Head of Field Office
Liberia - Sanniquellie, Nimba County
The Danish Refugee Council’s (DRC) programme in North Liberia has been operational since late 2006. It aims at supporting the reintegration of displaced Liberians in their areas of origin. The programme is part of DRC’s regional strategy for West Africa, which overall strategic objective is to:
Support peace and stabilisation, and protect and promote durable solutions to conflict-affected population in Liberia, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Burkina Faso and other West African countries on the basis of humanitarian principles and fundamental rights
More specifically the regional strategy points out three immediate objectives that guide DRC activities throughout the region:
1. To strengthen resilience and build up livelihoods assets and capacities among the conflict-affected population in DRC area of operation on the basis of their own resources and capacities.
2. To strengthen local institutional and organizational capacities that can promote democratic, accountable and transparent governance conducive for the peaceful handling of conflict and promotion of recovery processes.
3. To support that the conflict affected population in DRC area of operation has safe access to meet subsistence needs in accordance with relevant standards and to strengthen local emergency response capabilities
The main components of the programme include food security and agriculture projects; conflict prevention, conflict resolution and social cohesion , water and sanitation, infrastructure rehabilitation, income generation and community action planning. The programme is currently funded by Danida, EC, UNHCR, SIDA, DRC own funds and private donors.
However, the development focus of the intervention has been shifted radically as of January 2011, following the refugee crisis in the region sparked by the contested presidential elections in Ivory Coast and the ensuing insecurity and violence.
Currently, there are over 32,000 refugees in North Liberia, as well as around 20,000 IDPs in West CI. The context is largely an emergency one, especially in Liberia at least in the short to medium term, with as many as 100,000 Ivorian refugees possibly arriving in Liberia by April 2011, if peaceful solutions are not found in February and March.
DRC WA needs to respond to the emergency immediately with increased capacity, but given the differences in the regional impact of the Ivorian refugee crisis and the ongoing regional projects, it also needs to preserve current achievements and continue with early recovery and development work wherever possible. As such the ideal candidate will have knowledge and experience in working both in development and emergency situations with experience in balancing emergency with more recovery/development work.
The regional office is located in Abidjan, Ivory Coast with a regional sub-office in Monrovia, Liberia. The HoFO will oversee the field office in Sanniquellie (Nimba County), with about 40 national staff members, one expatriate intern and one expatriate engineer.
BASIC FUNCTIONS
Under the supervision of the Regional Director, the Head of Field Office (HoFO) for DRC North Liberia is responsible for overseeing implementation and monitoring of DRC programmes, contributing to writing proposals and developing concept papers, supervision of staff, and preparing reports.
He/she represents DRC vis-Ã -vis local authorities, donor representatives, international organizations and NGOs in the area of operation.
The HoFO is responsible for security planning and implementation of security precautions in the area of operation in coordination with DRC’s focal point for security in Liberia.
Under the supervision of respective regional managers the PM has the financial, administrative and logistics responsibility of the DRC programme in the area of operation.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Planning and coordinating successful and timely implementation of all projects/programmes in the area of operation, and in collaboration with the Emergency Coordinator to support the current refugee emergency related interventions
- Supervising implementation of the projects by monitoring and evaluation (quality control, monitoring objectives and indicators) to ensure that activities/projects are implemented in accordance with agreed strategies, principles, implementation plans, and donor requirements
- Responsible for project budget and administration, procurement, logistics, and storage in collaboration with Regional Head of Administration and Finance
- Personnel management: guiding, advising, participating in training, supervising and recruiting local project staff and taking care of their security
- Responsible for regular project documentation and reporting (collecting technical data, compiling reporting from the technical and field staff)
- Conducting assessments and fact finding missions to set up new or follow-up projects, assisting in preparation of project proposals for external donors and negotiate/defend them, conceptualizing and developing sectoral and local strategies in close co-operation with the Regional Head of Programme and Policy
- Coordination with all actors involved in the implementation of the programme, including local partners and authorities, and ensure that programme activities are well-coordinated with activities of other humanitarian actors in the area
- Maintains close and good collaboration with major donors and partners of the programme
- Ensure that the DRC North Liberia programme is implemented in accordance with DRC standard regulations and operational procedures (e.g. Code of Conduct, HAP Principles, DRC Assistance Framework, DRC Operational handbook and DRC Programme handbook)
- Ensure that at all times contact with beneficiaries, target groups and representatives of authorities is conducted in a sensitive and respectful manner
- Ensure input for and participate in the operationalisation of the DRC Regional West Africa Strategy
- Jointly with the Regional Programme Support Unit develop information material on DRC’s strategy and activities in West Africa
- Other duties as handed down from the DRC Regional Director and the DRC HQ
PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCES
- Solid professional international field experience at senior level
- Demonstrated HRM and leadership experience
- Practical experience at all levels of the programme cycle (undertaking assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring and documenting ones results)
- Experience in working with EuropeAid, ECHO and UNHCR guidelines is an advantage
- Fluency in written and spoken English, computer literate, knowledge of French an added advantage
- Cultural sensitivity and adaptability
- Acceptance of, and preferably experience from, working under difficult conditions in conflict-affected areas
TERMS
Starting Date:
As soon as possible, 1. April, 2011
Duty station:
Sanniquellie, Nimba County, Liberia (Non-family)
Contract:
12 months, with possibility of extension (subject to funding)
Salary and conditions in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates (please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies). The position will be placed at level B3.
