Bangladesh: Country Director

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is looking for a highly qualified

Country Director to lead, manage and further develop DRC’s operation in Bangladesh.

About the programme**

Close to 1 million people from the Rohingya minority in Myanmar arrived in several influxes in Bangladesh during the last decades with by far the largest and the fastest influx in August 2017, settling in Cox’s Bazar, one of the poorest districts of Bangladesh. The Rohingya minority is considered as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world.

DRC employs around 270 National staff and about 30 Expatriate staff in Bangladesh. The DRC Bangladesh program focuses on three core sectors of intervention: Protection, Site Management Support (SMS) and Site Infrastructure. As a specialized protection agency, our work is rooted in protection (Do No Harm) and humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, humanity, and independence as a rights-based approach in in coordination with the Government of Bangladesh.

About the job

The Country Director (CD) will provide overall leadership and strategic direction with the overall responsibility for the day to day management, programming, implementation, fundraising and continued development of DRC’s programme in Bangladesh. Furthermore, while the CD is responsible to manage the humanitarian operation and the current Rohingya response, he/she should be able to integrate long-term solution-oriented programming with a geographic scope beyond Cox’ Bazar.

More specifically, the Country Director will:

• Represent DRC within Bangladesh to partners, donors and duty bearers and to promote an optimal operational space for pursuing DRCs strategic priorities in coordination with all relevant entities;
• Lead and ensure the implementation of strategic direction of DRC’s operation in Bangladesh in line with the corporate strategic direction and interests;
• Ensure solid operational and programme management based on a strong organizational structure;
• Ensure compliance with DRC procedures and policies and for the timely and efficient implementation, management and reporting on the resources entrusted DRC in Bangladesh by donors and partners;
• Lead the process of applying for funding and maintaining a broad funding basis;
• Ensure high-quality risk management, safety and duty of care for national and international staff;
• Ensure proper use of DRC Dynamics (the new Enterprise Planning Resources) system.

The Country Director reports to the Regional Director, Asia, currently based in DRC HQ Copenhagen.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect the following:

1. Minimum 10 years of senior management experience in emergency and/or post-conflict settings; preferable with IDPs and/or refugees in a humanitarian agency;
2. Minimum 8 years' experience as people manager;
3. Relevant educational background (e.g. political science, international development, economics);
4. Proven experience working with protection issues within the context of refugees and IDPs;
5. -Proven experience of strategic programming and planning, organisational development, field implementation, monitoring and evaluation;
6. -Proven experience in managing a large-scale humanitarian operation, preferable combined with experience in managing and/or designing solution-oriented programme interventions;
7. Solid experience with financial management, human resource development and logistics;
8. Ability to motivate and guide staff working in a complex environment;
9. A strong ability to collaborate, network and negotiate with local partners; Governments, UN, donors and other NGOs, including proven experience in developing fundraising strategies;
10. Strong analytical, negotiation, advocacy and communication skills;
11. Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines in a changing and insecure environment;
12. Fluency in written and spoken English;
13. Security management experience and familiarity with remote management is an advantage;
14. Prior work experience with DRC is an advantage;
15. Prior work experience from South- and/or South-East Asia is an advantage.

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of nationality, race, gender or age.

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:

1. Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
2. Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
3. Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
4. Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
5. Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: 2 years

Band: D

Duty station: Cox’ Bazar, with regular travel to Dhaka and field visits. Cox’ Bazar is a non-family duty station and this position is un-accompanied.

Start date: 1^st of June 2019.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for

Expatriates; please refer to drc.ngo under Vacancies. For questions regarding the vacancy please

contact Mr. Mikkel Trolle, Regional Director, Asia, mikkel.trolle@drc.dk

Interested? Apply here.

All applicants must upload 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.

Closing date for applications: 29April2019

DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process. Visit drc.ngo to read more about what we do to secure robust safeguarding mechanisms.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit drc.ngo/jobsupport.