Chief of Party

THIS RECRUITEMENT IS SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION OF GRANT AWARD

Introduction

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. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Background

A country of around 230M inhabitants, with over 129 million currently living in poverty, Nigeria faces one of the world's most complex humanitarian crises in the world. The fifteen-year conflict in the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states, driven primarily by the Boko Haram insurgency and its splinter groups (ISWAP and JAS), has resulted in widespread displacement, violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws, and acute protection needs. More than 2.3 million people remain internally displaced in the northeast, while in the Northwest region an additional 1.3M people have been forcibly displaced due to banditry, kidnapping, and herders -farmers conflict. Northern Nigeria is heavily impacted by climate change, including lengthening lean seasons and erratic rainy seasons and droughts, resulting in food production shortfalls and more population displacements. Severe acute malnutrition is affecting a world-high total of 1.8 million children across BAY and northwestern states.

DRC has been operating in Nigeria since 2016. The Country Office is in Abuja and has 2 area offices in Maiduguri and Sokoto with sub offices in Gusau, Bama and Banki and a mobile team in Katsina.

The consortium led by DRC and composed of Solidarités International, Action Contre la Faim, Fact Foundation, Impact Initiatives and National implementers has been set-up to answer the ECHO HIP 2026 call for proposal. It aims at integrated life-saving assistance to address food insecurity, acute malnutrition, and resilience needs among conflict and climate-affected populations in Northeast and Northwest Nigeria. It uses unconditional cash transfers to address immediate basic needs, improve food security, and reduce reliance on harmful coping strategies. Complementary services such as Protection, WASH and referrals for Nutrition and Health assistance ensure a holistic approach, especially in areas with rising malnutrition cases. The program strengthens sector-wide coordination through support for coordination structures, collaboration with stakeholders, and monitoring economic trends and markets. It is supported by a centralized, interoperable information management system that facilitates data sharing and coordination among the humanitarian community.

This comprehensive approach, which utilizes multiple approaches: a multisectoral areas-based approach, Rapid Response Mechanism and the crisis modifier, is anchored by a harmonized Vulnerability Assessment Framework and supported by robust community engagement, a centralized, interoperable information management system that facilitates data sharing and coordination among the humanitarian community.

The Consortium Management Unit will be composed of a Grants Coordinator, a MEAL Coordinator, a Finance and Administration Manager, an Advocacy and Communication Officer and an IM Officer.

Purpose

• Responsible for providing vision, leadership and direction to the Consortium and its activities.
• Supervise project implementation and ensure the project meets stated goals.
• Ensure the consortium has a coherent strategy that responds to the requirements of people the project intends to support.

• Take a leadership role in coordination and advocacy among donors, key stakeholders and implementing partners.

Duties and Responsibilities

Management & Leadership

• Ensure high-quality technical program monitoring through hands-on guidance and support grounded in the program’s strategic objectives and adherence to donor requirements. Overall responsible for programme and budget monitoring.

• Recruit and directly supervise CMU project staff in line with DRC HR policies and input from the consortium members.

• Chair the project steering committee, ensuring key information on the project is available to senior members of the consortium and decisions are taken to support the effectiveness of the consortium.

• Document and disseminate key steering committee decisions, roll-out the decisions and follow-up as required.

• Monitor work plan and keep partners accountable to program commitments.

Compliance & Support

• Manage a Finance and Admin Coordinator to provide supervision and monitoring of the programme support aspects of the consortium including administration, finance, logistics, and human resources.

• Provide oversight to consortium partners on contract inception, implementation, and closeout activities as well as maintain a knowledge base of different processes and requirements for fund and project management.

• Provide support to the Finance and Admin Coordinator, to verify all financial reports and expenditure, lead and coordinate the auditing process, maintain knowledge of all donor requirements and be able to provide advice to partners in finance, procurement, human resource, and visibility requirements.

• Oversee financial management, project accounting systems, sub-grant management, and ensure operational efficiency through monitoring partner financial reports, providing guidance on cost eligibility, acting as the donor focal point to clarify rules and processes, and supporting the implementation of corrective measures when required.

• Maintain country-specific and project wide risk register, consolidating agency specific risks at the consortium level, ensuring all risks have appropriate ownership, are monitored and mitigation and response measures are in place.

Program Implementation & Strategy

• In coordination with the Steering Committee and Technical Working Groups, develop the consortium intervention strategy.

• Facilitate and ensure the effectiveness of different governance structures, including the Steering Committee, Country Level Technical Groups, Advocacy Groups, Advisory Groups and other ad-hoc working groups deemed necessary.

• Oversee planning, program design and delivery of consortium objectives, and budgets.

• Facilitate the decision-making process within the project governance structure and that actions are documented and followed up.

• Ensure the timely delivery of agreed outputs of the Consortium and ensuring quality program implementation in line with the agreed strategy.

• Ensure the set-up of a harmonized Vulnerability Assessment Framework, of robust community engagement, and of a centralized, interoperable information management system that facilitates data sharing and coordination among the humanitarian community.

Representation & Advocacy

• Provide support to the Consortium Advocacy Lead in facilitating country level Advocacy Working Groups (AWG).

• Serve as primary project representative to donor and other local and international stakeholders, responsible for addressing all project matters.

• In coordination with country level AWGs and relevant partner focal points, develop and maintain positive relations with relevant ministries and other government counterparts, donors, local organizations and program partners.

• Engage in and represent the consortium at the country level INGO and UN coordination architecture, promoting interoperable information management system that facilitates data sharing and coordination among the humanitarian community.

• Provide strategic leadership on external communications in line with Steering Committee and AWG guidance.

• Provide support to the development and roll-out of project communication strategies, including compliance with donor’s branding and marking requirements.

Reporting & Communication

• Monitor program implementation and ensure regular reporting by consortium partners.

• Ensure all partners are submitting timely financial and narrative reports in line with donor and DRC system requirements.

• Review and approve final donor reports based on inputs from consortium partners Finance and Admin Coordinator.

• Review actual financial performance against the budget, and explain variances on a regular basis.

• Ensure the DRC online project management database is regularly updated.

Business Development

• Identifying, researching and developing new funding opportunities within the Consortium mandate and utilizing consortium member’s specific skills and capacities.

• Lead and coordinate and the development of full proposals.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of professional work experience in humanitarian work, some specifically in displacement settings.

• Proven success and experience in managing consortia, with a strong preference for knowledge of ECHO-funded programs.

• Demonstrated expertise in representation, networking, and engaging with multiple stakeholders.

• Motivated, detail-oriented, and accustomed to working in challenging environments.

Required Skills & Qualities

• Proficiency in analytical thinking, strategic planning, and communication.
• Strong writing and negotiation skills.
• Competence in data analysis
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required.

General Regulations

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request

THIS RECRUITEMENT IS SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION OF GRANT AWARD

Application Process

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) on DRC website. Both must be in English.

DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process.

However, all applicants shall take into consideration that DRC cannot offer an international work contract to a citizen of the country of assignment (in this specific case, Nigeria)

Applications close on the 12th of January 2026 at 11:59pm (GMT-time). Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.

Due to the urgency of the position, DRC has the right to recruit a candidate who matches the required profile before the above deadline.