Emergency Manager

We are looking for a highly qualified, self-motivated Emergency Manager who is able to work with diverse teams of both national and international staff as well as local government authorities, UN agencies, I/NGOs and other partners under difficult, stressful and sometimes insecure conditions.

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and Danish Demining Group (DDG) is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 1956 that works in more than 30 countries through-out the world, including South Sudan. DRC/DDG fulfills its mandate by providing direct assistance to conflict-affected populations, including refugees, internally displaced people and host communities. Under its mandate, the organization focuses on emergency humanitarian response, rehabilitation, post-conflict recovery and humanitarian mine-action.

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in conjunction with Danish Demining Group (DDG) has been operating in South Sudan since 2005 initially concentrating on providing safe and supportive conditions for refugees returning from neighboring countries after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed.

In 2012 – 2013, DRC opened its operations in Upper Nile and Unity States to respond to the large influx of refugees coming from Blue Nile State and South Kordofan (Sudan). In addition to the refugee response and since 2014, DRC has been then actively engaged in responding to the humanitarian needs of IDPs affected by the internal conflict through the provision of integrated approaches.

With a total of 430 national staff, 50 expatriate staff and an annual budget of approximately USD 20 million, we are currently implementing multi-sectorial interventions through the provision of humanitarian services focused on CCCM, Protection, SGBV, FSL, Shelter and Infrastructure to both internally displaced persons and refugees across 5 field sites (Ajuong Thok, Bentiu, Maban, Malakal and Aburoc).

Purpose of the post

The Emergency Manager is responsible for the development, strategic setup and ongoing management of a responsive, multisector emergency response team capable of responding to new shocks across South Sudan. The position is responsible to develop/ update a comprehensive emergency preparedness and response plan (EPRP), emergency strategy and accompanying response modalities. Key to the position will be an ongoing analysis of the humanitarian context, assessing emergency-related funding opportunities to support responses and representing DRC is relevant cluster and fora.

The Emergency Manager works under the direct supervision of the Country Director and liaises with all program, operations and safety departments across South Sudan.

Responsibilities

Context analysis and Strategy Development

Engage in ongoing assessments of the humanitarian context across South Sudan as a means to update country-based emergency strategies and accompanying response modalities.

Facilitate the development/review of Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP).

Facilitate the roll-out and advise in the operationalization of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP).

Develop/ Update the Mobile Rapid Response Strategy and provide guidance during implementation of emergency responses in new areas of operation.

Program management

Design contextually appropriate modalities for each new intervention and advise implementing staff on a range of issues including context and need analysis, response modality and scale, targeting etc.

Work closely with the country program technical coordinators Including protection coordinator, CCCM coordinator, livelihoods coordinator, shelter and infrastructure coordinator to develop sector and modality specific interventions and to ensure that all sectorial emergency response activities are in strict compliance with DRC’s and international standards.

Work with the head of program and technical coordinators to identify and contribute to the development emergency-focused funding opportunities and project proposals, including contributing to both narratives and budgets.

Collaborate with DRC South Sudan monitoring, evaluation and learning coordinator to develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation tools for DRC’s emergency response activities, and to ensure lessons learned are thoroughly documented and shared within the country program, region and HQ.

Foster synergies between program areas (integrated approach), support the strong integration of protection and gender throughout all emergency responses and ensure adherence to standards when relevant.

Supervise monitoring and evaluation of the emergency missions to ensure the overall implementation is in accordance with agreed work plans, donor agreements and humanitarian accountability framework.

Ensure the timely and quality review of all emergency-related project reports.

Ensuring timely quality products including assessment and response mission reports are disseminated internally and externally.

Human Resource Management

Manage emergency teams, including where applicable, international and national managers, team Leaders, specialists and technical experts with an emphasis on excellence, promoting a culture of cooperation, learning, creativity and innovation.

Develop Job descriptions/terms of reference, lead and or contribute to recruitment processes and the induction and/or orientation of new staff.

Development of overall staff competence through leadership, training and coaching of emergency team.

Conduct annual staff performance reviews for staff under her/his line management and ensure this is done by other emergency team leaders.

Ensure allocation of funding for staff development, performance management and team building processes.

Follow up of staff contracts and ensure the renewal of contract. Adapt the team structure according to needs, financial resources and capacities if required.

Financial Management

Responsible for the overall management of all emergency related projects for the county mobile team and lead in the development of emergency-specific budgets and spending plans.

Maintain a budget overview of all emergency projects and activities, and collaborate regularly with the head of support service and country finance manager to monitor spending and ensure the timely utilization of emergency grants.

Ensuring emergency field team followed DRC’s and donor financial procedures in any field emergency expenditures.

Operational Management

Collaborate with the supply chain team to develop and maintain relevant framework agreements and emergency response-specific procurement plans.

Ensure the budgeting of emergency response activities incorporate logistics and support costs such as transport, warehousing, fleet operation etc.

Regularly review emergency response-related procurement plans with the country supply chain manager and procurement coordinator.

Coordination, communication, advocacy and representation

Take a proactive role in establishing strong linkages with key cluster, UN, NGO representatives working at the national level.

Actively represent DRC in relevant coordination fora including Needs Analysis Working Group (NAWG), SNFI cluster, WASH cluster, Protection Cluster and other emergency related working groups.

Advocate for DRC’s emergency program with donors and humanitarian stakeholders, in cluster meetings, workshops, conferences and in other relevant fora.

As required represent DRC’s emergency program to existing and potential donors in collaboration with the HOP, grant manager and CD.

Cultivate key relationships that enhance DRC’s visibility, credibility and notoriety in South Sudan.

Safety and Security

Ensuring that all relevant information regarding safety, security and the context is collected, updated by the team and shared in a regular and timely manner.

Closely work with the safety team for the overall safety improvement of the emergency operations.

Ensuring sufficient funding is available to lift up the safety standards of DRC emergency response in South Sudan.

Ensuring all emergency staff are trained on field safety and security prior to emergency deployments and refresher training is organized in a regular basis.

The responsibilities listed in the JD are not exhaustive and may be readjusted according to operational needs but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role.

Experience and technical competencies

Required

Master’s degree in Disaster Risk Management, International Cooperation and/or Humanitarian Assistance, Project Management or related studies from a recognized institution.

Six to eight years of progressively responsible experience in emergency program management in different countries and context, at least 3 Years in conflict related complex emergencies.

At least 4 years of experience in senior management or coordinator position with the field of humanitarian response for an international NGO or UN agency.

Demonstrate experience and skill in strategy development, proposal development, budget development, program implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Proven experience leading and reporting on multi-sector assessments and assistance.

Proven experience working with emergency coordination mechanisms including OCHA, clusters, UN agencies, INGOs as well as national governments.

Proven experience in managing a diverse emergency programs particularly in protection integrated with other sectors including WASH, SNFI, CCCM and FSL in emergencies contexts.

Proficiency in computer skills including MS word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and other software.

Full professional proficiency in English.

Desired

Experience working within an INGO, and most preferably previous successful experience working in South Sudan.

Experience with mobile emergencies and Rapid Response Mechanisms (RRM).

Contract Duration: 1 year

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. This position will be placed at Employment Band – F1.

Key stakeholders

Internal: Country Director, Head of Support Service, Country Finance Manager, Safety Coordinator, Country Human Resources Manager, Head of Program, Technical coordinators, MEAL Coordinator, Country Supply Chain Manager and Procurement Team Leader

External: Clusters, UN Agencies, Donors, other agencies with mobile response capacity etc.