Head of Unit, Programme Quality & Integration

Would you like to influence and shape DRC’s programming globally? Are you passionate about the quality of programming in the humanitarian sector and our ability to work on longer-term solutions? Are you a strong technical leader who can drive a transformative agenda?

Who are we?

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is a displacement-focused organisation working to save lives, promote durable solutions and address the root causes of displacement. We are present in 40 countries worldwide affected by conflict and displacement and work across the full cycle of displacement.

Our country programming is guided by DRC’s Response Framework, which spans three programmatic platforms (emergency response, durable solutions and root causes) and five core sectors (Protection, Economic Recovery, Humanitarian Disarmament & Peacebuilding, Shelter & Settlements, and Camp Coordination & Camp Management).

A newly reformed Unit for Programme Quality and Integration in the Programme Division in HQ will spearhead a renewed focus in DRC on strengthening programmatic quality and programme integration across our country programmes. It will also drive our ambition to strengthen longer-term programming and DRC’s value contribution in contexts where longer-term/development skillsets are required.

The unit sits in DRC’s Programme Division, which is the main ‘engine room’ for programmatic policy and development for the global organisation. Programme Division houses the Response Framework, programme platforms and core sectors, as well units related to cross-cutting programmatic work such as emergency response and localisation.

About the job

The Head of Unit (HoU) for Programme Quality & Integration is a new management role in DRC that will form and lead the newly reformed PQI unit. The HoU will spearhead critical, cross-cutting initiatives aimed at strengthening DRC’s programming and position within longer-term programming, programme quality and programmatic integration.

Leading and managing a team of 3-5 highly skilled specialists, the HoU will work across the organization to set direction and momentum in these areas. The HoU will work closely with the Programme Director, with core sector colleagues/units and with similar cross-cutting units on localisation and emergency response. The HoU is a core member of the Programme Division management team and helps set overall direction for the division.

Specifically, the HoU will:

• Form, define, lead and manage the unit,
• Lead and enable core initiatives to strengthen longer-term programming, programmatic quality, and programmatic integration,
• Coordinate, represent, advocate and business develop as necessary in support thereof.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to be an experienced leader with an ambition nature to drive programme quality and integration across the Programme Division. We expect that you have strong coordination skills and a keen eye to identify priorities and opportunities for the unit. We also expect that you have a strong technical background and experience and are able to bring both management skills as well as technical skills to the unit. You are able to drive forward your agenda while also building strong collaboration and team harmony.

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

• Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant technical management area,
• Considerable management experience, with good experience of leading senior/global advisors,
• Extensive programmatic experience working in and on fragile and conflict/displacement contexts, ideally from a Head of Programmes, Country Director or equivalent role,
• Significant technical experience from and knowledge on one or more technical areas of: programming in longer-term/protracted crises, programme quality frameworks, and/or programme integration,
• Considerable field experience from conflict/displacement and/or fragile contexts,
• Some experience from HQ/global functions and/or regional functions,
• Some experience managing complex change and organizational development projects in a matrix-led organization,
• Demonstrated skills in coordination, representation and facilitation,
• Organized, articulate and with attention to quality,
• Fluent written and spoken English.

Desirable

• Experience from DRC operations,
• Knowledge of Danish, French or Spanish.

We offer

Contract length: Two year (end-2025) with possible extension

Work place: Borgergade 10, 1300 Copenhagen, Denmark. This post is, as a default, located in our HQ in Denmark.For internal candidates, an alternative duty station outside of Denmark may exceptionally be considered.

Start date: As soon as possible in 2024.

The position is temporary and subject to extension of funding.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the agreement between DRC and Lederaftalen between Dansk Arbejdsgiverforening og Lederne (agreement for managers), which can be found here: www.lederne.dk. This is contractually a national position for which local terms and conditions apply. Our work conditions include, amongst others, a fair salary, fully employer paid pension contribution, six weeks of paid leave per year and flexible working hours.

Given the global nature of our work, DRC has a very diverse and international workforce. We have the strong ambition to better reflect this diversity also in DRC’s Leadership. While we consider all applicants and do not give preferential treatment to any group in the recruitment process.

Further information

For questions regarding the vacancy please contact Global Director for Programme, Andreas Ring (andreas.ring@drc.ngo) or Management Support & Administration Coordinator Alana Mary Shanahan (alana.shanahan@drc.ngo).

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