South Sudan: DDG Operations Manager - South Sudan

Key management position in DDG South Sudan and member of DDG’s global, technical network of operations managers.

Background
Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and its specialist human security unit, Danish Demining Group (DDG), have worked in Sudan since 2004 and in present-day South Sudan since 2006. Initially, the ‘sister branches’ worked completely independently but, since July 2012, DRC and DDG have been fully merged in South Sudan for two reasons: To produce cost efficiencies and to harness the strengths of both programmes by linking Mine Action to Livelihoods Recovery and Development.
DDG’s main competencies in South Sudan are in Mine Action (MA), especially explosive ordnance disposal and mine risk education, and in Armed Violence Reduction (AVR) which incorporates a set of activities in the fields of small arms control, community-level conflict risk reduction, and work with development actors to deliver projects in more conflict-sensitive ways.

Purpose
The Operation Manager (OM) has the primary function of ensuring that the highest technical standards are maintained in MA and that DDG works in line with local, international and DDG procedures. S/he is also responsible for the proper implementation of the AVR portfolio.
The OM will contribute with ideas and technical input to donor proposals, develop detailed plans for the implementation of activities in close liaison with the national authorities (such as NMAA and UNMAS), ensure that operations are adequately staffed with well-qualified personnel, monitor all field activities through regular visits to project sites, and prepare appropriate reports for various audiences.

Management
The Operations Manager (OM) reports directly to DDG’s Head of Programme in South Sudan.
MA Technical Field Managers and AVR Project Managers will report directly to the OM; the exact number is TBD but around 3 staff in total. At times, a Medical Coordinator will deploy to the program for a fixed-term period, during which s/he will also report to the OM.

Specific duties
a) Operations Management:
• Ensure the highest possible standards of safety and security are maintained in all operations.
• Take responsibility for daily management and supervision of the operational mine action activities.
• Plan, monitor and evaluate all aspects of MA activities.
• Oversee the planning, monitoring and evaluation of all AVR activities by AVR Project Managers.
• Ensure that the prioritisation set by the National Mine Action Authorities (NMMA), UNMAS, and the donors are taken into consideration in the planning of operational activities.
• Manage, monitor, and supervise the MA Technical Field Managers and AVR Project Managers, ensuring that they carry out their duties and responsibilities in accordance with their job descriptions and as tasked.
• Monitor and analyse productivity achieved and recommend methods and practices to enhance productivity, ensuring cost effective operations to be conducted in the program.
• Lead the planning and monitoring of training and competence building of national employees within the operational part of the program, with a specific objective of nationalization of posts.
• Support the Support Functions, especially the Logistics Manager, in developing plans for meetings the supplies, communications and transport needs of the field teams.
• Report the operational outputs to DDG’s Copenhagen HQs on a monthly basis, based on input from Technical Field Managers and Project Managers.
b) External Relations:
• Liaise with Mine Action authorities, and other organisations active in demining.
• Support and advise DDG’s Head of Programme (HoP) in operational matters and ensure accreditation of operations is achieved and maintained with authorities.
• Support with strategic planning and implementation of all MA and AVR projects.
• Contribute to the writing of donor proposals and reports and assist the HoP in donor liaison when required.
• Develop a professional collaborative relationship with national authorities and other agencies involved in mine action, conflict prevention and other fields of interest, including development agencies.
c) Other:
• Serve in the joint DRC-DDG Senior Management Team.
• Maintain and develop Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) and implement changes in the programme accordingly.
• Deputise for DDG’s Head of Programme as in-country representative for DDG, as required (at times DRC’s Head of Programme can cover this task).

Required qualifications
• Minimum 5 years previous experience in humanitarian mine action and full understanding of its technical requirements.
• IMAS EOD 3 qualifications and previous work experience as an Operations Manager.
• Proven management experience, gained in a range of settings.
• Experience with accreditation to IMAS standard.
• Proven record of training national staff and ability to train and mentor national counterparts.
• Experience of working in insecure environments.
• Diplomatic, patient and persistent.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Good knowledge of Word and Excel.
• Willingness to embrace and further develop overall objectives such as gender equity, impact monitoring, and cross-sector cooperation.

Desirable qualifications
• Previous working experience in a similar context to South Sudan.
• Knowledge of logistics systems.
• Knowledge of safe weapons storage and management.

Conditions
Duty station: DDG field camp, South Sudan, with daily work at MA tasks and AVR project sites. This is a ‘non-family duty station’ and applicants must be prepared to live and work in an unstable security environment with limited recreational and social facilities, particularly when working in field locations.
Contract: 12 months with a possibility for extension, subject to funding and performance. Salary and conditions in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates and Appendix 4/Operations Managers leveled under B2. This position offers a generous R&R benefit in addition to five weeks of paid annual leave.

About DRC
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, independent, humanitarian organization working on all aspects of the refugee cause in more than twenty five countries throughout the world. The aim of DRC is to protect refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) against persecution and to promote durable solutions to the problems of forced migration, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC works in accordance with the UN Conventions on Refugees and the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief.
The protection and assistance to conflict affected population is provided within a long-term, regional and rights-based approach in order to constitute a coherent and effective response to the challenges posed by today’s conflicts. Assistance consists of relief and other humanitarian aid, rehabilitation, support to return and repatriation as well as promotion of long-term solutions to displacement and its causes. In addition, support and capacity building of local and national authorities and NGOs form an integral part of DRC’s work.

Interested? Then apply for this position at www.drc.dkunder Vacancies (click on the vacancy, then on “Apply for position” at the bottom of the window that opens).
All applicants must send 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.

Applications close26.th of October

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk.