The Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified Head of Programme to ensure the overall quality and delivery of DRC’s humanitarian programs in Turkey.

As a member of the Senior Management Team, the Head of Programme drives the overall country-level programme strategy, in line with DRC’s global and regional strategies as well as humanitarian needs and contextual developments on the ground. The Head of Programme oversees the conceptualisation and development of new programmes, leads fundraising and donor engagement, ensures the effective management of grants in accordance with donor rules and regulations, supports the programme implementation teams with issues related to programme delivery and quality, and oversees programme monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities and accountability to affected populations. Other key responsibilities include partnership management, communications, and advocacy and external representation within the scope of the humanitarian needs in country.

About the job

This role has a country focus and ensures compliance with DRC global procedures and guidelines within the country, including both for DRC’s direct implementation as well as partners’ implementation. The role contributes to the development of country strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-today tasks.

More specific duties and responsibilities include:

Programming Strategy & Development

• Lead continuous in-depth analysis of the humanitarian context, trends, gaps, challenges and opportunities in Turkey, and as a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) bring inputs to the SMT forum in regards to strategic direction of DRC programming
• Drive the conceptualization and evolution of the country strategy, and develop/define the country programming in a collaborative way ensuring programme appropriateness and accountability;
• Contribute to the sustainable management of programme growth with an eye towards new programme development that addresses evolving needs on the ground
• Foster synergies between programme areas (integrated approach); mainstream protection, gender, and conflict sensitivity in all programme areas; and ensure adherence to humanitarian principles and any other international standards when relevant
•  Enhance private sector engagement to pursue innovative and alternative financing instruments as well as to build shared value partnerships in support of programme objectives

Programme Implementation & Coordination

• Provide oversight, guidance and leadership to all technical coordinators to ensure quality programme implementation and integration
• Ensure effective and transparent budget follow up, planning and use of financial resources in compliance with DRC and donor policies and priorities
• Oversee effective management of the entire grants cycle, including smooth kick-off to ensure shared understanding across all departments, periodic grants review to identify and address implementation challenges and facilitate collective troubleshooting, and successful closeout of grants and fulfilment of all contractual obligations
• Identify key risks in regards to programme implementation and inform Country Director / SMT to ensure adequate risk management plans are in place
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor programme implementation and interact with implementation teams; and coordinate all donor monitoring visits to the field
• Ensure regular DRC representation and contribution in all programme related working groups and coordination mechanisms in country
• Ensure DRC’s programme complements government strategies and addresses gaps in services through coordination and consultation with state authorities and other humanitarian actors

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

•  Ensure the implementation of effective and participatory programme Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning strategies
•  Implement appropriate monitoring, information management, and reporting systems, tools and templates that enhance monitoring of programme outputs and quality, generate quality evidence on programme impact, and promote and ensure use of data for decision-making processes/ programme adjustments
• Capture lessons learned, areas for improvement, and best practices and promote continuous institutional learning within the country programme; share learnings with different DRC entities, donors, and other stakeholders when relevant
• Improve accountability to affected populations by increasing beneficiaries’ awareness of DRC’s feedback and response mechanism and incorporating feedback in programme implementation and design as needed

Fundraising, Proposal Writing & Reporting Processes

• Lead the development and updating of DRC Turkey’s fundraising strategy and donor engagement plan
• Pursue funding opportunities in all DRC competence areas from both traditional/institutional donors as well as by piloting innovative funding instruments (e.g. results-based and blended financing)
• Ensure the timely submission of high quality funding proposals, donor reports, and modification requests and obtain necessary sign-offs before submission from DRC’s regional office and headquarters Partnership Management
• Lead the development, revision, and implementation of DRC Turkey’s partnership strategy
• Design and roll out a roadmap for increased localisation of the country programme while ensuring effective management of risks associated with increased implementation through local partners
• Oversee programme implementation by all partners, including progress against targets and spending against budgets, and bring any major risks or bottlenecks to the attention of the SMT
• Improve partnership management systems, processes, and tools based on lessons learned and feedback from staff and partners
• Oversee capacity building activities for implementing partners based on identified gaps
• Identify and pursue new partnerships for scaling impact and fundraising

Research, Advocacy, and Communications

• Lead the Protection Research Unit including identifying research topics to address evidence gaps, reviewing research terms of reference and data collection tools, and reviewing and improving research products
• Translate key research findings into policy and programmatic recommendations, and lead dissemination activities with relevant stakeholders (e.g. donor and diplomatic community, UN agencies, other NGOs)
• Lead the development, revision, and implementation of DRC Turkey’s advocacy strategy and action plan
• Identify opportunities for joint research and advocacy activities with other actors, including INGOs, LNGOs, and academic institutions
• Oversee communication activities and review all communications products (e.g. success stories, photo essays, videos) that highlight the impact of DRC’s work in Turkey
• Ensure donor visibility requirements are upheld in the field and in all non-sensitive publications

Staff Management and Capacity Building

• Line-manage country programme team – including sector technical coordinators and MEAL, grants, partnerships, research, and communications units – to ensure an effective collaboration and technical support to the area programme teams
• Develop overall staff competence through leadership, training and coaching of staff and reflect personal development plans in staff performance appraisals
• Develop nationalisation plans for relevant expatriate staff to ensure longer term sustainability of key positions in programme domain
• When needed, draft and/or review terms of reference to hire and manage external consultants and manage those consultancies to ensure timely and quality submission of all deliverables

Required

• Graduate degree in International Development and/or Humanitarian Assistance, Project Management or any other related field in the social sciences
• Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible experience in programme management and development in conflict or displacement settings
• Minimum 4 years of experience in managing complex refugee responses, including 2 years at country senior management level preferably in the Middle East
• Demonstrated experience and skills in multi sectoral proposal development, budget development and management, programme implementation, program risk management, monitoring and evaluation
• Strong understanding of protection and economic recovery (livelihood) programming, integrated programming, protection and diversity mainstreaming, and conflict sensitive programming
• Proven track record of successfully raising funds and cultivating new donors
• Prior experience working with key institutional donors such as ECHO, Danida, KfW, BPRM and SDC
• Familiarity with innovative financing instruments (e.g. outcome-based and/or blended financing instruments such as impact bonds) and private sector engagement
• Experience managing people responsible for program management, implementation, and design

Desirable

• Turkish and/or Arabic language skills desirable
• Previous successful experience working with DRC on senior Program Management role
• Proven experience in effectively coordinating with government authorities, international and national NGO partners, and UN agencies
• Experience managing and strengthening the capacity of local implementing partners
• Fluency in spoken and written English is required
• Excellent communication skills and diplomacy