Duties & Responsabilities

The Site Management Support (SMS) Coordinator will technically advise, coordinate, and oversee DRC’s Urban Displacement intervention in the Northwest Nigeria. The coordinator will lead on the establishment of a Site Management Support sector in NW Nigeria. This will be done in partnership with the newly established clusters, sectors, and INGO-Forum.

The coordinator will also lead DRC’s direct and indirect implementation of SMS programming. This will offer technical support to local partners in establishing activities in informal settlements by mapping services, reviewing the referral pathways, and managing the indirect implementation. Due to the lack of formal camps, communities, households, and individuals are displaced in informal settings. Due to the lack of INGO presence and donor focus, there are significant gaps in service delivery in this region. Given the ongoing emergency in Northwest Nigeria this project is within its infancy and requires a candidate willing to be self-managed and working efficiently with local agencies, other DRC departments and external organizations in the Northwest on a semi-autonomous basis.

The SMS Coordinator will collaborate with Local Partner organizations to oversee the implementation of DRC funded project activities as per the program strategy and workplan, provide technical guidance and capacity building to the local agencies, taking the lead in developing, improving, and planning new activities according to the Country Strategy. This will involve engaging with key local stakeholders as required. The SMS coordinator will be responsible for contributing to the fundraising for additional projects in the Northwest. There is the possibility that this project will be expanded after the initial phase of establishing partner led Quick Impact Projects (QIPs). There is the possibility that this position will take on additional management functions and be engaged in project cycle management in future. This is subject to future fund raising and approval of projects.

The position requires considerable experience designing and implementing area-based programs in urban settings. In particular, the SMS coordinator will play a key role in providing direct, field-based management and capacity building to local partners operating in the informal settlements. For future programming, this position will collaborate closely with DRC’s Protection, WASH, Shelter, and Livelihood teams, contributing to more holistic programming and efficiencies and to ensure technical rigor and the consistent application of DRC’s approaches, methods, and tools.

Sector Coordination

• Work with the INGO-Forum, CCCM Cluster and newly established humanitarian sectors in the Northwest of Nigeria.
• Take a leadership position in establishing site management support guidance in the Northwest in the coordination forum and with the local governmental authorities.

Project Coordination

• Support on the development of DRC Strategy, ensuring that the strategy is informed by sound analysis, with consultations with teams and concerned stakeholders and that Programmes strategies are devised in promotion of DRC’s values, culture, and beliefs; and that the strategy is gender and conflict sensitive.
• Develop and undertake needs assessments to inform program design and strategic direction. Conduct frequent rapid needs assessment of the situation in the event of emergency in collaboration with other stakeholders to address related problems.
• Develop and manage partner programme monitoring and implementation tools and processes pertaining to the effective management of the indirect programming, including project workplans, monthly workplans, weekly team meetings, review meetings, SOPs etc.
• Contribute to the development of the UDOC site management strategy and programme, generating evidence to guide programme design and interventions.
• Oversee the planning and implementation of QIP activities by local partners to ensure the effective and timely implementation of all projects.
• Support in the development programme and monitoring tools in collaboration with the MEAL team.
• Monitor programme objectives, outputs, indicators, and activities.
• Ensure learning from the programme is documented/captured, consolidated and disseminated, contributing to knowledge building and sharing within Nigeria and globally to influence policies and programme planning.
• Identify and develop strategic and complimentary entry points into other DRC programming sectors and/or externally.
• Undertake quality control and site monitoring to ensure that services provided are according to international best practice standards.
• Ensure the timely and quality delivery of all Site Management-related organizational and project reports and staff contributions to organizational monitoring and evaluation requirements to ensure project quality, relevance, and accountability to DRC’s beneficiary populations. 
• Collaborate with the Senior Management Team supporting the Northwest to ensure field-based records and documentation are effectively managed and compliant with DRC requirements and best practices.

Coordination

• Participate in coordination at country level representing DRC in the Northwest as needed with various INGOs, partners, community stakeholders and local authorities.
• Develop and build a robust referral system with actors external to DRC.

Technical support

• Contribute in the design and contextualization of all assessment tools and guidelines according to international standards and best practices, ensuring technical rigor and the consistent application of CCCM/out-of-camp/area-based approaches, methods and tools.
• Promote improved understanding of Site Management issues among relevant stakeholders, including area-based approaches and specific issues related to the management of urban crises.
• Ensure that ethical and statistically-sound data collection and Site Management-related information management systems are in place and used for analysis, planning, evaluation, and advocacy.
• Technically lead needs assessments as needed, including developing appropriate tools to inform program design as well as identify risks and vulnerabilities, including those related to gender, age and diversity.

Grants Management

• In coordination with the Head of Programmes, ensure the effective financial management of partners projects budgets. To this end, plan and authorize expenditures as per existing budgets, review cash books and BFUs, produce budget forecasts and cash flow projections etc.
• In coordination with the Head of Programme, the Grants Coordinator and the MEAL Manager develop project proposals and project revisions based on identified gaps and needs as well as strategic priorities. To this end, define Programme activities, log frames and budgets based on baseline assessments and internal learning.
• In coordination with the SMT, the MEAL Manager and the Grants Coordinator, produce and consolidate donor/project reports by providing programme activities so as to ensure accurate, coherent and timely reporting.

Required quaifications

Required

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, humanitarian, social work, international development, or other relevant field from a recognized institution.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in an entry to mid-level position, preferably with experience in the field of humanitarian response and refugee protection working for an international NGO or UN agency in a management role
• Solid experience in project development including ability to lead on assessments, design, implementation, monitoring; with good skills in proposal writing/reporting and budget creation.
• Experience in urban programming, out-of-camp displacement or area-based approaches
• Experience with capacity building and organizing and facilitating trainings and workshops.
• Excellent interpersonal and demonstrated ability to establish effective and working relations with staff members and other stakeholders.
• Commitment to integrate gender, conflict sensitivity and accountability into programming.
• Strong capacity in influencing and engaging a range of stakeholders; with proven representational skills and the ability to advocate in line with humanitarian principles.
• Demonstrate ability in thinking creatively and practically to improve the quality of programming and achieve greater impact
• Ability to work well under pressure and in adverse conditions with experience in working in cross-cultural, multi-sector, insecure, and/or remote environments.
• Commitment to learning and implementing organizational policies and procedures.

Desirable

• Master’s degree in above fields will be an added advantage.
• Experience with capacity building for national partners.
• Prior knowledge of Nigeria context.

Required skills & qualities

Core Competencies of DRC:

• Striving for excellence
• Collaboration
• Taking the lead
• Communication
• Demonstrating Integrity
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Excellent writing, proof-reading, and communication skills
• Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills
• Strong ability to adapt, take initiative and work in a multicultural environment
• Interest for humanitarian sector and donor’s environment
• Listening, analytical and synthesis skills
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace.