Head of Consortium – DRC

Job Title: Head of Consortium – Humanitarian Action and Recovery after Crisis (HARC) DRC

Job Location: Eastern DRC, TBD

Reports to: You will report to the Country Director. You will also work closely Concern’s technical advisors, Country Finance Controller, Systems Director, Desk Officer and Head Office Advisors and other consortium technical leads.

About the role: This is a 30-month, new role with unaccompanied terms based in Eastern DRC with a salary of Grade 5 (€48,648 to €54,053). We would like you to start in September 2023. This position is contingent on upon funding approval.

Concern Worldwide has operated in the DRC since 1994, successfully implementing programmes in emergency response, livelihoods, food security, protection, health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) throughout the country. Concern DRC has nine offices with over 300 staff throughout the country. Our head office is in Kinshasa with coordination offices in Goma (North Kivu), and Kalemie (Tanganyika). At the programme implementation level, there are offices in Manono, Nyunzu, and Kabalo (Tanganyika) and Masisi, Beni and Oicha (North Kivu).

Your purpose: Concern Worldwide seeks a Head of Consortium (HoC) for an anticipated project “Humanitarian Action and Recovery after Crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo” (HARC) funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The HARC project seeks to support an estimated 1.09 million people in the east of DRC with an emphasis on the most conflict-affected provinces Ituri, North and South Kivu, and Tanganyika. The programme will include emergency humanitarian lifesaving, livelihoods and nutrition recovery activities, and will provide dedicated support to survivors of violence.

The HoC will be responsible for the overall vision, leadership, and representation of the programme, and will be accountable for the successful management of the programme and delivering results. The HoC will adhere to Concern’s programme quality standards, ensuring compliance with Concern and donor requirements. They will maintain positive and productive relationships with the donor and local and international partner organisations throughout the project lifecycle. They will manage the consortium unit staff. The successful candidate should possess substantial experience managing complex, multi-year donor-funded programmes.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 40%.

The Head of Consortium will be responsible for:

• Providing overall management, strategic direction, and technical leadership to the project to achieve expected project results within budget and timeframe.
• Serving as principal liaison to FCDO and the Government of the DRC, ensuring high levels of coordination and maintaining productive working relations, while engaging and nurturing relationships with all key stakeholders (partner organizations, local government, civil society, etc.) on administrative, financial, and programmatic matters related to the project.
• Liaising with FCDO partners and other donors, as well as implementing partners and stakeholders, to ensure coordination of and harmonization with other relevant food security, nutrition, protection, conflict mitigation and resilience activities in DRC.
• Representing the HARC programme in technical, policy, and programmatic fora at varying levels.
• Leading project teams and working groups (e.g. technical, programme, finance, and operational staff) to ensure programme tasks, deliverables, and responsibilities are met.
• Effectively managing senior programme and operations teams across the geographic locations. Maintaining a deep understanding of technical activities and provide technical guidance as needed. Managing staffing plans and recruitment as necessary.
• Providing leadership and oversee staff management including hiring, supervising, and mentoring project staff to achieve project goals. Managing team dynamics, staff wellbeing and provide coaching and mentoring support to direct reports and other team members. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports.
• Overseeing project deliverables and fulfil all donor and Concern Worldwide reporting requirements, including the production of timely and accurate financial and programmatic reports.
• Direct preparation of annual work plans, project activity updates, and other project-related communication and reporting materials.
• Using an adaptive management approach, track performance monitoring analysis and apply course correction.
• Ensuring compliance with FCDO rules and regulations as well as Concern policies and practices.
• Ensuring regular communication and nurture collaborative relationships with all project partners and Concern head offices.

Your skills and experience will include:

Basic Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree (equivalent) or higher in development studies, international relations, agriculture, nutrition, public health, business administration, or a related field.
• A minimum of 7 years of work experience in a senior programme management position; preferably 10 years or more, with progressive responsibilities in a field related to the successful implementation of the programme, such as food security, nutrition, protection, or resilience.
• Must possess proven leadership skills managing projects in developing countries facing complex, volatile, and uncertain contexts; experience managing projects in DRC preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience managing donor funds, preferably for FCDO awards. Strong knowledge and experience in budget management and financial reporting.
• A minimum of 5 years of staff management experience leading multi-disciplinary teams in an environment conducive to learning, development, and adaptive management. Experience coaching senior programme staff.
• Experience managing FCDO programmes with multiple sub awardees.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities, including technical, management, and evaluation expertise for complex programmes in resource-constrained countries.
• Strong communication skills, including both written and oral presentation skills; proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse public and private partners.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners.
• Experience collaborating and coordinating with local and national host government agencies and international agencies, and aligning programme activities and results with strategies.
• Deep knowledge of the political, social, and economic context of DRC required.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and French.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience in managing consortia or a comparable senior leadership position within similar, international, donor-funded programmes in complex countries, preferably with FCDO funding.
• Familiarity with FCDO’s approaches to resilience and food security; the state of food security and nutrition sectors in DRC; understand and demonstrate commitment to the importance of gender and youth dynamics in food security programming and within staff and management.
• Understanding and knowledge of FCDO and programme administration, management, and reporting procedures and systems is preferred.
• Knowledge of Core Humanitarian Standards, Sphere and HAP Standards and other international humanitarian guidelines and protocols

Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short-listed on a regular basis and we may offer posts before the closing date.