Regional Hub Director Asia for Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH)

Background and purpose of deployment

Since the end of 2021, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) is working on reorganizing its global offices, guided by the vision to strengthen regional and local structure: Operative decision-making power needs to be where operations happen – to support our mission to empower our partners and engage in localized humanitarian assistance. We overcome geographical boundaries and understand DKH as one organization.

Location

DKH’s Regional Hubs such as the hub in Amman / Jordan for Asia are entrusted with an enhanced role with more responsibility for regional strategies, programming and local support, capacity and service functions. On the other hand, DKH Berlin’s role is focusing on enabling external structures through technical advice, procedural guidance, setting of standards and quality control as well as providing a global strategic framework.

The Regional Hub Asia is based at a location of strategic importance for the humanitarian program of DKH. Still, it holds the responsibility for the entire continent. The Regional Hub Director shall provide vision, guidance and leadership. Globally, DKH has 3 Regional Hub Directors who are all part of the Extended Management Team of DKH Global.

Work Context

DKH is working globally in close collaboration and partnership with national partner organizations to implement humanitarian projects and programs. The Regional Hub is the key actor for DKH in strategically designing programming, fostering innovation, and supporting programming as well as partner organizations operationally and technically. The Regional Hub pools resources and is accountable for regional programming.

The Regional Hub Asia is responsible for the DKH Middle East Office (based in Amman), the DKH Yemen Office (based in Aden), and the DKH Pakistan/Afghanistan Office (based in Islamabad).

Main Tasks

Organizational Change / Restructuring DKH

Vision statement for DKH’s organizational change: DKH strengthens its regional and local structure. Operative decision-making power needs to be where operations happen – to support our mission to empower our partners and engage in localized humanitarian assistance.

Within this vision, the Regional Hub Director’s role focuses on:

• Ensuring an enhanced role of the Regional Hub with more responsibility for regional strategies, programming and local support, capacity and service function
• Ensuring an enhanced role of the Regional Hub as a regional department with technical and disciplinary personnel responsibilities for DKH-staff working in/for the region, regardless where staff is based
• Leading the reorganization of the Regional Hub for the new role according to the restructured office typology, especially regarding the relocation of operational work ( e.g. project work) and shifting functions
• Ensuring that the newly formulated leadership values are transmitted to the management staff in the region
• Building a new DKH Asia Team, and providing vision and guidance to the DKH Offices in Asia
• Taking leadership as part of the Extended Management Team of DKH Global including the continuous shaping of DKH’s new organizational structure

Responsible for Humanitarian Programming and Implementation of the DKH Global Strategy

• Ensuring that humanitarian programs are developed by the Project Offices in collaboration with the partner organizations which are in line with the strategic parameters of DKH Global
• Ensuring that strategic priorities of the DKH Global Strategy as well as DKH Country/Regional/Crisis Strategies are fully reflected in the programs and projects
• Ensuring that DKH-policies and other directives from DKH Berlin are implemented including the newly to be developed DKH Global Partner Capacity Strengthening Program
• Ensuring leadership and coordination for regional programs in Asia as well as for program and crisis evaluations
• Leading, coordinating or delegating assessments and exploratory missions in case of acute emergencies or new crisis in Asia
• Ensuring that digitalization and other innovative approaches are reflected in DKH’s humanitarian programming
• Ensuring that DKH’s regional program and project activities are in line with the localization agenda as well as the Charter4Change, an initiative, led by both national and international NGOs, to practically implement changes to the way the Humanitarian System operates

Responsible for Sound Financial Compliance and Planning

• Ensuring compliance and accountability of all fiscal controls with the requirements and regulations of the institutional backdonors, the Standard Procedures for Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe Offices Abroad, the local laws and the Internationally Recognized Accounting Principles
• Guaranteeing and guiding annual financial planning for humanitarian programming (including institutional backdonor funding) and operational costs in collaboration with the DKH Offices in the region

Responsible for Human Resource Management including Health, Safety and Security (HSS)

• Guiding the team so that each staff member is able to fulfill the tasks of his/her specific job description in order to meet desired quality and standards within approved time lines and budgets
• Ensuring that DKH’s core values and standards are understood throughout the team, and strategies and policies are guiding the daily work
• Overseeing the respect and application of the internal staff regulations, the HR policies and other internal DKH-procedures
• Ensuring training and professional development opportunities to all staff members
• Supporting the teams in decision making and overcoming challenges through coaching and constant feedback
• Ensuring organizational commitment to health, safety, and security management
• Making or endorsing decisions on travel of DKH-staff, movement restrictions, hibernation and other mitigation measures in line with DKH HSS Handbook and the Regional Hub’s HSS Plan

Responsible for Representation, Visibility and Advocacy

• Representing DKH towards national and international actors including the German Embassy or Consulate as well as institutional backdonors
• Handling media/PR tasks as well as visits of delegations in close collaboration with DKH Berlin
• Supporting a coherent and active humanitarian principle-focused communication and advocacy strategy including a definition of red lines

Requested qualifications and experience are as follows:

• University degree;
• Experience of 5 to 10 years in related position (Head of Mission, Country Representative etc.) in complex humanitarian operations, previous work experience in the Middle East / Asia and insecure environments preferred;
• Substantial knowledge of the international humanitarian system, institutions and donors;
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including negotiation and coaching;
• Committed to true localization to address imbalances and inequality in the global humanitarian system.

The remuneration follows internationally accepted standards.

Duration: 24 months with possibility of extension. Starting date: May 2023.