Regional Infrastructure Coordinator at Danish Refugee Council

Background 

DRC has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. Using a human rights framework, the DRC East Africa and Yemen (EAY) operation focuses mainly on people who are affected by displacement, including refugees, internally displaced, and migrants in Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda, Tanzania and Yemen. The EAY Regional office also supports non-operational initiatives, focusing on mixed migration issues, civil society engagement, and advocacy and policy initiatives related to displacement. 

Purpose 

The overall responsibility of the Regional Infrastructure Coordinator (RIC) is to support existing or new operations to adequately respond to existing or emerging infrastructure needs (shelter, wash, and other facilities) in both emergency and recovery settings with a focus on durable solutions. 

Responsibilities:  

• Provide Senior Management Team, and relevant CDs/Head of Programmes with updated information on best practices and technical support for infrastructure related activities within the designated countries in the East Africa and Yemen region; 
• Participate as relevant – depending on ongoing tasks - in coordination mechanisms throughout the region and represent DRC as requested; 
• Provide technical assistance to field teams, including (but not limited to) to designs and develop tools, technical input for proposals, concepts, and budgets;  
• Support ToR development and recruitment of relevant technical staff; 
• Development of training models to address regional or country specific capacity gaps; 
• Development of infrastructure related strategies in collaboration with country teams where necessary and assist in assessment of internal capacities 
• Represent DRC in donor meetings in Nairobi or within Country programmes and participate in fundraising initiatives/meetings;    
• Undertake needs assessments for new operations or new emergencies/projects/programmes in existing operations; 
• Support existing operations with surge capacity when taking on new projects – assist in staff recruitment, staff training, setting up systems, and planning and starting activities; 
• Provide trouble-shooting support to operations facing bottlenecks/challenges in programme implementation; 
• Provides technical support to DRC facilities (such as offices and guesthouses) in terms of designing the spaces in order to improve the condition of living / working of the staff in the field. 

  On a general level: 

• Guarantee that DRC mandate, policies and values in programming is ensured through standard regulations and operational procedures for programming and implementation of DRC operations (e.g. Code of Conduct, DRC Programme Handbook, DRC Operations Handbook);  
• Ensure that DRC’s accountability obligations are delegated and carried out in accordance with the HAP/CHS standards and DRC protocols. 
• Other duties as agreed with the DRC East Africa and Yemen Senior Management Team 
• Liaise and provide support to DRC HQ entities as agreed with RO supervisor 

About you  

To be successful in this role, we expect you to be a positive, mature leader with a proven track record of developing effective initiatives, programmes, and impact.  You thrive in managing a wide range of responsibilities, and can effectively communicate and lead the country team. You enjoy working with teams of committed staff to build collaboration and capacity within the regional programmes and building strong relationships with the regional team. 

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate each of DRC’ five core competencies:  

• Striving for excellence: you focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process 

• Collaborating: you involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 

• Taking the lead: you take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 

• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 

• Demonstrating integrity: you act in line with our vision and values 

Moreover, we also expect the following:   

Experience and technical competencies:  

• At least ten (10) years INGO, donor, or other relevant development/humanitarian experience, including at least three years. management/implementation of Infrastructure response programmes in fragile/conflict environments. 
• Bachelor or preferably a Masters’ degree in relevant sciences with expertise in infrastructure development; 
• Strong demonstrated analytical, organizational and leadership skills. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead assessments and develop appropriate solutions. 
• Ability to represent DRC in high level meetings, including fundraising and other high level coordination meetings. 
• Demonstrated experience in project grants management, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, supervision and performance. 
• Proven commitment to accountable practices and knowledgeable of quality assurance systems. 
• Hands on experience in guiding and working with staff in insecure/conflict affected locations. 
• Proven skills related to develop and implement training with a view of strengthen staff capacity.  
• Good communicator and proven diplomacy with all types of stakeholders. 
• Experience in development of concepts and proposals for relevant donors, particularly with DANIDA, SIDA, OFDA, ECHO and UN agencies  
• Ability to work independently, but also coordinate effectively as part of a team. 
• Ability to work and guide a diverse multi-cultural team. 
• Experience with the UN cluster system   
• Previous experience the East Africa and Yemen region or similar context with conflict/access analysis ability; and 
• Fluent in written and spoken English and French language skills.   

DRC encourages all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of nationality, race, gender or age. 

Conditions 

Availability: July 2018 

Duty station: Nairobi – Kenya; This position is unaccompanied. 

Reporting: This position reports Deputy Regional Director 

Duration: 1 Year with possibility of extension, subject to performance and funding.  

Contract: Level A12  Salary, benefits and other conditions are offered in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies.  For national candidates, competitive salary and benefits are offered in accordance with the Kenyan National staff salary scale and terms of employment.