Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified Head of Global Foundations to enhance DRC’s capacity to develop and strengthen relationships and fundraising efforts with Foundations. While most of DRC’s funds are raised at country and regional level, the Global Foundations team is responsible for ensuring that DRC has a centralised and harmonised approach to addressing foundation donors and keeping an overview of funding opportunities.

About the job

As the Head of Global Foundations, you will set strategic direction for the area, lead a team of foundations advisors as well as covering your own portfolio of strategic foundations. You will provide guidance and direction to the team and ensure that DRC has a global overview of available funding. The role as Head of Unit for the team is a newly formed position created with the purpose of leading the team to strengthen and elevate DRC’s capacity to improve relationships with foundations and the effectiveness of our fundraising efforts via proactive identification and fostering of long-term partnerships with existing and potential foundations that support DRC’s vision.  Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

• Line manage Global Foundations team, supporting and guiding their work and career development and perform technical line management of the Global Foundations advisors based outside of HQ
• Set the strategic direction for DRC’s global engagement with foundations.
• Develop efforts and initiatives to maintain existing and forge new partnerships with foundations for DRC, with a particular focus on maintaining and building relationships.  
• Lead and support a deepening of strategic partnerships between major foundations and DRC.  
• Provide support and expertise to DRC country and regional operations on partnerships with Foundations.
• Facilitate close collaboration with and the inclusion of programmes, advocacy, and other key internal stakeholders in setting global foundation engagement strategies
• Coordinate and work closely with Regional Business Development Coordinators to ensure coherence in engagement with foundations at global, regional and country level
• Ensure the development of annual plans for global foundations engagement which includes mapping of existing relationships with foundations and consultations with relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure the development and update of engagement tools and guidelines.
• Represent DRC’s global foundations engagement approach internally in DRC in strategic working groups, ensuring knowledge sharing and collaboration on foundations engagement across all key stakeholders in DRC
• Represent DRC externally as needed

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have a proven track record within several of the above-mentioned areas of responsibility. It is important for us that you have a strong understanding of programme responses and advocacy within the areas of humanitarian and displacement work. 

Moreover, we also expect the following:

• Management experience, including people management skills and remote management
• Strong interpersonal skills including consensus building and experience of working with diverse teams
• Documented extensive experience with global foundations and fundraising
• Good understanding of building the image of a go-to organisation for foundations
• Good relationships building skills and proactive approach to partnership building and nurturing
• Capacity to work in a changing environment and setting up new organisational structures
• Experience with networking and representation at all levels
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with an ability to identify, address and communicate the core of an issue even if very complex

Education:

• Master’s degree in relevant field of study

Languages:

• English: Full professional proficiency
• Spanish, French, German or Arabic is an asset, but not a requirement

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

• A meaningful job in a leading international organisation,
• Flexibility to work from your home.
• A lot of enthusiastic and committed colleagues in Copenhagen and globally
• An informal and supportive work environment

Contract length Permanent

Band: E

Start date: September 1, 2024, or as soon as possible

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the agreement between DRC and Lederaftalen between Dansk Arbejdsgiverforening og Lederne (agreement for managers), which can be found here: www.lederne.dk.

For questions regarding the vacancy please contact karen.lima@drc.ngo

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: 21 June

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