Head of Programme – Syrian Arab Republic

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council helps refugees and displaced persons 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 displacement 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 over 7,000 employees and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced persons.

All our efforts are based on our values: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

DRC Syria

DRC has been active in Syria since 2008, primarily 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 displaced persons and vulnerable populations across the country. Since then, DRC’s activities have focused on NFI distributions, shelter, WASH, protection, education, livelihoods and mine risk education in six governorates (Damascus, Rural Damascus, Dara’a, Aleppo, Hama and Homs). While protection/community service activities are offered to beneficiaries in our six community centers.

About the track

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

Tasks and responsibilities

​Strategy & Development Program

• Identify and stay informed of key developments and trends in the country and ensure that DRC can respond to these in a qualitative and efficient manner.
• Drive the conceptualization and development process of the country strategy and sector strategies in collaboration and with participation and input from the overall country activities. This includes ensuring that the strategy is evidence-based, includes internal/external accountability and is informed by DRC expertise and stakeholder consultations.
• Ensure that key global and regional frameworks are contextualised and applied across programmes, and that staff are aware of and understand them.
• Encourage synergies between programme components, including integration and harmonisation across area offices, and ensure quality assurance for more holistic approaches to aid delivery.
• Ensure that the Syria Emergency Response Plan (EPRP) is up to date and facilitate assessments and rapid responses to emerging emergencies as discussed and agreed with the SMT.
• Stay informed about the Durable Solutions Architecture and ensure DRC is well represented in these forums. In close collaboration with the Advocacy Coordinator, ensure that advocacy is embedded in and informed by programmes and used for external communications with government agencies, donors and other humanitarian and development stakeholders.

Quality & Coordination Program

• Provide oversight, guidance and leadership on all aspects of program design, development and quality assurance.
• Ensure that programming is principles-based and aligned with the Humanitarian Core Standards, the Sphere Standards and other relevant legal frameworks.
• Ensure that systems and tools are available for conflict-sensitive, non-harmful approaches to programming.
• Develop a close and productive working relationship with the area offices (implementation teams) to ensure that quality standards and processes are implemented and that designs and direction changes are based on evidence and knowledge.
• Ensure the implementation of effective and participatory monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning strategies at all levels of country programmes.
• Promote cooperation and use of global and regional technical support on new programmatic initiatives (localization, greening, innovation, etc.).
• Ensure that information management is integrated into the DRC program and that data management complies with the GDPR and other data protection protocols, including PIM.
• Adopt an evidence-based approach that ensures that lessons learned and best practices are disseminated within DRC teams in the country and the region, to donors and other stakeholders where relevant. This will ensure synergistic programming and collaboration between programmes in Syria and across the region.
• Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of operations to ensure that overall implementation is consistent 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 are submitted on time and of good quality.
• Ensure effective and transparent budgeting, planning and follow-up, in line with DRC 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 authorize their submission and proposals to headquarters/donors.

Donor Contact, Partnerships and Representation

• Represent DRC Syria to current and potential donors.
• Develop key relationships that increase DRC’s visibility and credibility and position DRC as a key organization focused on displacement in Syria.
• Monitor and oversee the implementation of the CSO partnership strategy and promote the DRC localization agenda within DRC Syria.
• Identify local NGOs/partners and develop partnerships with relevant and complementary partners.
• Stay informed and collaborate with 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 reporting to HoP line management have clear and realistic performance-based management goals.
• Provide ongoing support and coaching and ensure that line personnel have the required capabilities to fulfill their responsibilities.
• Planning, preparing and/or reviewing the scope of work for hiring and managing technical consultants, including assessing technical effectiveness and contract budget.

Other

• Lead by example, in close collaboration with the wider Senior Management Team, to ensure continued progress on the DRC Age, Gender and Diversity Policy and the Minimum Standards of the AGD Programme. DRC’s commitment to a zero tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse should also be ensured.
• Other duties as requested by the Country Director

Experience and technical competences: (including years of experience)

• Minimum 5 years of progressive responsible experience in program management, leadership and design in conflict or post-conflict countries
• Minimum 4 years of experience in managing emergency operations, including changing situations and preferably in the Middle East.
• Demonstrable experience and skills in proposal development, budget preparation, programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Demonstrable experience in effective coordination with national governments, international and national NGO partners and in collaboration and coordination with various donors including SDC, BHA, OCHA, ECHO, SIDA, DANIDA and the EU.
• Previous successful experience with DRC preferred.
• Demonstrable experience in managing integrated programmes and capacity building.

Education:

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

Languages:

• Full professional command of English is required.
• Arabic is desirable

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

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

We offer

Contract duration: one year

Level: E1

Location: Damascus

Expected start date: end of 2024