Niger Project Manager, DDG Sahel

Job posted by: Danish Refugee Council (DRC) - Denmark - Tue, 13 Jan 2015

Job Details:

Organisation: Danish Refugee Council (DRC) - Denmark

Deadline Sun, 25 Jan 2015

Job type: Contract

Location: Niger

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 finally Niger where a DDG office was opened in Niamey in summer 2014. 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 Niger and the Sahel region beyond BSM to also encompass mine action (MA) and other armed violence reduction (AVR)-related activities. 

Objective of DDG’s Niger Project Manager Position
The DDG Niger Project Manager is responsible and accountable for the overall programmatic, support and financial management of DDG’s programmes in Niger. The Niger Project Manager represents DDG in Niger and is responsible for fundraising and all donor liaison. The Niger Project Manager ensures that DDG’s programmes in Niger are implemented according to DDG’s objectives, strategies, guidelines/procedures and values.

This role is varied and demands someone who is flexible, willing to travel regularly, and able to manage teams in different field locations in Niger. This position demands travel in order to ensure quality programming delivery in field locations. Approximately 60% of the Project Manager’s time will be spent in Niamey and 40% visiting/monitoring project sites (security permitting). 

Reporting Lines
The Niger Project Manager reports to and is line managed by the Bamako-based Sahel Programme Manager (Sahel PM). The Project Manager also works in close coordination with DDG’s roving Operations Manager as well as others, e.g. BSM Field Coordinator, BSM M&E Officer, Log/Admin/Finance Manager (LAF) Sahel and the Regional Security Advisor (DRC/DDG). The Niger Project Manager is responsible for line managing all DDG staff based in Niger.

Responsibilities
Specific responsibilities include:

Operations management
• Oversee the delivery and implementation of AVR, MA and BSM activities in Niger, ensuring that they are designed and adapted to Niger context’s specifics
• Oversee administrative, finance and logistics management, to ensure that programme operations are delivered as planned and according to DDG/DRC and donors’ standards 
• Contribute to the production of high quality, analytical reports and situation reports, and assist collection, analysis and dissemination of relevant information.
• Assist LAF assistants in meeting operational needs and other delegated functions, ensuring that field locations adhere to financial guidelines and related administrative procedures.
• Regularly meet with all field programme and support staff (monthly basis at a minimum) in all field locations, with focused agenda and problem solving approach applied.

Team Management
• Provide strong leadership to the DDG Niger programme(s), with oversight and management of DDG expatriate and national staff in Niger. 
• Lead, support and motivate team members, ensuring that DDG staff have clear objectives and receive meaningful feedback on their performance
• Ensure that staffing needs (both national and international) for programmes are met. This will include leading on staffing structure, recruitment, and performance management conducted according to DDG procedures.
• Carry out formal and informal appraisal/evaluation of staff performance, including follow up on Results Contracts and annual written appraisals of the DDG team members. 
• Provide professional and personal leadership to DDG teams, ensuring DDG programmes deliver in all aspects including operations, financial management, reporting, security management, etc.
• Train and support DDG programme and support staff.

Strategic Programme development
• Support the Sahel PM in developing and implementing a three year strategy for DDG in Niger. 
• Support the Sahel PM and DDG Regional Manager in identifying new programme and funding opportunities in Niger
• Be a driving force in terms of expanding DDG programmes in Niger 

Finance and administration
• The Niger Project Manager is responsible and accountable for all DDG financial matters in Niger
• Carry out budget monitoring, financial management and expenses control, ensure compliance with minimum DRC/DDG and donor requirements and ensure that the necessary systems are in place. 

Security
Working in close association with the Regional Security Advisor, the Niger Project Manager:
• Develops security procedures and ensures DDG staff implementation/compliance
• Monitors developments in the security situation, developing contingency plans etc.
• Ensures that DDG activities are implemented in close coordination with national and regional security officers and in compliance with DRC/DDG security SOPs
• Shares 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 DDG staff regarding the content of their reports
• Regularly provide verbal and written programme updates to the Sahel Programme Manager, signalling challenges and proactively resolving problems.

Fundraising and Representation
• The implementation of the BSM and other DDG subsequent programmes requires daily contact with civil and border authorities, partners, UN agencies, international and local NGOs and various local co-ordination forums. The Project Manager represents DDG and is responsible for fundraising and all donor liaison in Niger.

Accountability
• 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 guidelines, policies, procedures and values.

Qualifications
• MA/MSc level in a relevant discipline from an internationally recognised university
• Proven experience with programme and staff management, preferably in a complex and fragile environment, with significant experience in West Africa, preferably in the Sahel.
• At least five years’ work experience working on security-related programming in Africa, e.g. DDR, SSR, small arms control, peacebuilding, etc
• Experience of managing multi-donor, multi-site programmes, including remote management experience
• Strong communication skills
• Proven ability to mentor and coach others 
• Prior M&E experience
• 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
Commencement: February 23rd, 2015 or as soon as possible.
Duty station: 60% in Niamey, Niger; 40% in DDG field locations within Niger. 
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 Niger Project Manager’, 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 25th, 2015.


Premium & featured jobs