Access, Safety & Base Manager

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 fulfilment 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.

1. Background

DRC has been present in West and Central Africa since 1998. DRC's HQ Hub for West Africa & Americas is based in Dakar, Senegal, and covers twelve countries outside Senegal.  

The Cameroon country office opened in 2018 and currently comprises a coordination office in the capital Yaoundé, a base in Bamenda covering the Northwest region, a base in Garoua Boulaï covering the Adamaoua and East regions, and a base in Mokolo for the Far North. DRC’s interventions in these areas include providing assistance to vulnerable populations, especially IDPs and refugees to enable them to meet their basic needs and protection, providing durable solutions to the ultrapoor while rendering them resilient to shocks via resilience and peacebuilding activities. Due to the lack of emergency response services to the newly displaced in the NWSW regions, the DRC has stepped in with emergency protection and multipurpose cash in the NW region in collaboration with three national organizations as partners.  

2. Overall purpose of the role:

As Access, Safety & Base Manager you will manage all aspects of the DRC Safety Risk Management (SRM) system across all of Cameroon and manage the base of Bamenda.

This position requires previous experience in safety and humanitarian access, strong communication and analysis skills to feed informed decision-making regarding DRC operations.

3. Responsibilities:

In consultation with support staff, and programme leads, and under the direct management of the Country Director you are expected to pursue the following objectives and duties in your daily work:

Overall Objectives of the role:

• Base management

• Responsible for the overall operational and programmatic planning, reporting, and implementation to enable DRC to achieve its objectives
• Supervising the base and ensuring that DRC procedures are streamlined in the project implementation
• Building relationships with key humanitarian partners and donors and securing funding to expand DRC’s programs

• Access & Safety
• Manage the development and implementation of the Danish Refugee Council’s (DRC’s) Safety Risk Management System (SRMS).
• Facilitate program access and continuity by providing reliable advice.
• Ensure compliance with DRC safety policy as per the DRC Operations Handbook.
• Manage and mentor the Safety team members.
• To develop policies and procedure, in coordination with project staff, for the safe delivery of program activities

Management

• People management of direct reports (incl. development, performance & recruitment)
• Support and mentor staff members by identifying clear deliverables and providing training
• Support and monitor program staff planning of activities
• Supervise finance, admin, Human Resources, procurement and logistics ensuring that expenditure is compliant with DRC procedures, donors’ regulation and national legislation

Representation and coordination

• Cultivate good relations with key humanitarian actors, including UN, INGOs and donors, through regular attendance at technical meetings/clusters and bilateral meetings
• Liaison and close coordination with UN agencies, NGOs, government authorities and non-state actors
• Ensure that timely and quality project narrative reports are provided to the donors on time according to donor’s requirement
• Representing DRC as required

Humanitarian Access and Program Continuity

• Produce analysis and evaluations on the humanitarian space and access adapted to the presence of DRC in Cameroon on a regular basis. Provide on request analysis and evaluations on areas, themes, dilemmas or scenarios.
• Build a network with all stakeholders and develop a strategy to improve acceptance and access of DRC in the field.
• Work in collaboration with the hub Access and Safety Coordinator to harmonize and streamline DRC access strategies.
• Identify potential scenarios, indicators of change in the humanitarian space and key decision points at micro, meso and macro level. Keep a register of developments related to access and humanitarian space.
• Work in collaboration with the program teams to ensure that humanitarian access strategies deliver the purpose while minimizing unforeseen adverse consequences on people in need (do no harm), within DRC risk acceptance.

Safety Management

• Ensure compliance with Minimum Operating Safety Standards (MOSS) and SOPs
• Conduct regular Safety Risk Assessments (SRA) for each program area pursuant to DRC Safety Policy
• Develop Safety Improvement Plans and Contingency Plans as required.
• Act as the Country-level Manager for the Incident Management Team (IMT); Ensure IMT members are aware of their responsibilities Act as the primary point of contact for safety-related matters with the Hub and other local actors (UNDSS, etc).
• Maintain detailed soft and hard copy files of all relevant safety documents. Monitor the overall situation and provide regular situation reports. Maintain an up-to-date incident tracking database and Provide staff with relevant and concise safety-related information and analysis, both through external and internal reports, publications, etc.
• Provide the relevant briefings for all teams as required at the appropriate level.

Capacity Building

• Conduct – or facilitate the delivery of – safety training for staff at all levels. Ensure watchmen and guards are trained and aware of their responsibilities, in accordance with the SOPs governing access control.
• Liaison: Develop a network of contacts through other NGOs, UNDSS, Government agencies and other useful contacts. Act as the primary representative for DRC Cameroon on safety matters

As Manager the post-holder is responsible for the following:

• Accountable for achieving DRC’s strategic goals and objectives within the area of responsibility.
• Accountable for making significant decisions on what the unit does: its purpose, functions, and role, and for making commitments and decisions that require the expenditure of significant unit resources.
• Accountable for people management of direct reports. This includes hiring & firing, objective setting, probation, performance appraisal, development of staff, managing performance, including poor performance, etc.
• Accountable for making sound decisions based on DRC policies, MOPs, standards, and the advice of technical experts in DRC.

The responsibilities listed in the JD are not exhaustive and may be readjusted according to operational needs but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role

4. Required Qualifications

Experience and technical competencies: 

• Minimum 3-5 years of working experience as a safety and security manager/advisor with an INGO
• Experience working in multicultural work settings
• Experience managing field offices
• Experience in project management and proven organizational skills
• Proven ability to develop and implement effective and contextualized protocols and systems
• Experience with information gathering analysis and report writing
• Ability to conduct and produce high quality safety risk assessments (SRAs)
• Experience with critical incident management
• Experience with delivering safety-related training
• Experience working in hostile or hazardous environments

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

• Full professional proficiency in English & French

Desirable:

• Proficiency other useful languages is considered an asset but not a requirement

Education:

• Master's degree in political science, peace & conflict studies, history, disaster management or a military education.
• In lieu of the above, a bachelor’s degree and several years of relevant experience.

5. 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
• Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required
• Multi-tasking and Organizational skills is a must
• Adaptable and Flexible
• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace
• Team-oriented & good sense of humour

6. 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

7. Application Process

Are you interested? Then apply for this position online: www.drc.dk/about-drc/vacancies/current-vacancies. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages).

DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, sex, colour, 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: Republic of Cameroon)

Applications close on the 18th of February 2026 at midnight (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.      

Worldwide, DRC does not request or accept any form of payment in connection with its recruitment processes.