Job Vacancy: Area Programme Manager, Dan Church Aid (DCA)

Published August 18, 2022 · Updated August 18, 2022

Are you a dynamic leader with a passion for empowering people in protracted crises to enhance their resilience? Do you have experience working with a wide range of partners, including private sector? Are you creative and proactive, with a proven ability to effectively lead and support teams to deliver results? DanChurchAid (DCA) is looking for an experienced and energetic Area Programme Manager to be overall responsible for DCA and partner-led activities in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kalobeyei Settlement and wider Turkana County. The duty station is Kakuma, with accommodation and office provided by DCA (at NGO Kakuma Compound 1). The position reports to the Country Director in Nairobi and is a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT). DCA has worked in Kakuma since the early 1990’s in partnership with national and international partners, and since 2016 also as a direct implementer. The program is primarily focused on building resilient livelihoods, including cash transfer programming and innovative projects on financial inclusion, digital entrepreneurship learning, insect farming and climate-smart agricultural technologies.

The main responsibilities will include:

Overall responsibility for programmatic, operational, and financial management of the Kakuma office and projects implemented by DCA and partners in Turkana County, with specific focus on quality of implementation and efficient utilization of resources.
Lead projects teams in the Area office in regular reviews of project implementation status with greater focus on work plans, spending plans and budget vs. actual reviews.
Provide leadership, direction, coaching, support and guidance to staff in the area office and partners where relevant.
Ensure systems of support and supervision are in place to create and maintain a healthy working environment that fosters employee engagement and inspired team performance.
Establish and maintain strong relationships with government officials, media, community representatives, private sector actors, the NGO community in general and DCA partners in particular, in the defined geographical area.
In coordination with the country office safety & security focal points, ensure that security management and preparedness plans are in place and regularly updated and adhered to at the Area office level.
Promote a learning culture, support the development of new and innovative projects and contribute to country level strategy development.

We expect the following qualifications and competences from you:

Minimum five years of work experience in a similar or closely related role – including responsibility for operations (logistics, procurement, finance, admin and HR) and overseeing programme implementation. Experience working with refugees and host communities is an added advantage.
Master’s degree in a relevant Humanitarian/Development field or Bachelor’s degree with commensurate work experience.
Strong leadership, strategic planning, networking, coordination and communication skills.
Good knowledge about livelihoods and cash transfer programming.
Knowledge of CHS and complaints handling mechanisms.
Excellent capacity to design project concepts, draft project outlines, proposals, and budgets using the logical framework approach.
Be a self-starter and able to work with minimal supervision. You need to be able to set priorities, identify risks and opportunities, and be self-managed and demonstrate initiative.
Experience working with partner organizations.
Excellent spoken and written English.

DCA offers

A two year contract with possibility of extension, and a competitive salary and benefits package in accordance with experience and the DCA Kenya HR Manual.

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.

Position in The Organization

The APM is the senior most field based DCA representative in the Kakuma field office and Turkana County. The APM actively adheres to and communicates DCA values, mandate and programme objectives with staff, partners, rights-holders, government and donors at the field level. The APM is responsible for the management of the Kakuma field office as well as leading to the successful management of DCA Kenya self-implemented and partner implemented projects as per DCA policies and procedures on quality and accountability. The geographical focus will be Turkana County, including Kakuma refugee camp and Kalobeyei settlement. The duty station will be mainly Kakuma with frequent visits to various project sites.

Period of Employment : As specified in the employment contract.

Work ratio: 40 hours per week.

Immediate Supervisor : Country Director

Manager for : Relevant project staff, finance and admin staff

Last Revision: August 2022

Overall Responsibilities Of The Job

The overall objective of the APM position is for the holder to take responsibility for the efficient management of the Kakuma field office (programming, finance, admin, HR and prolog) as well as take the lead in the design, implementation and field level monitoring of relevant DCA & partner implemented projects. The focus will be in Turkana County, including the Kakuma refugee camp & Kalobeyei settlement and the APM will work closely with the DCA partners operating there. The APM is responsible for ensuring quality implementation of refugee and host community project/s and take the lead to ensure that high quality project reports are generated by DCA. The APM will also be responsible for emergency preparedness and response in Turkana County, with support from other DCA staff. The APM will support and facilitate innovative programming initiatives in the relevant projects. As the current senior most DCA representative in Turkana County, the APM will represent DCA in field level coordination meetings at the County level including UNHCR led refugee program coordination. The APM will in consultations with HoP/CD work to support the achievement of DCA Kenya performance indicators as well as the annual fundraising benchmarks.

