Country Director/Operations Manager - Vietnam

Job posted by: Danish Refugee Council (DRC) - Denmark - Fri, 11 Jul 2014

Job Details:

Organisation: Danish Refugee Council (DRC) - Denmark

Deadline Fri, 25 Jul 2014

Job type: Permanent

Location: Vietnam

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Country Director/Operations Manager - Vietnam
 
Danish Demining Group is starting clearance operations in Vietnam in September 2014, and is looking for a qualified Country Director (CD) with extensive technical and programme management qualifications. 

The CD position is the most senior in-country position with Danish Demining Group (DDG). The position entails the responsibility to safeguard and further develop DDG’s country operations, and with the overall responsibility for Duty of Care for DDG staff. The DDG programme in Vietnam will focus on Mine Action at the outset but new types of programmes could be developed within wider PSSM and other sectors. 

Given that a DDG EOD clearance capacity in Vietnam is a new development, the CD/Operations manager must be an individual that has the necessary diplomatic and managerial skills to ensure success in such a new operation. 

Country Director Duties and responsibilities
1) Strategic and programme development: 
  • Lead the development of a coherent DDG Vietnam country strategy.
  • Identify and follow up on potential growth areas and funding options for DDG programmes (primarily Mine Action and PSSM).
  • Identify donors and lead the development of funding proposals, in keeping with the agreed country and global strategies, and promoting opportunities for DDG programming within the broader DRC humanitarian and development framework.
  • Initiate and support assessment missions and start-up activities as appropriate for DDG programme development.
  • Within these evolving sectors, ensure the country programme is innovative and progressive by encouraging operational research, developing new models of implementation and documenting/sharing these experiences internally and externally (in particular in the area of information management).
  • Carry out required risk assessments locally and develop and implement a “Safety Plan” for DDG in country.

2) Programme implementation:    
  • Monitor the quality of DDG’s projects and their practical implementation, ensuring they meet or exceed required technical standards, accepted best practice and deliver on the commitments made in contracts with donors.
  • Partake in the direct implementation of projects and in the systems maintenance, if required.
  • Financial oversight, including spending rates and monitoring of the delegated programme and support functions (including national Finance and Administration staff) so that donor requirements and DRC’s Operational Handbook is implemented effectively.
  • Ensure a high standard of reporting to donors and other stakeholders.

3) Personnel management:
  • Manage and motivate staff in direct line management to perform their utmost, and guide them to do the same downward for staff in their management line.
  • Conduct regular performance appraisals of line managed staff and ensure that they in turn carry out appraisals within their teams, as per DDG’s policy.
  • Cooperate with the Regional Safety Advisor on developing and enforcing proper guidelines for personnel and other assets in the developing security environment.

4) External representation:
  • Act as the senior representative of DDG’s country programme, maintain productive and positive relations towards government authorities, donors, and demining and development partners.
  • Participate in meetings and workshops to raise DDG’s profile in country and facilitate field trips for donors and other important visitors.

Operations Manager and EOD Technical Duties and responsibilities
Management duties
  • Supervise the daily deployment of at least one EOD team for extended periods of time, ensuring that technical and support staff are adhering to DDG SOPs.
  • Operational planning, supported by the Deputy Operations Manager, for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, Battle Area Clearance Teams (if required), Community Liaison and Risk Education activities, in keeping with national priorities and beneficiary needs. 
  • Oversight of training carried out for technical staff.
  • Approval of an internal Quality Management (QM) structure, which includes monitoring the impact of DDG programming as well as productivity (outputs), to be developed by the Deputy Operations Manager.
  • Development of country-specific Standard Operations Procedures (SOPs) for relevant DDG activities, based on the operational input of the Deputy Operations Manager
  • Ensuring required Medical oversight for operations and First Aid structures for staff are in place, as per a plan developed by the Deputy Operations Manager 
  • Monitoring operational training and competence building of staff within the operational part of the program.

Other
  • Any other tasks assigned by the DDG Programme Coordinator and Regional Operations Manager.

Requirements 
  • A minimum of 5 years of relevant working experience at a senior international level with humanitarian international NGOs or similar international body – preferably within the Mine Action sector.
  • A minimum of 10 years of working experience in the area of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (a minimum of IMAS EOD level 3 qualifications) is required. 
  • Knowledge or experience of programming related more broadly to human security, such as conflict reduction, security sector reform and/or peace-building.
  • Strong and proven work experience in programming and support services management at a senior level, including representation, strategic planning, fundraising, staff management, monitoring and evaluation.
  • Proven skills in proposal writing and budgeting.
  • Fluency in written and spoken English with excellent writing skills required.
  • A high degree of computer literacy is required.
  • Experience in logistics and safety of personnel and assets, is desirable.
  • Working experience from Vietnam and/or other East Asian countries is highly desirable.

Personal competencies
  • Strong leadership skills, including the ability to build and motivate teams and to work within teams in a cooperative manner.
  • Managerial courage and integrity.
  • A problem-solving attitude and ability to get things done in spite of a challenging political environment.
  • Strong liaison, organisational and communication skills. 
  • Innovative and creative thinking with strong analytical and reporting skills.
  • Political and cultural sensitivity, as well as a diplomatic, tactful, and flexible interpersonal style.
  • Proven ability to function well in a potentially volatile and sometimes stressful environment.

Reporting Lines
The CD’s direct reporting line will be to the DDG Programme Coordinator and Regional Operations Manager with a technical reporting line to DDG’s Mine Action Secretariat, through the Chief Technical Advisor of DDG.


Conditions
Duty station: Position based in Quang Nam province, Vietnam with frequent travel to Hanoi and field locations. This is a ‘non-family duty station’ and the person must be prepared to live and work in an isolated environment for longer periods of time with limited recreational and social facilities. Accommodation is provided.  
Contract: 12 months, but with good possibilities for extension. Salary and conditions in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. This position is placed at salary level B1. The position is subject to funding.

Start date: 1. September 2014.

Further information
You are welcome to contact Mr. Rune Bech Persson, DDGs Programme and Operations Coordinator for Vietnam on rune.bech.persson@drc.dk or Roger Fast, DDG Regional Operations Manager for Vietnam on roger.fasth@drc.dk for additional information about the vacancy. 

For information about our work and organisation, please visit our website http://www.danishdemininggroup.dk/ and http://www.drc.dk/.
 
Application and CV
Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications sent together with a CV, in English and marked will be considered. 

IMPORTANT: We only accept applications sent via our on-line system at www.drc.dk under Vacancies.

Please remember to upload a letter of application and your CV. CV-only applications will not be considered.
 
APPLICATIONS SENT DIRECTLY BY EMAIL WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. 

Applications are to be sent to no later than Friday 25. July 2014 at 12:00 GMT.
 
About DRC
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, independent, humanitarian organization working on all aspects of the refugee cause in more than twenty five countries throughout the world. The aim of DRC is to protect refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) against persecution and to promote durable solutions to the problems of forced migration, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC works in accordance with the UN Conventions on Refugees and the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief.

The protection and assistance to conflict affected population is provided within a long-term, regional and rights-based approach in order to constitute a coherent and effective response to the challenges posed by today’s conflicts. Assistance consists of relief and other humanitarian aid, rehabilitation, support to return and repatriation as well as promotion of long-term solutions to displacement and its causes. In addition, support and capacity building of local and national authorities and NGOs form an integral part of DRC’s work.


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