Operations Manager - DDG Sahel

Job posted by: Danish Refugee Council (DRC) - Denmark - Mon, 22 Dec 2014

Job Details:

Organisation: Danish Refugee Council (DRC) - Denmark

Deadline Sun, 11 Jan 2015

Job type: Contract

Location: Mali

Tweet Recommend Google + LinkedIn Email
Background
Danish Demining Group (DDG) is a specialized unit within the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) that focuses on armed violence reduction and humanitarian mine action. DDG initiated its operations in West Africa in Cote d’Ivoire in 2013 and expanded to the Sahel region in 2014 with a Border Security and Management (BSM) programme covering Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The BSM programme is focused on the Liptako-Gourma region and seeks to improve the capacity of local communities and border authorities to safely and securely manage border regions in order to prevent armed violence, ensure community safety and promote effective border security and management. DDG’s BSM programme involves the following components:

  • Building the capacity of government and civil society to address safety needs 
  • Supporting to border authorities, particularly in terms of strengthening their relationships with communities 
  • Strengthening Small Arms management and control
  • Addressing the threats posed by explosive remnants of war 
  • Building community and local government capacity to prevent and manage conflicts. 

DDG’s programme portfolio is set to expand within the Sahel region beyond BSM to also encompass mine action and other AVR-related activities. 

The position
The overall objective of this position is to support DDG’s Sahel Programme Manager with the overall responsibility for the support services of financial, human resources and logistics procedures, and the delivery of AVR activities. DDG’s Operations Manager will ensure the efficient and effective coordination and implementation of DDG BSM/AVR activities in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The Operations Manager will also be responsible for ensuring that DDG’s operations are implemented according to DDG’s objectives, strategies, guidelines/procedures and values. 

The Operations Manager directly supervises the support services of DDG’s bases and sub-bases, and is responsible for the correct implementation of financial, human resources and logistics procedures. In close coordination with the Sahel PM, BSM Field Coordinator and M&E Officer, the Operations Manager anticipates any support-related difficulties, and suggests and implements adequate solutions in order to deliver quality armed violence reduction (AVR) / border security and management activities. Depending on previous experience and seniority, the Operation Manager might be asked to assist on security issues.

This role is varied and demands someone who is flexible, willing to travel regularly, and able to work across teams in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, in both capitals and field locations. This position demands extensive travel in order to ensure quality programming delivery in field locations and is therefore 50% roving in field locations, and 50% Bamako-based. 

Reporting Lines
The Operations Manager reports to and is line managed by the Sahel Programme Manager (Sahel PM).  The Operations Manager has direct line management responsibility for DDG’s field-based project officers and supervisors (to be recruited pending confirmation of funding) based in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. The Operations Manager also manages DDG’s field-based Log-Admin-Finance (LAF) assistants, in close coordination with the Bamako-based LAF manager. The Operations Manager works in close association with DDG’s programme counterparts, ie BSM Field Coordinator, M&E Officer.

Your responsibilities

Operations management
  • Ensure that regular meetings with all field programme and support staff are held (monthly) in all field locations, with focused agenda and problem solving approach applied
  • Oversee logistics management: effective functioning of logistics systems to procure, store and distribute stock, supplies and services for the timely delivery of programme objectives at local level.  Coordinate with LAF and assistant LAFs to ensure that programme supply strategies are in place.
  • Ensure that Sahel PM is well informed on issues related to emergency response and emergency risk management pertaining to all areas of operations.
  • Contribute to the production of high quality, analytical reports, sitreps, and assist collection, analysis and dissemination of relevant information and data.
  • Assist LAF assistants in meeting operational needs and other delegated functions, ensuring that field locations adhere to financial guidelines and related administrative procedures.