Detailed Tasks

Administrative Management Of The Field Office

Provide all necessary administrative support to the Kakuma field office in support of project implementation.
In close collaboration with the Head of Finance and Support Services (HoFSS), ensure the fulfilment of necessary procurement and logistics for the Kakuma field office and in support of project implementation and operational efficiency, including efficient DCA vehicle and motorcycle fleet management.
In close collaboration with the DCA safety & security focal points, have day-to-day responsibility for security at the field office and in the implementation of project activities, including adherence to updated security plans and SoPs.
Ensure proactive communication of significant issues (political developments, security, financial, corruption, complaints) to the DCA Kenya Senior Management Team (SMT).
Manage and ensure timely flow of decisions between Nairobi and the field office.
Maintain overview of deadlines and provide inputs and feedback to Nairobi in order to improve systems and procedures.

Projects & Field Office Budget Management

Ensure each project directly managed by the APM has an operational budget plan alongside the detailed implementation plan.
In consultations with the ProLog Officer, ensure that procurement plans are prepared for the field office and for each project directly managed by the APM and are strictly followed in field level procurement.
In close collaboration with the HoFSS and Finance Officer, monitor the monthly budget expenditure rate of the projects directly managed by the APM and provide regular feedback to relevant project staff and notify the HoFSS of any concerns or matters arising.
Facilitate and ensure timely budget forecast are shared with the finance team to ensure efficient cash flow for projects directly managed by the APM and the field office. Ensure that DCA financial policies and procedures are duly respected at field office level.
Ensuring that donor rules, regulations and compliance related to budget are maintained and respected at field level.
In collaboration with DCA Kenya finance unit, work on regular/quarterly financial progress reports for projects directly managed by the APM.

Human Resource Management.

Ensure that locally hired field project staff in projects managed by the APM are recruited, inducted and deployed to field project sites in time.
In collaboration with DCA Kenya HR Officer, ensure that all relevant field project staff have clear job descriptions and valid contracts of employment.
Line manage and supervise relevant field level project officers and operations (finance, ProLog) staff.
Regularly assess the capacity gap of field level staff and recommend capacity building interventions to the HoP and HoFSS.
Regularly mentor, coach and motivate project & other field office staff.
Conduct Employee Development Reviews (EDR) for relevant staff and proactively use agreed performance benchmarks to motivate employees and measure progress, and report immediately to the HoP and / or HoFSS on any performance issues.
Ensure that DCA’s human resource policies and procedures are fully followed and respected at the field office including inductions of new staff and the staff Code of Conduct.
In collaboration with the HR Officer, solve any HR issues related to field team members, and refer any complex ones to the HoFSS.

Partnership, Coordination & Representation

Participate, facilitate and/or take the lead in regular County level coordination meetings with partners, county government and other stakeholders.
Regularly and proactively participate in UNHCR and other stakeholder-led coordination meetings, working groups and platforms.
Ensure that cordial partnership and working relations is maintained with the relevant county technical departments & UN units at field level.
Ensure proper coordination and communication system is in place with DCA implementing partners.
In Consultation with the HoP, represent DCA at different fora on refugees & host community and other related issues.

Project Management for projects directly under the APM

Manage the DCA project planning and approval process according to the PPM.
Manage the implementation, M&E/quality assurance and reporting of DCA implemented projects in Turkana.
Provide overall technical support and capacity building support to DCA staff.
Support and facilitate innovative programming initiatives in the relevant projects.
Ensure that M&E system and plans are properly in place and operational for projects.
Facilitate and lead the baseline data establishment, midterm review and final evaluation for projects.
Ensure proper procurement, communication and visibility plans of projects are prepared and followed.
For Danida-funded projects, initiate proposal drafts for DCA self-implemented projects for submission to HoP.

Project Implementation for projects directly under the APM

Through management of and delegation to project officers:

Ensure all the project activities are implemented in accordance with donor requirements and DCA quality standard.
Ensure a realistic detailed implementation plan (DIP) is in place and operational for relevant projects.
Ensure the overall timely start up and implementation of all projects.
Compile regular updates on project progress to DCA Kenya Country Office (attention CD / SMT).
Consolidate timely and high-quality project progress reports as per DCA PPM and donor requirements and submit to DCA HoP.
Provide regular technical and operational support to DCA field office/s and staff engaged in the implementation of projects.
In consultations with the HoFSS, provide appropriate and timely solutions to the operational challenges experienced at field level.

For application: https://dca-1.career.emply.com/en/apply/danchurchaid-dca-area-programme-manager-turkana-kenya/37lnz7