About the role: This is a 24 month, replacement role with unaccompanied terms. This position is based in Goma with a salary of Grade 5, (€48,648 - €54,054).

You will report to the Country Director (CD). You will line manage: a Programme Coordinator, the Programme Development and Quality Coordinator, and four programme advisers (Gender, Protection, WASH, and Livelihoods). You will work closely with the Emergency Director, the Area Coordinators, Systems Director, and the Country Financial Controller.

We would like you to start on 1 February 2024.

Your purpose: As a member of Concern’s Senior Management Team in DRC, you will:

• Provide strategic direction to the programmes implemented in the different areas and ensure stable leadership for Concern and coherence between programmes and systems
• Build a network of key technical and peer agencies which allows for shared learning, identifying potential consortium actions, programme development and the establishment of effective advocacy platforms.
• Lead on the development of high quality proposals linked with the country programme strategy.
• Lead quality and control in programmes through improving programming methodologies, techniques and through mentoring of managers on programme tools, approaches and methodologies.
• Actively participate in the management and development of all aspects of Concern DRC’s operations.
• Ensure in-country learning and information sharing across the DRC areas of operation by creating and maintaining good communication linkages between and within programmes and areas.
• Represent Concern in Goma through meetings with donors, other agencies as well as in consortia.
• Ensure high quality programme reporting to donors, partners and communities.
• Ensure accountability processes and procedures are in place and working effectively including Complaints and Response Mechanisms and beneficiary feedback mechanisms.

In this role you will:

Programme Design, Implementation and Development

• Lead in developing proposals and programmes in line with country strategies and in collaboration with the Programme Development and Quality Coordinator and Grants and Communication Manager.
• Support the Area Coordinators and Programme Coordinators & Managers in programme design, providing technical guidance at all stages of the programme cycle ensuring the implementation of high quality programming.
• Ensure that the impact of Concern’s programmes are captured through strong Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning processes and through ongoing critical reflection and discussion.
• Revise programmes where required to ensure they are responding to the needs of communities.
• Identify new programmatic areas or funding opportunities to build on existing programming and increase impact.
• Ensure that opportunities for working with partners are fully explored and that partnerships are engaged and maintained in a meaningful way and in line with Concern’s Localisation Approach.
• Ensure proper documentation and record keeping related to all programme areas.
• Ensure gender and protection activities, indicators, staffing and deliverables are included in each programme.
• Promote and ensure compliance with the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) commitments and quality criteria across DRC and support managers and colleagues in their application.
• Ensure that all programme staff are familiar with the principles underpinning accountability, safeguarding and Concern's Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) and ensure that information about Concern's commitments on accountability and safeguarding are disseminated among programme participants and communities.
• In collaboration with the Programme Quality and Development Coordinator, ensure continued effective roll-out and implementation of the Complaints Response Mechanism across all Concern DRC locations as well as a monitoring of its implementation (timeliness to respond etc.), enabling safe reporting of both programmatic and sensitive complaints, including safeguarding concerns.
• Ensure that complaints are welcomed, managed and responded to in a timely, fair and appropriate manner; ensure that sensitive complaints, including safeguarding concerns, are handled with utmost confidentiality and that the safety of the complainants and those affected is prioritised at all stages.
• Work with the Country Director and the Desk Officer to implement the funding strategy to ensure projects and proposals are developed in line with our broader programme strategy.

Staff Development and Organisational Learning

• Ensure all programme staff have regularly set and reviewed personal performance objectives that are relevant to programme direction and needs.
• Communicate programme information across the organisation, within DRC as well as at a global level.
• Develop linkages between geographic and programmatic areas through country-level team meetings.
• Support and guide programme staff in management and / or technical (programme) subjects.
• Ensure clear processes in each programme to ensure organisational learning is prioritised and systematically used in project cycle management, external exchange and advocacy.
• With HR, ensure timely recruitment of staff, succession planning and retention and staff development.
• Ensure that Concern’s Code of Conduct and Associated Policies are fully integrated and implemented in all aspects of work.
• Demonstrate leadership on workplace equality, diversity and inclusion and role model a positive safeguarding ethos.

Country Strategy and Networking/representation

• With the Country Director, lead on the implementation of the Country Strategic Plan (2022-2026).
• Maintain and develop national level networks relevant to increasing Concern’s learning and profile.
• Ensure active and visible participation in national level coordination including relevant clusters and donor/implementing partner groups/humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
• Develop research and international communication pieces to promote learning and influence at a wider level.

Donor Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure effective donor compliance through training on donor guidelines, ensure the donor reporting schedule is followed and monitor the quality of donor reporting.
• Support teams in preparing Concern’s Annual Programme Reports, and consolidate inputs into the country level report.

Finance and Budgeting

• Review programme budgets and ensure they are realistic and in line with our programming strategy.
• Review management accounts and provide feedback to budget holders and finance.
• Ensure project managers and area coordinators are adequately following up on project expenditure and explaining any variances.
• Assist the Country Financial Controller (CFC) in the preparation of donor and internal budgets and financial reports.

Your skills and experience will include:

• Third level qualification in Development Studies or other relevant discipline.
• At least five years overseas experience in similar or related senior management positions.
• Experience of programme development, proposal writing and participatory planning methodologies.
• Experience of project and programme cycle management, developing and implementing programme quality tools and monitoring and evaluation processes.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including being able to work effectively in English and French – written and spoken.
• Experience of staff development and management.
• Knowledge and experience of emergency preparedness and response.
• Knowledge of mainstreaming Equality (especially Gender), Diversity, Inclusion and Protection.
• Ability to work with culturally diverse groups of people.
• Commitment to promote Concern’s values, including a positive culture around safeguarding and ED&I within the organisation.
• Experience of networking and representation at coordination fora.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills.
• Ability to work under pressure often to strict deadlines.
• Experience of working in insecure zones.

We would also like:

• Work experience in DRC.
• Experience working in emergency, early recovery, WASH or nutrition sectors.