Country Director

Position Title: Country Director Chad

Supervised by: Regional Operations Director

Reporting to: Regional Operations Director

Duty Station: N’Djamena with travels to field offices, the regional office in Dakar and headquarters in Denmark

Area of Operation: Region of West Africa, North Africa & Latin America

Employment Period: 12 months (renewable)

Type of Contract (Expat/National/Trainee): Expatriate and National

Salary & Benefits: Band Management D

Introduction

Founded in 1956, Danish Refugee Council (DRC) works in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. In 40 countries, our 7,500 employees protect, advocate, and build sustainable futures for refugees and other displacement-affected people and communities.

DRC is a non-profitmaking, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

DRC has been recently officially registered in Chad. We are starting our operations and aim at scaling up rapidly with a primary goal to respond to the humanitarian crisis in the East in close coordination with DRC in Sudan. Multi-country programming in the bordering regions of Chad, Central African Republic and Cameroon will also be explored. DRC places a strong emphasis on partnering with national and local actors to respond effectively to urgent needs and shape a path towards durable solutions. DRC is established in six countries of West Africa and Central Africa, and has a regional office in Dakar, Senegal.

About the job

The Country Director will lead the development of DRC operations in Chad from the onset and play a strong leadership role in DRC’s comprehensive and solutions-based approach to displacement through high level strategic leadership, innovation and effective advocacy. S/He is ultimately accountable in country for all aspects of DRC’s work. S/He delegates specific responsibilities as necessary, while maintaining oversight and accountability, and sets direction, leads, maintains team morale, safety and welfare, and manages resources. S/He will foster strategic and meaningful partnerships with local, national and international counterparts to ensure the effective implementation of initiatives in line with DRC guidelines and donors’ requirements.

The Country Director reports to the Operations Director for the region based in Dakar. S/He will travel frequently on the field, and occasionally to Dakar and Copenhagen.

Expected start date is March 2024 with a possibility to adjust if required by the successful candidate.

Please note that this vacancy is subject to confirmation of funding for our operations in Chad. We are expecting feedback from donors from mid-December 2023 onwards.

Your main responsibilities will be:

As Country Director you are accountable to achieve DRC’s strategic goals and objectives in Chad.

Overall programme management

• Ensure efficient implementation of projects
• Ensures that timely and quality reports are provided internally and externally, on time according to DRC & donors requirements
• Provide strategic guidance and management to all program sectors to deliver high quality programmes that follow a Rights Based Approach and mainstream protection principles into all sectors
• Ensure the operationalization of the global DRC 2025 Strategy

HR & Administration, Finance, Supply Chain

• HR: Manage her/his direct team. Ensure that the recruitment of staff is transparent and timely. Proactively adjust team structures based on needs and funding. Ensure that the salary scale for national staff is competitive and in line with available funding. Supervises national staff & international staff performance, and provide recommendations on recruitment, promotions, training, coaching and dismissals to the Operations Director for the region & DRC HQ
• Finance: Responsible for all project funds in country. Ensures that funds are spent appropriately, according to the donor contract and DRC policies. Ensures that under-spendings & overspendings are monitored and signaled in good time
• Supply chain: Ensures that procurement are made on time and in compliance with rules of origin and nationality. Ensures that for all procurement the proper documentation exists and is archived correctly
• DRC Dynamics (ERP System): Support the implementation of ERP system and follow up

Safeguarding and Code of Conduct

• Overall accountability for matters of compliance, ethics and Code of Conduct in accordance with relevant DRC guidelines and Operations Handbooks
• Ensures that DRC’s Safeguarding, PSEAH Policies and Zero Tolerance to SEAH are strictly enforced
• Ensures that the team is informed about DRC’s transparency policy and whistleblower procedures

Access and safety

• Overall responsible for the security of DRC staff in country and the programs
• Responsible for security planning including regular updating of security and evacuation plans and measures, and implementation of security and contingency plan and update of DRC´s SLS (Safety Level Systems)
• Overall responsible for having optimal access in the various contexts of intervention and hard-to-reach areas
• When necessary, engage with relevant actors to ensure access and support to interventions
• Ensure that all employees adhere to security procedures
• Ensure that security incidents are reported and escalated in real-time
• Contribute to the management of serious security crises and incidents in coordination with the RO/HQ

Partnership management

• Ensure that partnerships are built on both complementarity and added value, designed and managed in a spirit of equal partnership, and in a way that they align with the outcomes of DRC’s strategy at the national, regional, and global levels.
• Analyze potential partnerships using documented selection methods and ensure that all partnerships comply with DRC’s requirements and regulations, as well as those of the donors.

Fundraising

• Ensure that DRC has an updated understanding of the socio-economic context of the country, trends among donors, needs and gaps, who is doing what, and where in the country
• Drives fundraising efforts and plays key role in donors engagement
• Identifies opportunities for new projects and organizes assessment and fact finding missions
• Oversees the formulation of project proposals, concept papers and budgets using the DRC Operations Handbook

Representation and external coordination

• High level representation with Government and UN agencies at local and national level, with ability to work with high level officials to negotiate program priorities
• Cultivate good relations with key humanitarian actors and local and international NGOs engaged particularly in protection, economic recovery and peace programming, through regular attendance at technical meetings /clusters and bilateral meetings. Engage in, and where effective, lead coordination processes amongst key stakeholders

Key Requirements – To be successful in this role you must have:

• Advanced university degree in development studies and project management, law, human rights, political and/ or social sciences or in related field
• A Minimum of 8 years of humanitarian field experience, including at least 3 to 5 years working in the field in refugee/IDP situations; at least 3 years in a senior management position
• Proven ability to the design, management and implementation of programs with a focus on protection and emergency response for refugees and displaced persons. Experience in sectors such as protection, food security/ early recovery / livelihoods, and peacebuilding
• Experience in implementing operations in insecure environments. Proven experience in security management
• Proven track record in setting up equitable partnership with counterparts (Nat./local NGOs)
• Ability to promptly analyze situations and adjust strategies in response to contextual changes
• Experience with donors such as DANIDA, ECHO, FCDO, BHA, BPRM, SIDA, UNHCR, and UNICEF. Proven track record in raising funds in underfunded context.
• Demonstrated management capacity ; hands on experience in Administration, HR, Finance and Supply Chain
• Willingness to live and work in an insecure environment with limited physical amenities
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Full professional proficiency in French (Daily working language)
• Full professional proficiency in English

Desirable

• Previous work experience in West and Central Africa
• Prior experience in starting a country operation

All employees should master DRC’s core competencies

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. You strive to produce accurate, thorough and professional work with optimal use of time and effort.
• Collaborating: You cooperate with and involve relevant parties, actively seeking their opinion and sharing key information with them. You support and trust others while encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and prioritize my job according to DRC’s overall vision and goals. You take the initiative when confronted with a challenge or an opportunity and aim for innovative solutions.
• Communicating: You write and speak effectively and honestly while adjusting my style and tone to the situation. You listen actively to others and involve them in the dialogue.
• Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

• Contract duration: 1 year (renewable)
• Level: Management D
• Designation of Duty Station: For expatriate candidates: Non accompanied position

General Regulations

The employee shall follow:

• DRC regulations on safety, health, COVID-19 norms and hygiene
• The Code of Conduct and all ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework