Job Description
Project Lead – Coordinator (Yemen – Sana’a)
Who are we?
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. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.
All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect,
independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.
About the role
Overall purpose of the role:
DRC is currently implementing a multi-year, KfW-funded
Women’s Economic Empowerment project in North and South Yemen, which aims to
address the social, legal and resource barriers to women’s economic
participation through integrated Protection and Economic Recovery programming.
Reporting to the Head of Program, the Project Lead provides overall
coordination of the project’s implementation (Phase 1 and 2) through detailed
financial oversight and effective project management throughout the project
cycle. The Project Lead will ensure that the project’s teams, approaches/tools,
and activities are continuously and accurately working in a coordinated manner
across sectors and geographic areas, resulting in coherent and impactful
project implementation, monitoring, and reporting. Additionally, the Project
Lead will support in managing project-level risks, donor liaison and compliance
with donor requirements.
Main Responsibilities:
Project Management, Quality and Oversight:
- Responsible
for Project coordination and management, including planning, monitoring,
financial management, reporting, and project development (if relevant),
with the ultimate aim of ensuring high quality implementation in
accordance with agreed indicators, budgets, work plans, and regulations.
- Monitor
and coordinate with CO technical leads as well as Area-based Economic
Recovery and Protection teams, and NNGO Partners, raising issues that
require course correction and making suggestions for improvement.
- Ensure
delivery of high-quality progress reports for KfW on regular and ad-hoc
basis, drawing on input from teams, in coordination with DRC’s grant
unit’s work flow.
- Maintain
oversight and monitoring of overall sector budget in coordination with
relevant Sector Project Managers, and Area Managers, monitoring for timely
sector-level spend, gap analysis, and initiate corrective action, including
internal and donor budget realignments.
- Ensure
quality and coherence of the KfW activities and monitor and follow up on
the implementation plan together with Project staff, Area Program Manager,
Grants team, and other relevant management staff in country. Provide
particular attention to ensuring inter-sectoral integration of the
activity planning and implementation to achieve holistic outcomes.
- In
addition to providing project management for DRC direct implementation
components, ensure coordination (with partnership team support) of project
partnerships, including monitoring/review of partner financial reporting
and guidance on cost eligibility (as escalated by the partnerships team).
- Take
the lead coordinating kick off, regular project review and closure
meetings and present the overall achievements, challenges and budget
expenditures as well as follow up on actions required to address action
points. Review and approve donor reports for the project – in line with
established DRC grant unit’s work flow.
- Coordinate
teams to ensure strong and coherent data management, monitoring and
evaluation within the Project, in close collaboration with the MEAL Team.
- Support
quality project assessments, baseline studies, reviews, and evaluations as
well as impact assessments in close coordination with sector teams. Take
the lead coordinating the production of programmatic research reports
(with related teams/technical coordinators), and finalizing them to
submission quality.
- Identify
opportunities to share lessons learned, and strengthen integration with
other components of DRC’s portfolio.
People Management and Coordination:
- While
this role does not directly supervise and staff, it will coordinate
closely with area teams to provide feedback on project progress and
performance. It will establish and maintain clear lines of communication
with project staff.
- Where
relevant, and in coordination with the relevant line managers, provide
capacity building support to project staff in cross-cutting areas of
project implementation such as reporting/IM, quality assurance, and
systematization of lessons learned and best practices.
- Carry
out field visits to project sites in support of project implementation
staff and provide advice to staff/their line managers to improve
implementation.
- Development
of national capacity building plans, including coordinating with
Partnership teams, if required to ensure the deliverables of the project.
Fundraising, liaison, and external representation:
- Participate
in the development of project related proposals and modifications
(including budgets) in coordination with the HoP, Grants Management
unit.
- Serve
as focal point for donor communications on the project, alternatively
providing key inputs to donor communications as relevant.
- Coordinate
with project stakeholders both at the local and national level, as well as
participating in relevant technical working groups and policy fora.
- Assist
with the coordination of visits of donors and/or partners related to the
project.
Other
- Ensure
adherence to DRC’s Age, Gender, and Diversity policy and AGD programmatic
minimum standards.
- Ensure
compliance with zero-tolerance to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
policy.
- Ensure
compliance with DRC guidelines and policies on HR, admin, finance, and
supply.
- Perform
other relevant tasks as requested by and in discussion with the Head of
Program.
Experience and technical competencies:
To be successful in this role, we expect you to be a
positive, experienced program leader with a proven track record of managing
integrated programming and demonstrating impact. You are an effective
communicator and enjoy working with teams of committed staff to build
collaboration and capacity across multiple teams and areas.
- Minimum
5 years of program development and management experience in a volatile and
complex humanitarian setting is required, with preference for a candidate
with demonstrated technical experience in one or both of the sectors under
this project: Economic Recovery and Protection. Previous experience as
technical program coordinator is preferred.
- Excellent
negotiation and communication skills – verbal and written – with
professional Engligh reporting writing and analytical skills.
- Proven
track record implementing programming which advances women’s rights and
empowerment or developing initiatives which advance gender equality.
- Proven
track record implementing integrated programming and developing highly
complex theories of change are assets.
- A
strong understanding of donor compliance and experience delivering high
quality donor reports.
- A
strong understanding of MEAL, tool development, information management and
data analysis for the production of meaningful market assessments (or
similar research reports) which provide an evidence-base for program
decisions and other key deliverables.
- A strategic
thinker who is able to collaboratively contribute to and convey a
coherence and integrated programmatic vision to the team.
- Ability
to adapt to the complex and stressful working conditions of the area of
operations along with willingness to follow security policies and
procedures.
- High-level
knowledge and practice with Word, Excel, Outlook, etc., as well as data
analysis.
- Ability/willingness
to work with tight deadlines and balance multiple tasks.
Education:
- Master’s
degree in relevant field such as humanitarian action and development,
Business, Economics is required
- A
Bachelor’s degree with additional equivalent professional experience in
lieu of an MA may be accepted.
Languages:
- English
(Fluent)
- Arabic
(Desirable)
All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s
core competencies:
- Striving
for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient
processes.
- Collaborating:
Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
- Taking
the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
- Communicating:
Listening and speaking 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.
Key stakeholders:
- Area
Managers
- Country
Head of Program
- Technical
Coordinators
- Area
Program Manager, Project Managers
- Grants
Unit
We offer.
- Contract
length: December 2025
- Position
Band: This position will be placed in the non-Management (F) band.
- Start
date: ASAP
- Duty
station: Sana’a
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish
Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment.
How to Apply
Application process
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: May 5th, 2025, recruitment
process is planned to start in maximum one week after the closing date.
For further information about the Danish Refugee Council,
please consult our website drc.ngo