FURTHER INFORMATION
You are welcome to contact Regional Director for West Africa, Ms Paula Nawrocki, on rd-wa@drc.dk or ph. +225 22 42 02 42 for further information.
Please note that applications are not to be sent to Ms Nawrocki; we only receive applications via our online-application form at www.drc.dk under Vacancies/Current vacancies/Head of Field Office - Liberia.
Applications sent directly to Ms. Nawrocki WILL NOT BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.drc.dk.
ABOUT DRC
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, humanitarian organisation covering all aspects of the refugee cause. Our aim is protection and promotion of durable solutions to refugee and displacement problems, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. We work on the basis of the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief, and the UN Conventions on Refugees.
Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications sent together with a CV, in English and marked “Head of Field Office – North Liberia” will be considered.
We only accept applications sent via our on-line system at www.drc.dk under Vacancies/Current Vacancies/IA “Head of Field Office – Liberia”. Applications sent directly to DRC West Africa will not be considered.
Please remember to upload a letter of application and your CV.
CV-only applications will not be considered.
Applications are to be sent to no later than Thursday 3. March 2011.
PROBLEMS WITH ON-LINE APPLICATION?
Please contact Anne Oxholm, job@drc.dk, if you experience problems with your on-line application.
The Danish Refugee Council’s (DRC) programme in North Liberia has been operational since late 2006. It aims at supporting the reintegration of displaced Liberians in their areas of origin. The programme is part of DRC’s regional strategy for West Africa, which overall strategic objective is to:
Support peace and stabilisation, and protect and promote durable solutions to conflict-affected population in Liberia, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Burkina Faso and other West African countries on the basis of humanitarian principles and fundamental rights
More specifically the regional strategy points out three immediate objectives that guide DRC activities throughout the region:
1. To strengthen resilience and build up livelihoods assets and capacities among the conflict-affected population in DRC area of operation on the basis of their own resources and capacities.
2. To strengthen local institutional and organizational capacities that can promote democratic, accountable and transparent governance conducive for the peaceful handling of conflict and promotion of recovery processes.
3. To support that the conflict affected population in DRC area of operation has safe access to meet subsistence needs in accordance with relevant standards and to strengthen local emergency response capabilities
The main components of the programme include food security and agriculture projects; conflict prevention, conflict resolution and social cohesion , water and sanitation, infrastructure rehabilitation, income generation and community action planning. The programme is currently funded by Danida, EC, UNHCR, SIDA, DRC own funds and private donors.
However, the development focus of the intervention has been shifted radically as of January 2011, following the refugee crisis in the region sparked by the contested presidential elections in Ivory Coast and the ensuing insecurity and violence.
Currently, there are over 32,000 refugees in North Liberia, as well as around 20,000 IDPs in West CI. The context is largely an emergency one, especially in Liberia at least in the short to medium term, with as many as 100,000 Ivorian refugees possibly arriving in Liberia by April 2011, if peaceful solutions are not found in February and March.
DRC WA needs to respond to the emergency immediately with increased capacity, but given the differences in the regional impact of the Ivorian refugee crisis and the ongoing regional projects, it also needs to preserve current achievements and continue with early recovery and development work wherever possible. As such the ideal candidate will have knowledge and experience in working both in development and emergency situations with experience in balancing emergency with more recovery/development work.
The regional office is located in Abidjan, Ivory Coast with a regional sub-office in Monrovia, Liberia. The HoFO will oversee the field office in Sanniquellie (Nimba County), with about 40 national staff members, one expatriate intern and one expatriate engineer.
