Country Director - Uganda

Country Director - Uganda

JOB from Danish Demining Group Closing date: 04 Mar 2013

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

The Country Director (CD) for Uganda is responsible for managing all projects and initiatives within the Uganda program, as well as the program’s assets, including staff and inventory. The CD is in charge of programming, fundraising, communications and all other strategies that regards the Uganda program; and participates in regional and global strategy processes of Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and the Danish Demining Group (DDG).

BACKGROUND

In February 2012, DRC and DDG merged their operations in Uganda into one joint program, under one CD, in-country, and one Head of Desk, at the organization’s headquarters in Copenhagen. The Uganda portfolio is currently at USD3½m. The mission of the Uganda program is to recreate safe environments that are conducive to pursuing quality of life for refugees and conflict-affected populations in Uganda, through humanitarian support to Armed Violence Reduction (incl. firearms safety, conflict management education, police-community dialogue); Livelihoods (incl. food security/self-reliance, micro-finance, infrastructure); and Capacity Building (incl. of national government structures and local government offices). DRC-DDG’s Mine Action program ended in late 2012 when Uganda declared herself compliant with the AP Mine Ban Convention.

As DRC is reviewing possibilities for increased decentralization and/or regionalization of its international efforts, the Uganda CD position may in time expand to contain regional responsibilities or be subject to such regional office.

LOCATION

The Country Director for Uganda is based in Kampala but is expected to travel regularly to field operation sites for direct support, monitoring and representation.

REPORTING LINES

The CD reports to the Head of Desk for Uganda at HQs and, in her absence, to the Head of the Danish Demining Group. The following four members in Uganda report directly to the CD: Fundraising Manager, Regional Logistics Manager, Head of Finance & Administration, and Head of Program.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Provide strategy guidance and management to all program sectors and take responsibility for high quality and accountable project design and delivery, including adherence to a Rights Based Approach.

• Ensure that projects are implemented in accordance with DRC’s standard regulations and operational procedures (e.g. Code of Conduct, DRC Program Manual, DRC Operational Handbook, Humanitarian Accountability Framework, Value Compass, DRC and DDG Strategic Focal Areas).

• Identify opportunities for new projects and organize assessments and fact finding missions.

• Lead the operationalization of the DRC-DDG Uganda Strategy.

• Contribute to the formulation of DRC-DDG’s regional strategy.

B. MONITORING AND REPORTING

• Seize overall responsibility for compliance with internal and external reporting requirements.

• Ensure that quality narrative and financial reports are provided to HQs and donors on time.

• Oversee all outgoing newsletters and other public reports, prepared by DRC-DDG Uganda, in close cooperation with the Head of Desk.

• Plan and oversee regular reviews and evaluation of DRC-DDG Uganda’s performance. Take overall responsibility for the supervision, monitoring and evaluation of the program to ensure that the operation/projects are implemented in accordance with agreed strategies, principles, and donor requirements.

• Ensure that timely and quality reports are provided internally and externally, on time according to DRC & donors requirement using DRC´s Grants Management System (GMS).

C. REPRESENTATION, FUNDRAISING, COORDINATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS

• Lead concept development (concept notes, studies, coordination, proposals and budgeting) in line with DRC-DDG’s strategy for its Uganda program.

• Drive fundraising efforts in cooperation with the Head of Desk: Identify opportunities for new projects and possible funding opportunities, and lead the process of broadening the donor base.

• Maintain frequent contact with representatives of Kampala-based embassies (in particular the Embassy of Denmark), National Authorities (various Government ministries and offices), United Nations agencies (in particular the UNHCR and WFP), and other representation offices in Kampala.

• Support and participate in regional networking and donor contacts, when required.

• Engage in (at times, lead) coordination processes amongst key stakeholders; and ensure that program activities are well-coordinated with activities of other humanitarian actors in the area.

D. ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, FINANCE AND LOGISTIC

• Provide overall budget monitoring, financial management and expense control of all DRC-DDG grants in Uganda, including compliance with DRC and donor requirements.

• Seize responsibility for all project funds in Uganda, including e.g. that funds are spent appropriately accordingly to DRC regulations and donor requirements; that spending rates are monitoring and signaled immediately; and that cash is handled safely between and in all offices.

