Base Manager

Duty Station [Mokha and West Coast-Yemen]

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

DRC has been operating in the Middle East (ME) region for over a decade, running a combination of emergency, livelihood, protection and advocacy programmes through Country Offices (COs) in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey with a Regional Office (RO) in Amman.

DRC Yemen’s response

Throughout its nine field offices and a workforce of 450 staff, DRC upholds its main programmatic objectives to provide immediate and life sustaining assistance, to strengthen the protective environment, and to reduce displacement related risks and vulnerabilities by promoting self-reliance at household and community level.

About the job

Responsible for the overall operational and programmatic planning, reporting, and implementation to enable DRC to achieve its objectives. Supervising the base and ensure that DRC procedures are streamlined in the project implementation. Building relationships with key humanitarian partners and civil and military authorities.

Sector responsibilities:

The Mokha Base Manager has responsibility for the planning, oversight and timely delivery of DRC’s operations in the Area of Responsibility (AoR) in the West Coast and Khokha satellite office, with specific oversight of program and support services. The Base Manager leads on local level representation within West Coast and Mokha in particular. The Base Manager is responsible for oversight and ensuring the smooth running of local support services including management of finance, admin, HR, logistics and security, with support from the technical, programme and support services leads based in.

Geographic scope: Base Area – Mocha, West Coast, Yemen

This role has a base focus and ensures compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines within the base. The role contributes to the development of base strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The role provides support and/or technical guidance to base operations, while overseeing base activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Staff Management

• Ensure performance objectives and key performance indicators are established and regularly reviewed for direct reports.
• Provide regular constructive feedback to direct reports and support direct reports in performance management of their team members.
• Develop staff competence through recruitment, leadership, training and coaching of key staff.
• Ensure that a capacity building plan is in place for national staff, and support nationalization efforts as necessary and relevant.
• Support and monitor programme staff planning of activities
• Supervise finance, admin, Human Resources, procurement and logistics ensuring that expenditure is compliant with DRC procedures, donors’ regulation and national legislation

Program Implementation & Development

• Ensure timely and technically sound planning, implementation and follow up on programme activities within the Area of Responsibility.
• In collaboration with the Area Program Manager and Area Manager, lead the development and implementation of the agreed programme strategy for the AoR.
• Monitor the progress of projects against work plans and provide appropriate support to project managers and staff to ensure that work plans are adjusted, as needed, and targets are met.
• Maintain oversight of budget spending and burn rates for Mocha, and assure compliance with DRC standards and procedures and donor compliance regulations, through regular coordination with support services teams at Base Office, Area Office and Country Office level.
• Identify risk areas to delivery of projects and coordinate solutions and mitigation measures in a timely manner.
• Analyse the specific local context, needs, gaps and constraints and anticipate forthcoming movements and displacement-related trends, recommending appropriate adjustments to programme activities.
• Ensure submission of regular qualitative and analytical internal reports and donor reports within the given timeframes.
• Ensure that project activities develop and are implemented in line with DRC’s mandate, policies, procedures and country strategy, as well as with donors requirements and national and international rules and guidelines.
• Contribute to the development of early recovery and development programme proposals (narrative and budgetary) to secure follow on or expansion funding for the northern Ninewa portfolio in line with identified needs, strategic priorities and cluster guidance.
• Identify opportunities for support of local partnerships and sustainable solutions in line with DRC Grant Bargain commitments

Base Management

• Maintain oversight on all financial reporting from Mocha base to the Area Office and Country Office.
• Lead the development, updating and monitoring of the operational Master Budget and funding overview for Mokha, in coordination with Finance Team Leader and Support Services Manager in Aden.
• Provide procurement planning support to base staff (both program and support), in close coordination with the Supply Chain Team Leader and Support Services Manager in Aden.
• Ensure base compliance with DRC financial, supply chain, administrative, and operational standard operating procedures.
• Track and report on operational key performance indicators (KPIs) for Mokha base, and lead on risk mitigation measures and/or actions to address low performance KPIs.

External Representation & Coordination

• Represent DRC before relevant donors, local authorities and coordination bodies in the AoR under the direction of the South Area Manager in Aden.
• Engage with relevant national and international actors and actively participate in relevant clusters, sectors and working groups and other meetings in the AoR as needed, to support coordination, fundraising, access issues, etc.
• Liaise with local authorities and relevant actors to secure necessary authorisations and clearances as required.
• Ensure community acceptance and maintain engagement with local government in the AoR.

General

• Maintain high level of security awareness and adhere to all safety regulations provided by DRC for safety and security of DRC staff and assets in Mocha base, in coordination with Area Manager and the Safety team.
• Comply with DRC policies and practice with respect to child safeguarding, code of conduct, safety and security, anti-harassment, and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Ensure that any beneficiary feedback, concerns or issues are addressed through the appropriate mechanisms.
• Contribute to draft reports and comply with set deadlines.
• Comply with DRC’s Code of Conduct, program requirements and operational policies at all times and report any concerns through the appropriate mechanism.
• Any other duties as required by supervisor/protection management.

About you

To be successful in this role you must have:

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible management experience humanitarian projects. development, early recovery and/or humanitarian projects.
• At least 3 years’ experience with people management and providing management oversight, technical support and training to programme staff,.
• Demonstrable experience in managing staff safety and programme security in insecure environments.
• Strong proven experience in managing logistics, procurement, administrative and financial functions.
• Excellent communication skills – verbal and in writing
• Excellent inter-personal skills and proven ability to negotiate with a wide range of people (internally and externally)
• Ability to adapt to the complex and stressful working conditions of the area of operations
• Cultural and gender sensitivity, adaptability, willingness to travel.
• High-level knowledge and practice with Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
• Willingness to follow security policies and procedures

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate 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:

Required Qualifications

• University degree or higher education in Politics, Social Sciences, Peacebuilding, or similar relevant field, or significant additional demonstrable past professional experience gained through field work.

Languages:

• English (Fluent)
• Arabic (Desirable)

Key stakeholders: (internal and external)

• Area Manager
• Area Program Manager
• Support Services Manager
• Governorate officials
• INGOs, UN and donors’ representative

We offer

DRC will offer the successful applicant a 12 months contract, renewable dependent on both funding and performance. You must be available to start work approximately in January 2024 and be willing and able to work in Mokha and West Coast-Yemen. Designation of Duty Station: Non-Family Duty Station

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment. This position will be placed at level (F).

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.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact [email protected]

Applications close on 29 November 2023. The written test /interviews are expected to take place, maximum two weeks after the closing date.

Please note that applications sent directly to the email will not be considered.