Introduction
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. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.
Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.
Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has had an operational presence in Nigeria since 2015 and has experience working in 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the BAY states. DRC provides life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable, conflict-affected populations including IDPs, returnees, and host communities in the sectors of armed violence reduction, livelihoods, nutrition and food security, protection, shelter and non-food items (NFI) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
The operational context in northeastern Nigeria remains challenging, as the ongoing conflict impedes conflict-affected communities’ access to what limited basic services are available, as well as DRC and other humanitarians’ access to persons of concern.
The Support Services Manager is responsible for providing coordinated and strategic leadership and ensures the smooth running of all support functions to meet the programme needs in line with the DRC Operations Handbook. This position will support the operations of DRC in Adamawa State.
Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities:
Planning and strategy
- To ensure that annual planning for support services is completed, that regular targets are met and linked to the coordination unit for country-wide consistency.
- To ensure that project planning includes relevant support service requirements (such as lead times and appropriate budgets).
- To ensure that resource mobilization is realistic and meets the needs of support functions, by using the operations budget to input to donor proposals.
- To ensure that support services are fit for purpose to meet programme needs.
- To be the focal point for the compliance self-check, internal audit and results contracts.
Finance
- To serve as primary budget holder for all support service lines.
- To be responsible for budget monitoring and forecasting for support service budgets.
- To work with managers and team leaders to conduct budget monitoring of existing grants.
- To support Area Finance staff in area tasks, building their capacity and connecting them with the Country Finance Manager where required.
- To ensure that keyfinance tasks are completed (such as the monthly, periodic and annual reports).
- To work with finance to ensure programme teams clearly understand compliance requirements.
- To ensure that monthly finance tasks are completed on the area level (payroll, SOS, PIT, cashbooks and cash forecasts) and in line with Operations Handbook procedures.
- To conduct area level BFU meetings are done on regular basis, spent, and forecast part are reviewed by budget managers and comments are added where needed.
HR Support
- To ensure that monthly reports and produced and that targets are met by the department, while being a link to the HR coordination unit.
- To ensure that HR tasks are completed on time (such as staff induction, Code of Conduct training and leave planning).
- To ensure that annual HR tasks are completed as per the Operations Handbook (e.g., Performance & Development Reviews).
- To ensure the HR team fulfils daily tasks, such as recruitment, contract renewal/ amendments, timesheet submission and leave tracking.
Administration support
- To be the focal point for key administrative tasks.
- To oversee the team to ensure follow up on routine tasks are carried out (guesthouse supplies, phone credit purchase, utilities bill payments, rental and lease agreements).
Supply Chain support
- To ensure procurement procedures are followed while being the focal point for tenders together with the coordination unit (including being a chairman for most major tenders).
- To ensure area procurement plans are finalized, closely monitored, updated as and when required.
- To closely follow department KPIs and ensure that monthly report submissions are timely and of high quality.
- To work with the teams to ensure each of the sub departments (procurement, fleet, assets, warehouse and maintenance) have targets and are meeting them, in line with Operation Handbook procedures.
- To ensure area supply and logistic teams are trained.
As Manager the post-holder is responsible for the following:
- Accountable for achieving DRC’s strategic goals and objectives within the area of responsibility.
- Accountable for making significant decisions on what the unit does: its purpose, functions and role, and for making commitments and decisions that require the expenditure of significant unit resources.
- Accountable for people management of direct reports, at least 3 employees including Team Leaders. This includes hiring & firing, objective setting, probation, performance appraisal, development of staff, managing performance, including poor performance, etc.
- Accountable for making sound decisions based on DRC policies, SOPs, standards, and the advice of technical experts in DRC
Other:
- The responsibilities listed in the JD are not exhaustive and may be readjusted according to operational needs but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role.
Experience and technical competencies:
Essential
- Strong Finance background (3+ years) a requirement with 2 years’ experience in similar role an asset
- At least 2 years’ experience with people management or demonstrable experience in staff capacity building
- Experience with Microsoft Dynamics in a humanitarian context is required
- Experience with budget cycle, monitoring processes, and project cycle management
- Possessing a strong degree of honesty and integrity, and a solid sense of ethics including the ability to appropriately handle confidential information.
- Nigerian citizens only, not open to expats.
- Master’s degree in relevant area, or bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, supply chain management, human resources, business administration, economics will suffice with an additional 2 years of commensurate experience.
Desirable
- Knowledge of code of conduct principles and the HR systems for performance management
- Knowledge of key donor policy and compliance procedures
- Knowledge of supply chain management and procurement processes
- Past experience with DRC in a similar role will be considered a distinct advantage
- Previous experience in support services management is an asset
Education:
Application Process
Are you interested? Then apply for this position on line: www.drc.dk/about-drc/vacancies/current-vacancies. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English.
DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.
DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process.
Applications close on the 24th September 2024 at midnight (GMT-time). Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.
Due to the urgency of the position, DRC has the right to recruit a candidate who matches the required profile before the above deadline.
By working in DRC, you will be joining a global workforce of around 8000 employees in 40 countries. We pride ourselves on our:
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.
Danish Refugee Council is an equal opportunity employer and we consider all applicants based on individual merit and qualifications, regardless of personal characteristics or attributes. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce, aiming for a 50% balance of men and women in management roles and ensuring that at least 50% of management roles are filled by national staff. We recognize that a diverse and inclusive team is crucial for achieving our organizational goals and making a positive impact on the communities we serve.