Who are we?
In 2003, DRC became one of the first organisations to provide humanitarian assistance in the country. Today, DRC continues to provide humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable displacement-affected families, including IDPs, returnees, and host communities in Basra, Baqubah, Jalawla, Gatoon, Baghdad, Muqdadiya, Balad, Aziz Balad, Samarra, Mosul, Duhok, Tel Afar, Baa’j, Sinjar, and Erbil.
Find more about DRC operations in Iraq here: Iraq nearmejobs.eu DRC Danish Refugee Council
Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly Program Development and Quality Manager to join our programme in Iraq.
About the Job
The Program Development & Quality Manager is responsible for ensuring quality throughout the project cycle; from the initial project idea and proposal design through to continuously enhancing the quality of programme implementation. This position also provides coordination and technical support to the Head of Programs (HoP) and the various Area Managers for the implementation of program activities, and leads on business development and grants management, with oversight of a Grants Management team.
Responsibilities:
1. Project Development and Coordination
- Coordinate the development of concept notes and proposals in collaboration with technical coordinators, field staff, operations staff, the DRC Regional Office, and DRC HQ colleagues, ensuring alignment with DRC and donor strategies, priorities and requirements and DRC’s programme handbook guidelines.
- Facilitate communication across departments (program, MEAL, finance, safety, logistics and procurement, and human resources) in drafting of proposals and budgets and reports.
- Ensure that kick-off, quarterly reviews and close-out meetings are held in a regular and timely manner to monitor project implementation and spending, ensure donor compliance, and identify and apply lessons learned.
- Lead on grants management processes including modification requests
- Support with the coordination and grants management of partnerships and consortia engagement
- Support the HoP as needed coordination of donor and TPM visits in collaboration with the team
- Conduct visits to field locations as needed.
2. Resource Mobilization
- Maintain up-to-date information on donor strategies, priorities and funding opportunities through the Donor Engagement Tracking Tools.
- Support HoP in developing donor engagement strategies working closely with the programme team and with input from the area offices and field offices.
- Support the HoP in the development of an overall funding strategy for the country
3. People Management
- Support the recruitment of Grants and Partnership management staff and support their professional development
- Undertake capacity development for programme and operation staff as well as partner organizations on grants management principles and processes. Topics include donor compliance, report writing, proposal development.
- Provide direct management support and direction to the Program Development team including regular feedback, capacity building and guidance as necessary, as well as formal performance management according to DRC systems
4. Reporting and Record Keeping
- Oversee internal and external reporting, ensuring high-quality and timely reports meeting donor and DRC requirements
- Support the development of project management tools for use by senior management for decision making, including consolidating regular internal programme progress reports based on input from programme managers and reporting on key programme highlights/issues.
- Maintain the grants and report tracking system, including regular updating within DRC’s Grants Management System within Dynamics, to ensure all grant files are organized, up to date and well managed for planning and preparation of donor reports and project monitoring.
- Ensure the relevant departments have adequate knowledge of and comply with donor requirements in terms of budget, asset and grants management.
5. Partnerships management
- Support the HoP in the development and rollout of the partnership/localization strategy
- Oversee the development/adaptation of partnership management tools, guidelines, and other resources as needed to effectively manage partnerships.
- Improve partnership practices by periodically assessing DRC Iraq partnership management approach considering both DRC and partners’ perspectives, capture lessons learned and best practices and make recommendations for improvement.
- Responsible for ensuring partnership assessments and ensuring technical coordinators/support units are aware of tools and processes
- Support the partnership specialist to oversee the capacity-building cycle for partners, in coordination with relevant DRC departments and measure changes in partners’ capacity levels through objectively verifiable indicators.
- Ensure SGAs are drafted, monitored, and followed up on a regular basis
- Ensure that capacity-building activities for partners are conducted, including training workshops and one-on-one mentoring of key partner staff on donor rules and regulations, reporting, program development, grants management, and other relevant areas as needed.
- Develop and strengthen relationships with local partners and DRC colleagues in order to maintain trust in DRC’s professional standard and quality of work among all stakeholders.
About you
Experience and technical competencies:
Essential
- Master’s degree in relevant field is preferred
- At least three years of INGO field experience in a similar position that includes proposal development, reporting and grants management and partnership management.
- Knowledge of key donor regulations, procedures and requirements (EU, UN, EC, USG, etc.).
- Proven ability to develop winning proposals for public and private-sector donors.
- Strong networking, interpersonal and presentation skills.
- Excellent organizational skills, with ability to determine priorities and pay attention to detail.
- Ability to manage competing tasks and manage well under pressure
- Ability to work in a multicultural context as a flexible and respectful team player.
- High-level knowledge and practice with Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
- Ability/willingness to work with extremely tight deadlines and multiple tasks.
- Excellent written and spoken English required; Arabic and/or Kurdish is an asset.
- Willingness to follow security policies and procedures.
Desirable
- Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective and working relations with local staff and other stakeholders;
- Experience living and working in a cross-cultural, multi-sector, insecure, remote area environment, under team condition
- Staff Management of a team.
Languages:
- English (fluent)
- Arabic (desirable)
Education:
- Masters degree in relevant field is preferred
In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:
- Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
- Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
- Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
- Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
- 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: 12 Months
Position Band: This position will be placed at Management band (F1)
Start date: 15 May 2025
Duty station: Erbil with significant travel to field sites in Federal Iraq and KRI.
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Nationals or Expatriates.
How to apply
Application process
Interested to apply? 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: February 9, 2025