Team Management
  • Support DDG’s Sahel PM by carrying out daily oversight and management of DDG’s field-based programme and support staff in Mali, Burkina and Niger. 
  • Lead, support and motivate team members, ensuring that field staff have clear objectives and receive meaningful feedback on their performance
  • Assist Sahel PM with ensuring operational staffing needs (both national and international) for programmes are met. This will include leading on staffing structure, recruitment, and performance management.
  • Support the DDG Sahel PM in the ongoing formal and informal appraisal/evaluation of staff performance, including follow up on Results Contracts and annual written appraisals of the DDG team members. 
  • Provide leadership to DDG field-based teams, ensuring the BSM programme delivers in all aspects of its operations, financial management, reporting, security management, etc.
  • Assist the Sahel PM in the recruitment of local staff and supervise that the process is conducted according to DDG procedures
  • Ensure that staff files are complete, updated and secure, and that staff requests (leave requests etc.) are processed in a timely matter
  • Train and support DDG LAF assistants 

Strategic Programme development
  • Support the Sahel PM in exploring the feasibility of establishing a new programmes in the region as well as the development of integrated projects between DDG’s and DRC’s programmes and in the region.

Finance and administration
  • Carry out daily budget monitoring, financial management and expenses control, and ensure this is carried out in compliance with minimum DRC/DDG and donor requirements. 

Security
  • Ensure that DDG field staff comply with and fully implement DRC/DDG SOPs.
  • Monitor developments in the security situation, developing contingency plans etc.
  • Ensure that BSM activities are implemented in close coordination with national and regional security officers and in compliance with DRC/DDG security SOPs
  • Share information and provide updates on changes to the security situation, and providing advice to field staff in close association with national and regional security advisors.

Reporting and communication
  • Ensure clear, well-written and timely reporting in compliance with internal reporting requirements including procurement. 
  • Review and provide timely and constructive feedback back to field-based staff regarding the content of their field reports
  • Regularly provide verbal and written briefings to the Sahel Programme Manager about BSM implementation, signalling challenges and proactively resolving problems.

Fundraising and Representation
  • The implementation of the BSM programme requires daily contact with civil and border authorities, partners, UN agencies, international and local NGOs and various local co-ordination forums. When required, the Operations Manager represents DDG’s BSM programme. 

Accountability
  • Work with BSM field staff, M&E officer and Sahel PM to oversee the institutionalisation of programme M&E systems to ensure timely and effective delivery of projects activities and outputs as well as appropriate accountability to donors, communities and local authorities
  • Oversee compliance of operational activities with DDG policies and procedures and with relevant donor regulations and agreements, Code of Conduct and HAP standards
  • Ensure strong accountability to beneficiaries
  • Ensure field activities remain compliant with DDG BSM guidelines, policies, procedures and values.

Your qualifications
  • MA/MSc level in a relevant discipline from an internationally recognised university
  • Proven experience with programme management, preferably in a complex and fragile environment, with significant experience in the Sahel region and/or West Africa.
  • At least five years’ work experience with international humanitarian mine action or AVR organisations in Africa
  • Previous experience of programme management across multiple locations
  • Experience of managing multi-donor, multi-site programmes 
  • Strong communication skills
  • Previous experience of managing medium to large multi-national team, including remote management experience 
  • Proven ability to mentor and coach others 
  • Security management experience 
  • In depth knowledge and experience of logistics systems and requirements in a multi field office, multi programme setting
  • Experience of supporting M&E and beneficiary accountability systems in complex programmes
  • Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy 
  • The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances 
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in French and English

Personal competencies
  • You are a strong leader with an acute sense of cooperation and networking, internally as well as externally
  • You have a documented ability to recruit, build and motivate a team
  • You show initiative, have perseverance and an ability to keep a cool head under stress
  • You thrive in a competitive international environment
  • You have attention to detail and get the job done.
  • You possess innovative and creative thinking, and are able to encourage the same in your teams. You have strong analytical and reporting skills

Further information
You are welcome to contact Guillaume Dupire (pm@ddgsahel.org) for further information about the position. For general information about Danish Demining Group and the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.danishdemininggroup.dk and www.drc.dk. Information on the Sahel BSM programme is accessible at http://www.danishdemininggroup.dk/about-danish-demining-group/where-we-work/sahel/

Terms and conditions
Commencement: 1. March 2015 or as soon as possible.
Duty station: 50% in Bamako, Mali and 50% in DDG field locations within the Sahel. 
The post is based on Danish labour law and DDG`s expat terms and conditions. R&R dependant on time spent in field locations.

Application and CV
Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, in English and marked `DDG Operation Manager, Sahel, sent together with a CV, will be considered. We only accept applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.dk under Vacancies/Current Vacancies. Please remember to include a letter of application and your CV. Applications are to be submitted no later than Sunday, January 11th, 2015


Premium & featured jobs