional Business Development Coordinator, oversees all regional and multi-country new business development processes. This entails ensuring the implementation of a regional fundraising strategy and ensuring that regional and multi-country proposals are well written, professionally presented, have undergone technical review by relevant sector focal points, are reflective of best practices and are in line with DRC’s regional and global strategies.
• Together with regional and country technical managers, supports in planning and facilitation of scoping missions and assessments for new programming and new geographic areas of operation.

PROJECT CYCLE MANAGEMENT

• In collaboration with the implementing teams, ensures that planning and kick-off meetings are held for all new multi-country and regional projects. This entails ensuring responsible staff develop and regularly update work plans, financial forecasts, procurement plans, and monitoring and evaluation plans.
• Supports DRC’s country teams to uphold rigorous project cycle management principles through the provision of technical advice, including support with the development of project cycle management tools.
• Collaborates with country teams to organize and facilitate quarterly program reviews of selected projects.

PROGRAM QUALITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

• Contributes to organizational risk management processes, including systematic and comprehensive identification and mitigation of risks, with a particular focus on programmatic and reputational risks.

• Works closely with DRC’s global MEAL team to develop MEAL capacity and systems at the regional and country levels and to support compliance and adherence to minimum standards and best practices.
• Collaborates with country teams to develop and implement programmatic policies, processes, and standards to promote program quality and accountability.
• Identifies and supports ongoing improvements to program quality standards, including application and harmonization across countries.
• Ensures DRC’s values and code of conduct are respected and upheld within programming and the program teams.
• MANAGEMENT
• Manages the regional program team and support respectful and positive working relationships. This is to be achieved through leadership, team building, day-to-day support and capacity-building.
• Supports and participates in relevant regional and country program-related recruitment processes.
• In collaboration with the regional senior management team, ensures relevant program staffing structures are in place at the regional level.
• Promotes professional development by identifying training and capacity building opportunities and ensure program staff are well versed in core sector concepts, DRC’s code of conduct, accountability, respectful dialogue with the refugee population, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.
• REPRESENTATION
• Collaborates closely with the Regional Executive Director to represent the region to donors, partner agencies and other key stakeholders, particularly in relation to DRC programming.
• Supports the RED in advocacy and communication initiatives, where necessary.

Experience and Technical Competencies:

• Minimum of 7 years of experience at a senior level, preferably with an INGO. Experience working in East Africa is an added advantage.
• Demonstrated programmatic knowledge and field experience in protection, economic recovery and other core humanitarian sectors.
• Demonstrated experience in the development of programmatic strategies as well as the design of complex and multi-sector programming.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising, networking and coordination, including with donors, governmental representatives and other organizations.
• Experience implementing and supporting accountability policies and mechanisms.
• Political and cultural sensitivity as well as patience, tact, diplomacy and persistence.

Willingness to travel across the East Africa and Great Lakes region.

Education:

Master’s degree in a social science or other relevant subject

Languages:

• Excellent written and spoken English is required.

Proficiency in French is a strong preference; while other regional languages are beneficial.

We offer

Contract lenghth: 2 years

Duty station: Accompanied

Start date: May 1 2022

Contract type: expat or national

Application deadline: March 20, 2022