Programme Development and Quality Manager at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a Danish international non-governmental organisation, which promotes and supports durable solutions to the problems faced by refugees and internally displaced people all over the world. DRC is present in more than 30 conflict territories around the world assisting displaced people with shelter, food, income-generating activities, and a wide range of other assistance. It is of utmost importance for DRC to work in compliance with the DRC Accountability and Quality Management system and national legislations. Smooth, reliable and effective operational systems are preconditions for DRC to maintain its position as a trustworthy and reliable partner for our donors and an accountable organisation towards our beneficiaries.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Programme Development and Quality Manager

Location: Abuja
Supervied by: Head of Programme
Reporting to: Head of Programme
Area of Operation     Nigeria
Employment period: 12 months
Wished start date: April 2023
Type of Contract (Expat/National/Trainee): Expatriate

Background

• Danish Refugee Council (DRC), and its Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding technical unit - the Danish Demining Group (DDG), has had an operational presence in Nigeria since 2015. DRC Nigeria is the largest DRC country mission in the West Africa region and one of the largest DRC country missions globally.
• Currently, DRC delivers life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable, conflict-affected populations including internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities in the areas of armed violence reduction, humanitarian mine action, livelihoods, nutrition and food security, protection, shelter and non-food items (NFI) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in 30+ Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states in northeast Nigeria.

Job Purpose

• The DRC Nigeria is looking to recruit an experienced, highly- qualified and enthusiastic professional to lead the effective implementation of DRC’s programme quality activities in Nigeria and oversee a committed team consisting of a MEAL Coordinator, Communications Officer, and Grants Management Specialist.

Duties & Responsibilities

• The Programme Development and Quality Manager (PDQM) is responsible for strategic leadership, technical guidance, and management of the Communication, Grants, Information Management and MEAL functions for DRC in Nigeria.
• The PDQM will develop and maintain systems and tools for efficient grant management; and ensure a coordinated approach to risk-management in cooperation with the compliance and finance departments.
• The role also contributes to the development of country strategies, and is responsible for developing and implementing of fundraising strategy.
• The Programme Development and Quality Manager is based in Abuja – but expected to travel frequently to Area Offices and field locations in Borno and Adamawa states and other areas as the geographic presence of DRC Nigeria develops.

The main responsibilities and tasks of the Programme Development and Quality Manager: Grants Management:

• In coordination with the DRC Head of Programme, Technical Sector Coordinators and Area Managers ensure high quality and evidence-based programme design and proposal development, monitoring and evaluation, and learning processes are streamlined throughout the country mission;
• Ensure timely compliance with all internal and external grants management requirements, including contractual compliance and reporting.
• Organize and lead monthly grants review meetings.

MEAL:

• Oversee DRC Nigeria’s timely and quality quantitative monitoring.
• In coordination with the Head of Programme and the MEAL Coordinator creating and implementing comprehensive programme evaluations.
• Overseeing that learnings and lessons learnt are properly disseminated for quality organisational learning.
• Together with the MEAL coordinator, improving collection, storing and analysis of MEAL data.

External and internal communication:

• Engage and communicate with relevant donor counterparts and coordination bodies in Nigeria.
• Oversee the creation of quality communication and information products for internal and external dissemination.
• Together with Head of Programmes create and roll out communication plan.
• Liaise with relevant Regional Office and HQ counterparts responsible for programme design, reporting, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Coordinate and provide timely reporting and feedback to the Head of Programmes, Country Director and SMT on Programme Quality activities.

Team management:

• Provide strategic leadership and management oversight of the Quality Assurance department, with a portfolio including: communications, grants management, programme quality, reporting, and information management.
• Line manage and provide technical support to the Communications Officer, Grants Management Specialist, and MEAL Coordinator.
• Ensure that both programme and support teams maintain good understanding of DRC Nigeria’s grants, MEAL and communication strategy and compliance through trainings and technical support.

As Manager the post-holder is responsible for the following:

• Accountable for achieving DRC’s strategic goals and objectives within the area of responsibility.
• Accountable for making significant decisions on what the unit does: its purpose, functions and role, and for making commitments and decisions that require the expenditure of significant unit resources.
• Accountable for people management of direct reports, four employees. This includes hiring & firing, objective setting, probation, performance appraisal, development of staff, managing performance, including poor performance, etc.
• Accountable for making sound decisions based on DRC policies, MOPs, standards, and the advice of technical experts in DRC.
• In addition to the above, the Programme Development and Quality Manager may be asked to carry out other duties requested by the Head of Programme - but always in the scope of this job description.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Political Science, International Development, Economics or other relevant field.
• At least five years of professional experience in humanitarian emergency contexts with PDQA responsibilities, preferable to have at least two years of experience at senior management level.
• At least three years' experience with people management
• Knowledge and experience working protection, food security, WASH, shelter, NFIs, mine action, mine risk education, and armed violence reduction is an asset.
• Proven knowledge of MEAL systems and procedures; experience with planning and rolling out programme evaluations.
• Proven ability to lead a high performing and diverse team, manage performance, foster a positive working environment and manage issues sensitively and diplomatically.
• Extensive knowledge of US and European institutional donors and their compliance requirements with proven experience of developing successful funding proposals and overseeing large complex grants.
• Excellent understanding of the principles of budgeting, financial and contract management.
• Full professional proficiency in English with the capacity to produce well-written products for formal reporting and communication.

Required skills & Qualities:

• Core Competencies of DRC:
  • Striving for excellence
  • Collaboration
  • Taking the lead
  • Communication
  • Demonstrating Integrity
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Excellent writing, proof-reading, and communication skills
• Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills
• Strong ability to adapt, take initiative and work in a multicultural environment
• Interest for humanitarian sector and donor’s environment
• Listening, analytical and synthesis skills
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace.

 General regulations:

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request.

Salary & Benefits
Management F Level 1 - Unaccompanied position.

Application Closing Date
22nd February, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. GMT.