• Ensure that a capable finance and administration cell remains in place, including e.g. that it continues to service all projects throughout the country and that cash books are sent to HQ on time.

• Ensure that necessary control systems remain in place, including for procurement and logistics, to limit and expose opportunities for fraud and corruption. This includes those purchases that are carried out via the Kampala-based Regional Logistics Manager for other country programs.

• Ensure that procurement and logistics guidelines are applied correctly and consistently, and that documentation is filed properly in all offices in the country.

• Supervise staff performance and provide recommendations for recruitment, promotions, training, coaching and dismissal to the Head of Desk.

• Ensure that all required HR documentation is available at capital level and in all offices, such as contracts/ToRs, performance appraisals, staff policy and office manual, Code of Conduct, Staff Complaint Mechanism guide, holidays/sick leave monitoring file, taxation and severance payment overviews.

E. SECURITY

• Seize responsibility for the safety and security of the staff in country.

• Take responsibility for all safety and security planning, including regular updating of security and evacuation plans and measures, and implementation of security and contingency plan and update of DRC’s Safety Level Systems (SLS).

• Ensure that all DRC security management protocols and procedures (including Chapters 19 and 20 of the Operations Handbook) are updated, made locally relevant, and applied consistently, including the tracking of MoSS.

• Ensure that DRC-DDG is part of security networks with all possible stakeholders at the national and local levels and that appropriate information, regarding security in the areas of operation, is collected and assessed.

• Assist neighboring country programs in situations of evacuation to Entebbe.

• Ensure that security incidents are reported to HQs immediately.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of eight (8) years of humanitarian field experience, including at least five (5) years in a senior management position.

• Master’s degree in a subject that is directly relevant to the position.

• Professional background in humanitarian work with proven ability to design, manage and implement programs in the sectors of Armed Violence Reduction, Livelihoods, Protection and National Capacity Building.

• Demonstrated management capacity, including hands-on experience in Administration, Human Resources, Finance and Logistics sectors.

• Experience working with government ministries and offices at both national and local levels.

• Proven fundraising ability.

• Experience working with donors, such as the U.S. and various European government development agencies, United Nations agencies, the World Bank and others.

• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.

• Fluency in English (spoken and written) is a must.

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of nationality, race, gender or age.

CONDITIONS

Availability: As soon as possible.

Duty station: Kampala. Family duty-station.

Contract: One-year, renewable contract.

Salary and conditions in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. The position will be placed at salary level A4.

FURTHER INFORMATION

You are welcome to contact Ms. Maria Kristensen, Head of Desk at DDG, at maria.kristensen@drc.dk with specific questions about the position.

Please note that application are not to be sent to Ms. Kristensen; we only accept applications sent online via www.drc.dk under Vacancies > Current vacancies > Country Director – Uganda. APPLICATIONS SENT DIRECTLY TO MS. KRISTENSEN WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.drc.dk as well as www.danishdemininggroup.dk for the Danish Demining Group.

COMMITMENTS

DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.drc.dk/HAF.4265.0.html).

APPLICATION PROCESS

Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered. CV-only applications will not be considered. Please provide references, but do not attach any written recommendations.

We only accept applications online on www.drc.dk > Vacancies > Current vacancies > Country Director - Uganda (click on the vacancy, then on “Apply” at the bottom of the window that opens).

Please submit your application, in English and marked “Country Director – Uganda” no later than 04 March 2013.

Please contact Ms. Anne Oxholm at job@drc.dk if you have questions to the application process or experience problems with your online application.

How to apply:
APPLICATION PROCESS

Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered. CV-only applications will not be considered. Please provide references, but do not attach any written recommendations.

We only accept applications online on www.drc.dk > Vacancies > Current vacancies > Country Director - Uganda (click on the vacancy, then on “Apply” at the bottom of the window that opens).

Please submit your application, in English and marked “Country Director – Uganda” no later than 04 March 2013.

Please contact Ms. Anne Oxholm at job@drc.dk if you have questions to the application process or experience problems with your online application.
Closing date: 04 Mar 2013