Roving Emergency Advisor – Head of Support Services/Support Services Manager (EMPACT)

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for new colleagues to join our roving Emergency, Protection, Assistance and Coordination Team (EMPACT), a multifunctional team of senior Emergency Response Specialists deployable within 72 hours to support DRC Country Offices respond to emergency situations.

About the job

The Roving Emergency HoSS will deploy globally for periods of 1 to 4 months as part of DRC’s Emergency Surge Team (EMPACT) to either establish or assist country operations and support services in emergency situations. The Roving Emergency HoSS is responsible for ensuring compliance with DRC procedures and guidelines within the country office deployed to, as well as ensuring that DRC retains and continually develops its operational capacity to provide rapid emergency response. Additionally, the role involves tasks in the area of Operational Management, Staff Safety, ERP/DRC Dynamics & Accountability.

DRCs EMPACT members need to show independence and determination to bring rapid and timely emergency programming to humanitarian shocks, and to support country operations in the scale up, and roll out life-saving activities. Roving Emergency Advisors need to promote excellence in their field, promote a standards and rights driven approach to programming and operations and go above and beyond typical requirements in often unstable and pressured environments.

Your main duties and responsibilities will include:

• Overseeing, developing and providing strategic direction and technical support to country offices in relevant operational support areas, translating strategy into action plans and day-to-day tasks.
• Leading and managing staff and activities within 3+ support functions: Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain (Logistics/Procurement), IT and Administration
• Developing and improving operational approaches, compliance and systems, working closely with the Head of Programmes and supporting the Country Director to deliver a timely and relevant emergency response
• Ensuring ERP functionality is used properly and effectively by relevant staff, while applying reports and data analytics from DRC Dynamics to improve overall performance
• Liaising with external stakeholders including UN, other NGOs and partners, to ensure up to date market and operational constraints information is received and acted upon
• Supporting the other Senior Management Team members in liaising with donors and authorities, especially as it relates to issues of compliance, registration and audit
• Overseeing risk management planning to identify major financial and operational risks and implement mitigation strategies
• Ensuring, in close coordination with the in-country safety advisor, Emergency Team Leader and CD, that staff safety regulations are adhered to during field interventions and activities at all levels

About you

We are looking for experienced staff to work at the point of delivery with a hands-on, flexible, and collaborative approach. It is also important that you understand the humanitarian architecture, are dedicated to the humanitarian imperative, and committed to helping and engaging with the affected population.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required:

• Minimum 7 years’ senior leadership experience in similar operations management roles in international or national NGOs
• Proven leadership skills and competence in people management and training of staff
• Proven experience working in complex emergency contexts, including working in remote field bases with limited infrastructure.
• Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, with the ability to organise a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities and to delegate.
• Experience of advising and supporting others at all levels with support aspects of a programme, including strategic thinking and planning
• Excellent communication, negotiation and problem-solving capacities; with the ability to work flexibly in a diverse team in a dynamic environment, fostering a positive working environment
• Strong capacity building, facilitation, and presentation skills with the ability to collaborate, network and negotiate in order to facilitate communication and support to staff, local partners, Governments, UN, donors & other NGOs without losing sight of the strategic objective
• Proven significant financial, information and systems management experience
• Understanding and experience of institutional fundraising
• Understanding of the countries in which DRC operates and sensitivity to varying cultural contexts
• Experience working in an ERP system, including supply chain, finance and HR systems
• Significant experience in procurement and tender processes
• Excellent communication skills in English, including ability to simply present complex technical information
• Detailed knowledge of humanitarian principles, guidelines and standards

Desirable

• Previous experience with DRC is considered as an advantage
• Experience working with Microsoft Dynamics

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: 12 months (with possibility of extension)

Band: F

Designation of Duty Station: Roving

Start date: Earliest possible

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Roving Employees; please refer to drc.ngo under job vacancies. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact the Emergency Unit: [email protected]

Application process

All applicants must send a cover letter,an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English as well as a degree certificate. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 20th February 2026. We expect to conduct virtual interviews from 2 March 2026 onwards.

However, please note that we reserve the right to process applications as we receive them.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit this page.

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.