Head of Policy, Advocacy and Learning at DanChurchAid, Copenhagen

One of Denmark’s leading Humanitarian and Development organisations is looking for a person to Head the Policy, Advocacy and Learning (PAL) unit in International Department. DanChurchAid is globally recognized for our strong values, our professionalism, and our ability to innovate and foster exciting new partnerships - all to fulfil DanChurchAid’s overall vision and mission.

In 2021/2022 a new 8-year Global Strategy will be developed. This will guide the organisation and ensure its relevance and position as Denmark’s leading and influential international NGO. The new Head of PAL will play a key role in this and the candidate must foster excitement and innovation and be able to conceptualize as well as operationalize DCA Global strategy ensuring actionable, effective, and relevant use of DCA’s technical competencies at all levels of the organization.

Your Role

You will be leading a unit that consist of 16-17 dedicated policy, advocacy and learning advisors with a diverse technical background and competencies all relating to DCA’s Global Strategy. You will inspire and guide the fulfilment of the vision for the unit, which is to ensure that DCA’s development, humanitarian, and international advocacy work is sustainable, innovative, of high quality and in accordance with global best practice.

As Head of Unit, you cooperate across the entire organisation - from DCA country offices to HQ units in all departments and contribute to the overall coherence, accountability, and compliance across the International Department. You will refer to the International Director, who has the overall strategic and operational responsibility of the International Department, and you will be a member of the International Management Team. You will represent DCA in external meetings and processes including cooperation and negotiations with ACT alliance partners, relevant networks, and multi-stakeholder platforms, as well as towards ministries/donors.

The unit consists of three teams: The Programme Advisor team, the Learning Lab Team, and the team of Cross Cutting Advisors – each with a team leader. Cooperation and coordination within the unit and across the International department is characterized by several teams with a high level of decentralization and self-management. An important role for the Head of Unit is to prioritize resources and ensure coherence and cooperation with other units in the International Department and beyond.

To be successful in this role you must:

• Be strategic, curious, and visionary and have the capacity to distil and analyse development trends and the ability to dissect complex realities and convey this into actionable concepts and guidelines
• Have a minimum of 10 years of experience in the field of development and humanitarian policy and programming, preferably extended periods of work in development countries and/or humanitarian situations
• Have strong interpersonal and staff development skills and at least 3 years of management experience, including the ability to effectively structure, manage and motivate a multidisciplinary team of experts.
• Understand modalities of partner-implemented and direct-implemented programs and have proven record of accomplishment for organizational development and building capacity of civil society organizations.
• Have proven experience in advocating – strategically and successfully – within and with INGO networks, government authorities, UN and donors on relevant humanitarian and development issues.

Personal qualifications

• While you lead by example in an inclusive and respectful manner you are also able to priorities and deliver – also under pressure.
• Ability to transform and communicate complex and diverse issues
• You are a strong and clear communicator and know the value of being a good listener
• You have good mediation skills and can facilitate consensus
• While ensuring that staff deliver on the expected results, you have confidence in them and delegate responsibility with ease
• Relevant university degree and excellent communication skills in English is necessary – knowledge of Danish language an advantage.

DCA Offers:

• Contract starting 1^st August 2021 or soon hereafter
• Good colleagues in a rewarding and empowering workplace
• Salary based on DCA’s collective agreement – incl. pension scheme
• An interesting and challenging opportunity to strengthen and further develop one of Denmark’s largest Humanitarian and Development NGOs and make a real difference to people in need in the Global South.
• You are expected to take part in our leadership training programme.

The place of work will be at DanChurchAid’s headquarters, Meldahlsgade 3, 3&4 sal, 1613 Copenhagen V, Denmark. Only applicants with the ability to live and work in Copenhagen without financial support or visa support from DCA will be considered.

How to apply:

Deadline for applications is 20^th June 2021. We anticipate having first interviews on the 23rd and 24^th of June 2021 and second interviews on the 28^th of June 2021. Only applications through DCA online recruitment system will be accepted. For further information about this position contact Jonas Nøddekær, International Director on email: jno@dca.dk or telephone +45 29 69 91 21.

All qualified and interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, religion, or ethnic affiliation are encouraged to apply for the vacancy. DCA conducts an anti-terror check as part of the recruitment process. It is a prerequisite that you can pass this check and maintain this status throughout your employment with us. Everyone applying for a job with DCA must be ready to comply with our Staff Policy on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment and our Child Safeguarding policy.

DCA was founded in 1922 as a response to the refugee crisis after World War I and is a major Danish development and humanitarian actor with an annual turnover of around $150 million. Our three main goals are to save lives, build resilient communities and fight extreme inequality. To better respond to the global challenges and opportunities, we are working on strengthening the nexus between long-term development and humanitarian assistance. We insist on strong local engagement through local actors and welcome partnerships from all realms of society to improve the lives of people in need and to advocate for the right of every human being to have a life in dignity. We therefore work both through partners and direct implementation. Globally, DCA employs more than 900 staff. DCA has a high level of engagement and support in Denmark thanks to its more than 15.000 volunteers and supporters. DCA is member of the global ACT Alliance.