Danish Refugee Council (DRC), one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified director to lead the establishment of DRC’s new representation office in the United States, “DRC USA.” DRC is a longtime partner of U.S. institutional donors and is in the process of establishing a presence in the U.S. to better engage with key stakeholders in the humanitarian and development sectors. The goal is to forge strong and lasting partnerships and make our voice heard in the ambition to work for the increased protection and enhanced inclusion of conflict-and-displacement-affected people. A DRC representation in the U.S. will allow DRC to engage more strategically on a day-to-day basis to cultivate and establish new relationships with existing US donors, but also explore new and untapped funding streams with the ambition to grow the DRC USA donor portfolio.

DRC USA is a part of DRC HQ within the Partnerships, Advocacy and External Relations Department (PAER) and the Director will be a member of the PAER department management group. PAER is responsible for setting DRC global strategy for fundraising, advocacy, and external communication and managing partnerships with key donors and partners. 

About the job

Based in Washington DC, you will report to the Director for Strategic Partnerships in DRC Headquarters in Copenhagen and cooperate and coordinate with colleagues in DRC Headquarters, DRC Regions, and DRC Country Operations. The DRC Geneva, Brussels and Germany Representatives will be your close colleagues.

Your immediate main duties and responsibilities will be to:

• Manage the DRC USA office and staff in the U.S., including leading the setup of essential support services and recruitment of key staff for the startup office.

• Set the strategic direction for DRC USA to effectively deliver on DRC USA’s mandate of fundraising, advocacy and influencing in line with DRC’s global strategy to support displacement-affected populations.
• Actively engage with U.S.-based government and multilateral humanitarian and development actors, in close coordination with relevant DRC teams and stakeholders, to increase the knowledge of DRC’s work.
• Strengthen the visibility and branding of DRC towards U.S.-based donors, partners, and public.
• Foster and maintain high level connections between U.S.-based institutions and partners and relevant DRC colleagues in HQ, regional and country offices including taking lead on setting up DRC missions and visits to the U.S.

• Pursue a systematic approach to participate and influence in advocacy and policy-fora relevant to conflict, displacement, protection, durable solutions and humanitarian response in debates in Washington.
• Collaborate with U.S.-based humanitarian and development organizations, NGOs, academia and think-tanks on advocacy and policy influencing humanitarian issues of relevance to DRC’s mandate and role.
• Act as DRC’s legal representative in Washington DC in accordance with U.S. law and regulations.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to be an experienced professional humanitarian with a diplomatic, constructive, and solution-oriented approach to collaboration and to influence the many challenges that the sector is experiencing. Ideally, you have an already established network in Washington DC. All employees should master DRC's core competencies: Communicating, Taking the lead, Collaborating, Striving for excellence and Demonstrating integrity.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

• Academic background relevant for working with refugees, displacement and humanitarian issues.
• Minimum 10 years of professional work experience within international humanitarian and/or development work, with displacement or conflict-affected populations including engaging directly with humanitarian and development donors and relevant external stakeholders at all levels.
• Extensive knowledge of U.S. government and U.S.-based institutions and donor landscape.
• Excellent advocacy and communication skills with proven ability to influence policy decisions.
• Excellent networking and public speaking skills
• Management experience, including financial management.
• Diplomatic, constructive, and solution-oriented approach to collaboration and to the many humanitarian challenges that the sector is experiencing.
• Working experience from an International NGO, UN or other humanitarian operation aid actor or/and working for a relevant US or UN institution are an asset. Experience or familiarity with DRC is an asset.

We offer

Workplace: Washington D.C. (in person)

Start date: January 2025

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s U.S. Terms of Employment. Domestic and international travel to be expected. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact Director for Strategic Partnerships Susanne Brokmose at [email protected].

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 10th November 2024 at 11.00 pm (CET).

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

Apply now