Programme Manager – Syrian Arab Republic

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council supports refugees and internally displaced people all over the world: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights and strengthen their chances for a better future. We work in conflict areas, along the escape routes and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work towards successful integration and – where possible – towards fulfilling the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown into an international humanitarian organisation with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced people.

The basis of all our actions is our compass of values: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation as well as honesty and transparency.

Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria

DRC has been active in Syria since 2008, mainly supporting refugees. In June 2012, DRC was authorized by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to expand its humanitarian efforts and provide assistance to internally displaced persons and the vulnerable population across the country. Since then, DRC’s activities have focused on distributing NFI, shelter, WASH, protection, education, livelihoods and mine risk awareness in six governorates (Damascus, rural areas, Dara’a, Aleppo, Hama and Homs), while also providing protection and community service activities to beneficiaries in our six community centers.

About the job

As a member of the Senior Management Team, the Programme Manager drives the overall country strategy, in line with the DRC’s global and regional strategies and the needs and contextual developments on the ground. The Programme Manager oversees the conceptualisation and development of programmes, leads fundraising and donor engagement, and is responsible for ensuring programme quality and effective grant management. The position leads a team of technical programme staff at CO level and is responsible for ensuring programme quality standards are met across the board, including through robust MEAL processes, capitalisation on learning outcomes and cross-cutting themes (age, gender and diversity protection and inclusion). The Programme Manager actively engages with partners, civil society and the donor community to ensure that the DRC’s views and priorities are represented. He/she plays a key role in ensuring compliance with policies and systems.

Tasks and responsibilities

​Program strategy and development

• Identify and stay abreast of key developments and trends in the country and position the Democratic Republic of Congo to respond to them in a high-quality and efficient manner.
• Promote the conceptualisation and development process of the country strategy and sector strategies jointly and with the participation and input of all country activities. This includes ensuring that the strategy is evidence-based, includes internal and external accountability mechanisms and that it is informed by DRC expertise and stakeholder consultations.
• Ensure that key global and regional frameworks are contextualized and applied across programs, and ensure staff are aware and understand them.
• Promote synergies across programme areas, including integration and harmonization across regional offices, and ensure quality assurance for more holistic approaches to aid.
• Ensure that the Syria Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP) is updated and facilitate assessments and rapid responses to new emergencies, as discussed and agreed with the SMT.
• Stay informed and participate in the architecture of durable solutions and ensure that the DRC is well represented in these forums. Working closely with the Advocacy Coordinator, ensure that advocacy is embedded in and supported by programs and also used for external communications with government agencies, donors and other humanitarian and development stakeholders.

Program quality and coordination

• Provide oversight, guidance and leadership in all aspects of program design, development and quality assurance.
• Ensure that programming is carried out in principle and in accordance with core humanitarian standards, Sphere standards and other relevant legal frameworks.
• Ensure that systems and tools are in place for conflict-sensitive programming, including approaches to mitigate harm.
• Develop a close and productive working relationship with regional offices (implementation teams) to ensure compliance with quality standards and processes and to ensure that designs and course corrections are evidence-based and informed by evidence.
• Ensure that effective and participatory monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning strategies are implemented at all levels of country programmes.
• Facilitate collaboration and leveraging global and regional technical support in areas of new programmatic initiatives (localization, greening, innovation, etc.).
• Ensure that information management is integrated into the DRC program and that data management complies with GDPR and other data protection protocols, including PIM.
• Implement an evidence-based approach that includes the dissemination of lessons learned and best practices within DRC country and regional teams, to donors and, where appropriate, to other stakeholders, to ensure synergistic programming and cross-program collaboration in Syria and across the region.
• Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of operations to ensure overall implementation is in line with agreed work plans, donor agreements and the humanitarian accountability framework.

Fundraising and grant management

• Ensure that proposals are consistent with the strategic plan and sector strategies and that they are submitted on time and of high quality.
• Ensure effective and transparent budgeting, planning and tracking in accordance with Democratic Republic of Congo policies and priorities and donor rules and regulations.
• Ensure that grant opening, review and closing meetings are held systematically.
• Ensure quality control of donor reports and approve submission of these reports and proposals to headquarters/donors.

Donor contact, partnerships and representation

• Represent the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Syria to current and potential donors.
• Build key relationships that increase the visibility and credibility of the Democratic Republic of Congo and position it as one of the key displacement-focused organizations in Syria.
• Review and monitor the implementation of the CSO partnership strategy and promote the DRC localization agenda within the DRC in Syria.
• Identify local NGOs/partners and develop partnerships with relevant and complementary partners.
• Stay informed and participate in strategic coordination structures, including the Durable Solutions Task Force and Working Group, and ensure that DRC is well represented in these and other external forums deemed strategic.

Direct personnel management:

• Ensure that technical managers, coordinators and specialists have clear and realistic performance-based management objectives within the HoP line management.
• Provide ongoing support and coaching and ensure that line management staff have the capacity to perform their roles.
• Plan, design and/or review work areas to hire and manage technical consultants, including review of technical effectiveness and contract budget.

Other

• Lead by example in close collaboration with the extended Senior Management Team to ensure continued progress in the implementation of DRC’s Age, Gender and Diversity Policies and AGD’s Minimum Programmatic Standards, and promote compliance with DRC’s zero tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Other tasks at the request of the State Director

Experience and technical skills: (including years of professional experience)

• At least 5 years of increasingly responsible experience in program management, leadership and design in conflict or post-conflict countries
• At least 4 years of experience in leading emergency operations, including in transition contexts and preferably in the Middle East.
• Proven experience and expertise in proposal and budget development, program implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Proven experience in coordinating effectively with national governments, international and national NGO partners, and in collaborating and coordinating with a wide range of donors, including SDC, BHA, OCHA, ECHO, SIDA, DANIDA and the EU.
• Preferably previous successful experience with DRC.
• Proven experience in managing integrated programmes and capacity building.

Education:

University degree in international development and/or humanitarian aid, project management or another related field.

Languages:

• Comprehensive knowledge of the English language in a professional context is required.
• Arabic is desirable

In this role, you will be expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: They focus on achieving results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Cooperation: They involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Take the lead: You take responsibility and initiative while striving for innovation.
• Communicate: They listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrate integrity: You act in accordance with our vision and our values.

We offer

Contract term: one year

Level: E1

Location: Damascus

Expected start date: end of 2024