Do you believe in donor partnerships characterised by open dialogue and shared lessons learned in addition to funding arrangements? Do you want to lead the establishment of DRC’s representation in Berlin? Then this new role might be for you.

Who are we?

Are you an experienced professional humanitarian with a diplomatic, constructive, and solution-oriented approach to collaboration? Would you like to use your field experience to lead fundraising and advocacy for conflict and displacement affected persons? Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is looking for an experienced professional to open and lead DRC’s representation in Berlin, Germany. In line with DRC Strategy 2025, DRC wants to strengthen its position vis-à-vis German humanitarian and development actors to forge strong partnerships to work towards increased protection and enhanced inclusion for conflict and displacement affected persons.

About the job

Based in Berlin, you will report to DRC’s Executive Director for Partnerships, Advocacy & External Relations (PAER) in DRC Headquarters in Copenhagen and cooperate and coordinate with colleagues in DRC Headquarters, DRC Regions, and DRC Country Operations. The DRC Geneva and Brussels Representatives will be your close colleagues and support for donor engagement will be provided by DRC’s institutional donor engagement colleagues.

Your immediate main duties and responsibilities will be to:

• Establish a DRC Representation in Germany, in line with DRC and German regulations
• Set up and manage the DRC office and staff in Germany, including recruitment of support staff and future hosting of DRC affiliated entities if it becomes relevant
• Actively engage with German donor agencies, funding mechanisms, humanitarian actors and partners to increase the information, awareness, and reputation of DRC with the aim to increase funding by German sources
• Support fundraising efforts in general and for thematic initiatives of relevance to policy influencing and improvement of response capacity
• Strengthen DRC’s advocacy work by building new alliances and partnerships in Germany
• Collaborate with Germany-based humanitarian and development organisations and NGOs on advocacy and policy influencing on issues of relevance to DRC’s mandate and role
• Represent DRC in Germany in accordance with DRC’s Strategy 2025, DRC’s Advocacy and Communication Strategy and policy positions

As the representation becomes established the longer-term responsibilities will include to:

• Strengthen the visibility and branding of DRC
• Explore opportunities for private fundraising and engagement with foundations with the support of DRC HQ Private Engagement and Global Foundations Units
• Lead employees working in the Berlin representation office

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to be an experienced professional humanitarian with a diplomatic, constructive, and solution-oriented approach to collaboration and to the many challenges that the sector is experiencing. Ideally, you have an already established network in Germany. The Duty Station is Berlin, and you will report to the Executive Director for Partnerships, Advocacy & External Relations (PAER). All employees should master DRC’s core competencies: Communicating, Taking the lead, Collaborating, Striving for excellence and Demonstrating integrity.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required

• Academic background relevant to working with refugee- and displacement issues
• Extensive knowledge of the German government landscape
• Knowledge of key humanitarian debates and policy issues
• Professional proficiency in German and English

• Minimum 7 years of professional work experience within international humanitarian/development work, of which a substantial time needs to be field experience
• Management experience, including financial management
• Experience with advocacy work with governments and the UN relevant to an operational organisation
• Documented experience with drafting policy statements and position papers
• Excellent advocacy and communication skills
• Excellent networking- and fundraising skills

Desirable

• Working experience from DRC or similar organisation
• An established network in Germany

We offer

Contract length: One year with the possibility of extension pending funding

Duty Station: Berlin, Germany

Start date: September 2023

End date: 31 August 2024 (to be extended pending funding)

The position is temporary as it has currently only been financed for one year. Subject to the success of our establishment in Berlin, we hope to be able to extend the position.

This is a national position for which local terms and conditions apply.

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English.

Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 29 June 2023. Interviews are tentatively planned in the week of 3 to 7 July.

Further information

For questions regarding the vacancy please contact the interim Executive Director for PAER, Susanne Brokmose at [email protected]

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