Area Manager

We are looking for a dynamic, motivated and highly qualified Area Manager to oversee the DRC programme across Northern Shan State (NSS), Myanmar.

Who are we?

DRC has been operating in Myanmar since 2009 and currently implements humanitarian, early recovery and development programmes in Rakhine, Kachin, Northern Shan and Kayah States. The overall programme objective is the promotion and protection of durable solutions for vulnerable conflict and disaster-affected people, IDPs and returnees. DRC’s work is based on humanitarian and protection principles.

DRC Myanmar has worked in NSS since 2016. Our program activities are in general protection programming and early recovery activities- with a focus on building community resilience. DRC in NSS operates in a fluid, often access- constrained environment, requiring adaptive, context driven programming. Local civil society plays a key role in the response in NSS, and DRC will increasingly work through formal and informal partnerships. Related to key sector engagement DRC focuses on protection, livelihoods and humanitarian mine action.

The NSS team consists of 47 staff operating mainly across two key bases in NSS, Laszio and Namkhan. The Area Manager reports directly to the Country Director and will be based in Laszio.

About the job

The role is a key position for DRC Myanmar and is a full member of  the extended senior management team. S/he is expected to be able to work independently under the authority delegated by the Country Director, bring solid management and leadership skills to the job, and the ability to engage and represent DRC with local authorities, civil society groups and other stakeholders and coordination mechanisms.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Area Manager will be responsible for the following: 

Project Portfolio

• Supervise the timely implementation of the project portfolio, currently funded by HARP (DFID), DANIDA, OCHA, UNICEF, OFDA, SDC, GIZ
• Organise and oversee regular project review meetings, particularly for multi sector projects
• Ensure regular contact, frequent support and visits to Namkhan office and other areas of field implementation
• Contribute to the development of new programme initiatives and help seek funding for these

Support Services Management

• Ensure that all DRC policies and procedures are in place and are adhered to (admin/finance, HR, procurement and logistics)
• Ensure compliance with DRC CRM and Code of Conduct
• Ensure timely and accurate financial forecasting and reporting as overall responsible for all NSS budgets

Representation and Advocacy

• Maintain DRC’s position as a key actor in the INGO community in NSS and represent DRC to donors, authorities, civil society, existing coordination mechanism and other external actors in a close cooperation with country office and reflecting approved strategic documents
• Ensure DRC’s active engagement and advocacy in local and national level co-ordination bodies
• In a cooperation with country office team identify and ensure opportunities so that the situation in NSS continues to be discussed at relevant forums, through briefings with key stakeholders in NSS or Yangon, as well as support in development of advocacy briefing notes

Security

• In close coordination with the Country Director and country office safety team based in Yangon, monitor the security environment and implement appropriate safety and security procedures (MOSS compliant)

Strategy and Fundraising

• In close cooperation with the both DRC and DDG Head of Programme and their teams based in Yangon, contribute to the identification and development of new programme initiatives in NSS, including facilitating assessments and overseeing preparation of concept notes and proposals
• Support the National Coordinators (Protection, MRE, Livelihoods) in proactively identify areas for collaboration and integrative programming between teams and sectors
• Work with the Country Director and DRC and DDG Head of Programme to ensure DRC strategy in NSS always relevant

Team and People Management

• Ensure positive staff management, including proactive staff capacity building and ensuring performance reviews are conducted
• Maintain a positive, collaborative and enabling work environment

About you

The qualified candidate is well organized and independent, has direct programming experience in one of DRC NSS’s programmatic sectors, as well as experience in management and oversight of a large offices. She/he is very familiar with humanitarian principles and practices, has a strong background in representing an international organization to external partners and stakeholders and excellent networking skills.

To be successful in this role you must have:

• A minimum of 5 years relevant project and/or programme management experience with an international NGO
• Experience of managing a team of both Expatriate and National Staff, ideally across different locations
• Practical experience of implementing multi-sectoral projects, ideally within the fields of emergency response, protection and livelihoods or humanitarian mine action preferably in a conflict-related context
• Experience with writing project proposals and concept notes to mobilize resources and complement and expand current programming
• Experience of managing an office/team where you have had responsibility for ensuring that all administrative, logistics, procurement, HR procedures are being followed according to organisational procedures
• Experience with representation of the agency with government, UN, civil society and donor audiences for coordination and advocacy
• Strong diplomatic skills in communicating with stakeholders, fellow heads of offices and staff
• Professional fluency in English
• University Degree in humanitarian/development studies, social sciences or other relevant field or equivalent professional experience
• Prior knowledge of working with DRC and/or in South East Asia will be considered an asset
• Prior knowledge of systematic cooperation with local civil society actors will be considered an asset

We offer

DRC will offer the successful applicant a 24-month contract with the possibility of extension. Envisaged start date is 13 January 2020. Salary and conditions will be in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. The position is placed at E-2 on DRC salary scale.

NSS is eligible for a location allowance to salary and R&R according to DRC terms of employment level C.

Application process

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button.

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV only applications will not be considered.

This is an unaccompanied position.

Applications close 24th November 2019. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and interviews may take place before the deadline.

Need further information?

For more details on this position please contact Martin Vane on martin.vane@drcmm.org

Please note that applications sent directly to Martin Vane will not be considered.

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.dk