Senior Regional Programme and Partnership Manager

The DRC has been present in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region since 2002 and is implementing projects with National Society partners in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and oPt, and is working towards three main breakthroughs: 1) Healthy lives, 2) Disasters damage fewer lives and 3) Included and safe people. Most relevant to this position are the priority areas under “Healthy lives” of People who have access to non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

The Senior Regional Programme and Partnership Manager will lead the design, implementation and partnership strategy for an adaptative programme aiming to provide people affected by humanitarian crises in the MENA region with full continuity of care. The programme will particularly focus on including access to effective non-communicable disease (NCD) care, during both the acute and prolonged stages of humanitarian crises. The programme is founded around an exciting and innovative partnership between the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement and the private sector and leverages global expertise in NCD management in protracted and sudden onset humanitarian crises. The programme will be implemented in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, with potential for further geographical expansion.

This Senior Regional Programme and Partnership Manager position will coordinate and support not less than 3 DRC country teams and regional programme management unit and their contribution to the Flagship programme design and implementation. The programme will focus on:

1. The management of NCD interventions, including prevention, detection, screening and treatment, and providing access to medication and self and family or peer support for people in need. High-impact essential NCD interventions will be delivered through a primary healthcare approach at the community and health facility level to strengthen early detection and timely treatment.
2. Four relevant Partner National Societies (Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and oPt branch in Lebanon) will be supported to provide quality PHC service incl. NCD clinical care and NCD community services, including different behaviour change approaches.
3. The NCD advocacy agenda will be supported at the global, regional and national levels via networking and establishing partnerships within the sector for sustained and effective interventions.
4. Strengthen NCD preparedness for effective response (PER) and crises modifier will be built into partners country plans and standardised into the Red Cross and Red Crescent general PER approaches.

The Senior Programme Manager will have the following main responsibilities:

• Oversee the inception phase of the programme (six months), bringing in the required short- and longer-term technical expertise to finalize a state-of-the-art programme design.
• Ensure the day-to-day implementation of a regional NCD programme and will work in close cooperation with the relevant Country Managers and, not least, relevant country health delegates.
• Develop and expand the strategic partnership private-sector organizations, research institutes and other key stakeholders to ensure the strong implementation and growth of the programme.
• Ensure the correct technical and support capacities are in place within the Programme Management Unit (PMU) based in the DRC Regional Office and establish strong relationships with technical/managerial counterparts at relevant Host National Societies (HNSs).
• Develop clear and measurable strategic workplans for the programme management unit (PMU) based at the DRC Regional Office and oversee the development of programmme implementation plans at the Country Level (in coordination with DRC Country Managers and relevant HNS staff).
• Ensure that a robust monitoring and reporting framework is in place for the programme, which allows for the timely assessment and review of pilot approaches/methodologies, and provides programme stakeholders with data on implementation progress, challenges and any required management intervention.
• Ensure that all internal and external reporting are standardised, coordination and deadlines are kept.
• Establish strong working relationships with the finance officer in charge of support to this regional programme.
• Supporting the country team at all stages of the project cycle from needs assessment, project design, implementation, monitoring and reporting tasks.
• Provide inputs and recommendations for the strategic direction of DRC´s future NCD engagement in the region
• Take part in and provide substantive inputs, as required, to the programme Steering Committee and Advisory Board

The position requires strong and innovative management, coordination, representation, organisational analysis and the provision of programme management and technical assistance to DRC regional programme management unite and DRC Country offices. This will include formulation, operationalisation, implementation, and overall supervision, monitoring and evaluation of various projects, initiatives and actions as well as further development of the partnership with private donor and other partners.

Experience and Qualifications

• A minimum of 5 years of actual field experience in programme management or related project implementation.
• Proven experience in programme management in fragile and/or conflict-affected countries.
• Excellent skills in the development of strategic partnerships involving multiple stakeholders
• Information management and analytical skills, in assessment, project design, and programme financial management.
• Coordination skills, with an emphasis on working through and building the capacity of national partners.
• A university degree in a relevant field of programme management etc., preferred public health degree
• Excellent English speaking and writing skills.
• Full proficiency in Microsoft Office and as self-supporting with computers as possible.
• Confidence in situations of occasional stress, and able to handle a substantial but varied workload for a long period.
• Results-orientated and self-motivated but at the same time a patient, cooperative, innovative, and flexible team player.
• Excellent diplomacy, communication, coordination, negotiation, networking, and facilitation skills.
• Documented experience of donor proposal preparation and report writing, and an understanding of donor requirements.
• The ability to work in Arabic would be an asset.
• Experience of working in the Middle East in development or humanitarian contexts.
• Experience of working within the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, preferably with the Danish Red Cross.

Employment conditions

This is initial a 12-months position, with possibility for extension up to 5 years and with a 3 months probationary period. The duty station is Beirut in Lebanon with frequent field travels. The ideal starting date is as soon as possible.

The contract will be administered in accordance with the Danish Red Cross Terms and Conditions for Delegates. Attractive salary package, depending on qualifications and experience.