Country Manager, Syria

Danish Red Cross is looking for a highly qualified and resourceful Country Manager to provide leadership and strategic direction for its largest country operation and to contribute to the wider Red Cross and Red Crescent interventions in the changing and challenging context of Syria.

We are offering a unique opportunity to head our engagement in one of the most significant humanitarian crises of our time, in Syria. To succeed in this position, you will need to excel in diplomacy, influencing, leadership and management in a challenging political and humanitarian context. In return you will become part of a dynamic organization, a strong global network of Country Managers and can expect dedicated support from Regional and HQ Management and colleagues, as well as a competitive remuneration package with free housing in Damascus and rest and recuperation.

Context

The Danish Red Cross supports 6 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). We have been present in Syria since 2006 and our primary partnership is with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), with whom we have worked since 2006, initially cooperating on Psychosocial Support. Today, the Danish Red Cross portfolio includes emergency and life-saving support to conflict-affected populations through provision of integrated and principled humanitarian assistance, services, and advocacy, while at the same time undertaking programming that aims to improve the quality of life and supports transitional solutions for people, who find themselves in a protracted displacement situation. This involves working with IDPs, returnees and host communities in order to strengthen cohesion and resilience in the following thematic areas: diversified health interventions, protection, organizational development initiatives (National Society Development), youth and livelihood intervention and a growing focus on cash.

Danish Red Cross also supports the branch of the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Syria (PRCS-S) to help support the Palestine Refugee population. Focus areas are health care and psychosocial support.

The Danish Red Cross programme is implemented in most parts of the country and has a portfolio of approximately 9 million USD. The programme is determined by Danish Red Cross International Strategy, 2022-2025, the Danish Red Cross Syria Country Strategy and close collaboration with the Host National Society, based on its strategies and capacities along with a careful analysis of the changing Syrian context and donor landscape. Through engagement with the Host National Society (HNS), Danish Red Cross aims to strengthen a mutually transparent partnership, which supports the HNS at becoming more coherent and efficiently accountable in the delivery of relevant services for conflict-affected-, displaced and refugee populations.

In Syria, Danish Red Cross works with a broad array of donors, including Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ECHO, private partners such as Novo Nordic, and sustains also strategic partnerships with other Red Cross actors. Presently, there is a momentum to positively explore wider Red Cross Red Crescent Movement Collaboration on operational and advocacy efforts, with a view to achieving higher impact for the Syrian population.

A vital part of our support is in capacity development, and we see beneficiary accountability, partnership transparency, integrated systems, and organized volunteer structures as main conditions for building a sustainable operational capacity and being a strong civil society actor in the country. To that end, Danish Red Cross provides dedicated support to the technical capacities of the HNSs; promotes drive and alignment of wider Red Cross Red Crescent initiatives and pays strong attention to strengthening of beneficiary accountability as well as Humanitarian Diplomacy.

Responsibilities

The Country Manager is centrally responsible for ensuring that our country programme and partnerships in Syria are implemented in pursuit of Danish Red Cross International Strategy and Syria Country Strategy, in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and in compliance with donor intentions and formal regulations.

The Country Manager reports to the Head of Region (HoR) and is working closely with the regional team in Beirut and headquarters staff in Copenhagen. He/she will be accountable for:

• Strategic direction of Danish Red Cross engagement in the country in line with current strategies, partnership reviews along with new analysis of the contextual and donor situation.
• Management of the partnership with SARC and PRCS-S and supporting their continuing capacity development.
• Supporting the organizational development of SARC and PRCS-S, e.g., through development of its strategic planning and (medical) logistic capacities, in coordination with relevant Movement initiatives.

• Overall oversight of in-country project budgets, and for the overall management, development and problem-solving for the Danish Red Cross programme in Syria.
• Overseeing the strengthening of Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (PMEAL) on projects in the country portfolio as well as Community Engagement/Accountability (CEA) measures, including a focus gender and diversity.
• Ensuring compliance with donor requirements, Danish Red Cross guidelines and principled humanitarian action, in accordance with our mandate.

• Overseeing that the in-country security setup is clear enough for staff to live and work in safety.
• Leading and managing, based on a shared vision, the Danish Red Cross Country Team in Damascus, consisting of a Programme Coordinator, 2 Programme Delegates, a Psychosocial and a Finance Delegate.
• Ensuring that lessons learned, both of a technical and a managerial nature, are identified, analysed, and built upon in Syria and discussed with the RO for wider dissemination within MENA, HQ and beyond.

• Representing Danish Red Cross and developing the relationships with the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement – ICRC, IFRC, other Partners National Societies (PNS) – as well as in-country stakeholders such as ECHO.
• Sustaining strong dialogue with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the EU Delegation, as well as the private sector.
• Contributing to the roll-out of new larger cooperation initiatives in view of IFRC’s “Agenda for Renewal”; the “Strengthening of Movement Cooperation and Coordination” initiative and/or through new initiatives with other non-Red Cross humanitarian actors in Syria.
• Supporting Danish Red Cross communications and fundraising for implementation of the Country Strategy and its contribution to the International Strategy, 2022-2025.

This position requires strong leadership-, management-, coordination and representation skills as well as ability to provide technical assistance to the Danish Red Cross in-country delegates and the HNS. It entails the formulation and overall supervision, monitoring and evaluation of various projects, initiatives, and actions as well as further development of the partnership and country programme.

Experience and qualifications

You have a minimum of 10 years of solid experience in development and/or humanitarian project management, with at least 5 years of relevant field experience in the implementation of emergency and recovery programming, and proven ability to live and work under restricted conditions. You have proven excellent diplomatic and team management skills. Experience with various donors like ECHO, EU, and national ministries of foreign affairs, particularly of their grant application, proposal writing and reporting procedures, is also essential.

You have a relevant educational background, and we expect that you have good analytical skills and that you can handle stressful situations. Good cultural understanding and the ability to work in a challenging multicultural environment is essential. Project cycle, financial management skills and experience are essential, as well as excellent English speaking and writing capability.

Above all, you need to be a strategic leader and have political acumen, conviction in yourself and Danish Red Cross, excellent powers of persuasion and negotiation to win the confidence of partners. Proven experience in implementing through and capacity-building of local partners, ideally of Red Cross / Red Crescent National Societies and local branches, and in the Middle East, are strong advantages for this position.

Employment Conditions

The starting date is 1st of March 2022 and the length of the contract is 24 months with the possibility of extension. The salary including all allowances and pension payment will be between DKK 52,000 and 57,000 per month, depending on qualifications and experience. An individual apartment in Damascus is provided, free of charge.

Damascus is currently a non-family duty station with a paid 7-day Rest & Recuperation break permitted after every 8 weeks in-country. Regular travel to programme areas within Syria is obligatory to the extent that the security situation permits.

Further information

If you have questions about the position, please write to MENA Head of Region, Charlotte Kjoerup, at [email protected]

The deadline for applications is the 19th of January, 12 pm. Interviews and tests are expected to take place immediately thereafter.