Chief of Party 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: Chief of Party

Location: Abuja
Contract type: Expatriate or national contract

Introduction 

• The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. 
• We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle.
•  In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home. 
• The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers.
• Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization. 
• Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency. 

Background 

• A country of around 230M inhabitants, with over 129 million currently living in poverty, Nigeria faces one of the world's most complex humanitarian crises in the world.
• The fifteen-year conflict in the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states, driven primarily by the Boko Haram insurgency and its splinter groups (ISWAP and JAS), has resulted in widespread displacement, violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws, and acute protection needs.
• More than 2.3 million people remain internally displaced in the northeast, while in the Northwest region an additional 1.3M people have been forcibly displaced due to banditry, kidnapping, and herders -farmers conflict. Northern Nigeria is heavily impacted by climate change, including lengthening lean seasons and erratic rainy seasons and droughts, resulting in food production shortfalls and more population displacements.
• Severe acute malnutrition is affecting a world-high total of 1.8 million children across BAY and northwestern states. 
• DRC has been operating in Nigeria since 2016. The Country Office is in Abuja and has 2 area offices in Maiduguri and Sokoto with sub offices in Gusau, Bama and Banki and a mobile team in Katsina.  
• The consortium led by DRC and composed of Solidarités International, Impact Initiatives, Fact Foundation, CEMCEX and FRAD has been set-up to answer the ECHO HIP 2026 call for proposal. 
• It aims at integrated life-saving assistance to address food insecurity, acute malnutrition, and resilience needs among conflict and climate-affected populations in Northeast and Northwest Nigeria. 
• It uses unconditional cash transfers to address immediate basic needs, improve food security, and reduce reliance on harmful coping strategies. 
• Complementary services such as Protection, WASH and referrals for Nutrition and Health assistance ensure a holistic approach, especially in areas with rising malnutrition cases.
• The program strengthens sector-wide coordination through support for coordination structures, collaboration with stakeholders, and monitoring economic trends and markets.
• It is supported by a centralized, interoperable information management system that facilitates data sharing and coordination among the humanitarian community. 
• The Consortium Management Unit is composed of Grants and Communication, MEAL, Finance and Administration, and IM Coordinators. 

Purpose 

• Responsible for providing vision, leadership and direction to the Consortium and its activities.  
• Supervise project implementation and ensure the project meets stated goals.  
• Ensure the consortium has a coherent strategy that responds to the requirements of people the project intends to support. 
• Take a leadership role in coordination and advocacy among donors, key stakeholders and implementing partners. 

Duties & Responsibilities
Management & Leadership:

• Ensure high-quality technical program monitoring through hands-on guidance and support aligned with the program’s strategic objectives and donor requirements.
• Take overall responsibility for program and budget monitoring.
• Directly supervise CMU project staff in line with DRC HR policies and input from consortium members.
• Chair the Project Steering Committee, ensuring key project information is available to senior consortium members and that strategic decisions are made effectively.
• Document, disseminate, and follow up on key Steering Committee decisions.
• Monitor work plans and hold partners accountable for program commitments.

Compliance & Support:

• Manage the Finance and Admin Coordinator to ensure effective oversight of administration, finance, logistics, and HR functions across the consortium.
• Provide oversight to consortium partners on contract inception, implementation, and closeout processes.
• Maintain knowledge of donor requirements and provide guidance on finance, procurement, HR, and visibility requirements.
• Verify financial reports and expenditures, coordinate audits, and support corrective actions where necessary.
• Oversee financial management, project accounting systems, and sub-grant management.
• Monitor partner financial reports and provide guidance on cost eligibility and donor compliance.
• Maintain a country-specific and project-wide risk register, ensuring risks are monitored with mitigation measures in place.

Program Implementation & Strategy:

• Coordinate with the Steering Committee and Technical Working Groups to develop consortium intervention strategies.
• Facilitate governance structures including Steering Committees, Technical Working Groups, Advocacy Groups, and ad-hoc working groups.
• Oversee planning, program design, implementation, and budget management.
• Facilitate decision-making processes and ensure follow-up actions are documented and implemented.
• Ensure timely delivery of consortium outputs and quality program implementation in line with agreed strategies.
• Support the establishment of harmonized Vulnerability Assessment Frameworks, robust community engagement systems, and interoperable information management systems for humanitarian coordination and data sharing.

Representation & Advocacy:

• Organize and coordinate the Consortium Advocacy Working Group (AWG) and related advocacy activities.
• Serve as the primary representative of the project to donors, government agencies, and local/international stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with ministries, donors, local organizations, and program partners.
• Represent the consortium within INGO and UN coordination structures at the country level.
• Promote interoperable information management systems that facilitate humanitarian coordination and data sharing.
• Provide strategic leadership on external communications in line with Steering Committee and AWG guidance.

Reporting & Communication:

• Monitor program implementation and ensure regular reporting by consortium partners.
• Ensure timely submission of financial and narrative reports in line with donor and DRC requirements.
• Review and approve final donor reports based on partner inputs and Finance/Admin Coordinator contributions.
• Monitor financial performance against approved budgets and explain variances where necessary.
• Ensure the DRC online project management database is updated regularly.
• Support the development and implementation of communication strategies, including donor branding and visibility compliance.

Business Development:

• Identify, research, and develop new funding opportunities aligned with the consortium mandate.
• Lead and coordinate proposal development linked to consortium priorities and member expertise.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience in humanitarian work, including experience in displacement settings.
• Proven experience managing consortia, preferably within ECHO-funded programs.
• Demonstrated expertise in stakeholder engagement, networking, and representation.
• Strong ability to work effectively in challenging operational environments.

Required Skills & Qualities:

• Strong analytical thinking, strategic planning, and communication skills.
• Excellent writing, reporting, and negotiation abilities.
• Competence in data analysis and program monitoring.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with patience and professionalism.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

General Regulations:

• Adhere to DRC policies on safety, confidentiality, ethical standards, Code of Conduct, and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework.
• Refrain from engaging in external paid activities during the DRC contract period without prior authorization.
• Avoid any activity that may negatively impact DRC or project implementation.
• Do not grant media interviews or publish project-related materials without authorization.
• Return all project equipment to DRC at the end of the contract period or upon request.

Salary & Benefits 
Management Band E 

Application Closing Date
16th June, 2026.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• This is an internal vacancy open to DRC Nigeria and DRC Global staff.
• Applicants must submit a Cover Letter, an updated CV (maximum four pages)
• Applications must be submitted in English through the DRC website.
• DRC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, age, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation.
• Please note that due to the urgency of the role, DRC reserves the right to recruit before the application deadline.