Country Director - Guinea-Conakry

We are looking for a highly qualified Country Director (CD) for our Programme in Guinea-Conakry.

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organisation founded in 1956 that works in more than 30 countries throughout the world.

Present in Guinea since 2008 and in southeast Liberia since 1998, DRC initiated a regional cross-border approach in 2006, based on displacement patterns stemming from the conflicts in the West Africa region. Marked by 14 years of civil war in Liberia, the post-electoral crisis of 2010 in Ivory Coast and recurrent socio-political troubles in Guinea, DRC intervenes on the border between the three countries. Despite a gradual normalization of the political situation, numerous challenges remain to be addressed in order to consolidate peace and stability.

DRC was one of the first witnesses of the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak that started in 2014 in Guinea. The outbreak has had a significant impact on the country, as well as the region as whole, and its impact will continue to be felt in the region for years to come. The outbreak has undermined social cohesion and the resilience of already fragile communities in the affected areas, and in neighbouring regions. DRC’s response to the Ebola crisis in the region is non-medical and focuses on social and economic reintegration of survivors and relatives of Ebola affected persons, social cohesion and protection.

About the job

The country Director for Guinea is responsible for managing all activities within the country program. The CD provides strategy guidance and management to all sectors and is responsible for high quality and accountability of programme design and delivery. The country Director is supervised by and reports to the Regional Director.

DRC main activities in Guinea include:

• Protection by psycho-social assistance, establishing and facilitating peace committees, providing training on human rights and conflict resolution.
• Early recovery process with local population and conflict prevention.
• Improving food security.
• Improving livelihoods.
• Water and sanitation (WASH).
• Construction and improvements of small-scale infrastructure
• Integrated response to the Ebola epidemic
  Duties and Responsibilities

Programming

• Oversee and conduct strategy planning and development of DRC’s Guinea programme;
• Responsible for ensuring that annual/project action plans are prepared for all projects in accordance with annual planning cycle;
• Responsible for supervision, monitoring and evaluation of the program to ensure that activities/projects are implemented in accordance with agreed strategies, principles, implementation plans, and donor requirements;
• Ensure all reports are done in time and quality according to HQ and Donor requirement;
• In coordination with the RD, head of Desk in HQ, the head of field offices and other relevant staff, identify opportunities for new projects and organize assessment and fact finding missions;
• Formulation of project proposals, concept papers and budgets using the DRC Programme Manual;
• Ensures that the DRC projects are implemented in accordance with DRC standard regulations and operational procedures (e.g. Code of Conduct, DRC Program Manual, DRC Operational Handbook, HAP, Strategic Focal Areas);
• Lead processes of developing and updating local Humanitarian Accountability Framework and Quality Management System.
• Ensure that at all times contact with beneficiaries, target groups and representatives of authorities is conducted in a sensitive and respectful manner.

Representation Coordination and Stakeholder management

• To provide strong fundraising abilities and play key role in fundraising and donor contract management;
• High levels of representation with Government and UN agencies at local and national level, and the ability to work with high level officials to negotiate DRC programme priorities in Guinea;
• Represent DRC at relevant and senior forums/meetings & maintain agreed profile of DRC at country level;
• Conduct regular stakeholder analyses to ensure that DRC has a good understanding of dynamics/ relationships;
• Prepare a programme communication strategy including identifying key networks;
• Ensure collaboration with the regional office in Abidjan and field offices

Finance/Administration/Logistic/HR support

• Overall responsible for management of the office in Nzerekore and field offices including the overall financial budgeting and expenditures, staff management, administrative issues, logistics and other aspects pertaining to running DRC offices and adhering to DRC rules and guidelines;
• Responsible for organizational development of the DRC Guinea operation, including formulation of human resource development strategy, and staff training;
• Supervision of national staff performance, and in close collaboration with the relevant staff, take actions in terms of recruitment, promotions and dismissal;
• Supervision of international staff performance, and provide recommendations on recruitment, promotions and dismissal to DRC HQ;
• Assess staff development needs and provide/recommend training and coaching to increase technical and managerial skills.

Security

• Work with DRC’s Security Advisor to ensure that all DRC security management protocols and procedures are updated, made locally relevant and applied consistently;
• Ensure appropriate information regarding security in the area;
• Ensures that security incidents are reported to DRC HQ;
• To be overall responsible for ensuring that DRCs Guinea programme is delivered in a safe and secure manner.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to do design, management, monitoring and evaluation of programmes, preferably with a focus on protection and durable solutions for refugees, returnees and displaced people;
• Proven management experience at senior level including capacity building, training and mentoring, especially in complex humanitarian environments;
• Proven skills of negotiation and diplomacy with governments, UN and donors;
• Experience with humanitarian accountability;
• Strong experience in fundraising, networking, advocacy and coordination;
• Financial management skills and experience;
• Experience in security management;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Excellent writing and editing skills in French and English for external audiences (including governments and donors);
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability;
• Work related experience from WA region is an advantage.
  We offer
  DRC will offer the successful applicant a 12 months contract, renewable dependent on both funding and performance. You must be available to start work 1st of August and be willing and able to work in Guinea-Conakry, based in Nzerekore.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. This position will be placed at A4.

Need further information?

For more details on this position please contact Jean Christophe Saint Esteben, Regional Director: rd-wa@drc.dk
Please note that applications sent directly to Mr. Saint Esteben will not be considered.

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.dk

About DRC
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, independent, humanitarian organization working on all aspects of the refugee cause in more than twenty five countries throughout the world. The aim of DRC is to protect refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) against persecution and to promote durable solutions to the problems of forced migration, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC works in accordance with the UN Conventions on Refugees and the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief.
The protection and assistance to conflict affected population is provided within a long-term, regional and rights-based approach in order to constitute a coherent and effective response to the challenges posed by today’s conflicts. Assistance consists of relief and other humanitarian aid, rehabilitation, support to return and repatriation as well as promotion of long-term solutions to displacement and its causes. In addition, support and capacity building of local and national authorities and NGOs form an integral part of DRC’s work.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested? Then apply for this position through our website www.drc.dk
All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV only applications will not be considered.
If you are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk
Applications close 21 July 2015. Interviews of selected candidate will take place shortly after.