BASIC FUNCTIONS
Under the supervision of the Regional Director, the Head of Field Office (HoFO) for DRC North Liberia is responsible for overseeing implementation and monitoring of DRC programmes, contributing to writing proposals and developing concept papers, supervision of staff, and preparing reports.
He/she represents DRC vis-Ã -vis local authorities, donor representatives, international organizations and NGOs in the area of operation.
The HoFO is responsible for security planning and implementation of security precautions in the area of operation in coordination with DRC’s focal point for security in Liberia.
Under the supervision of respective regional managers the PM has the financial, administrative and logistics responsibility of the DRC programme in the area of operation.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Planning and coordinating successful and timely implementation of all projects/programmes in the area of operation, and in collaboration with the Emergency Coordinator to support the current refugee emergency related interventions
- Supervising implementation of the projects by monitoring and evaluation (quality control, monitoring objectives and indicators) to ensure that activities/projects are implemented in accordance with agreed strategies, principles, implementation plans, and donor requirements
- Responsible for project budget and administration, procurement, logistics, and storage in collaboration with Regional Head of Administration and Finance
- Personnel management: guiding, advising, participating in training, supervising and recruiting local project staff and taking care of their security
- Responsible for regular project documentation and reporting (collecting technical data, compiling reporting from the technical and field staff)
- Conducting assessments and fact finding missions to set up new or follow-up projects, assisting in preparation of project proposals for external donors and negotiate/defend them, conceptualizing and developing sectoral and local strategies in close co-operation with the Regional Head of Programme and Policy
- Coordination with all actors involved in the implementation of the programme, including local partners and authorities, and ensure that programme activities are well-coordinated with activities of other humanitarian actors in the area
- Maintains close and good collaboration with major donors and partners of the programme
- Ensure that the DRC North Liberia programme is implemented in accordance with DRC standard regulations and operational procedures (e.g. Code of Conduct, HAP Principles, DRC Assistance Framework, DRC Operational handbook and DRC Programme handbook)
- Ensure that at all times contact with beneficiaries, target groups and representatives of authorities is conducted in a sensitive and respectful manner
- Ensure input for and participate in the operationalisation of the DRC Regional West Africa Strategy
- Jointly with the Regional Programme Support Unit develop information material on DRC’s strategy and activities in West Africa
- Other duties as handed down from the DRC Regional Director and the DRC HQ
PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCES
- Solid professional international field experience at senior level
- Demonstrated HRM and leadership experience
- Practical experience at all levels of the programme cycle (undertaking assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring and documenting ones results)
- Experience in working with EuropeAid, ECHO and UNHCR guidelines is an advantage
- Fluency in written and spoken English, computer literate, knowledge of French an added advantage
- Cultural sensitivity and adaptability
- Acceptance of, and preferably experience from, working under difficult conditions in conflict-affected areas
TERMS
Starting Date:
As soon as possible, 1. April, 2011
Duty station:
Sanniquellie, Nimba County, Liberia (Non-family)
Contract:
12 months, with possibility of extension (subject to funding)
Salary and conditions in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates (please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies). The position will be placed at level B3.
FURTHER INFORMATION
You are welcome to contact Regional Director for West Africa, Ms Paula Nawrocki, on rd-wa@drc.dk or ph. +225 22 42 02 42 for further information.
Please note that applications are not to be sent to Ms Nawrocki; we only receive applications via our online-application form at www.drc.dk under Vacancies/Current vacancies/Head of Field Office - Liberia.
Applications sent directly to Ms. Nawrocki WILL NOT BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.drc.dk.
ABOUT DRC
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, humanitarian organisation covering all aspects of the refugee cause. Our aim is protection and promotion of durable solutions to refugee and displacement problems, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. We work on the basis of the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief, and the UN Conventions on Refugees.
How to apply
APPLICATION AND CVOnly motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications sent together with a CV, in English and marked “Head of Field Office – North Liberia” will be considered.
We only accept applications sent via our on-line system at www.drc.dk under Vacancies/Current Vacancies/IA “Head of Field Office – Liberia”. Applications sent directly to DRC West Africa will not be considered.
Please remember to upload a letter of application and your CV.
CV-only applications will not be considered.
Applications are to be sent to no later than Thursday 3. March 2011.
PROBLEMS WITH ON-LINE APPLICATION?
Please contact Anne Oxholm, job@drc.dk, if you experience problems with your on-line application.
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