The Regional Head of Thematic Unit/Regional Durable Solutions Adviser is a dual role. It is anticipated that the team leadership and strategic leadership will take c.30% of working time, , leaving 70% of working time for the regional durable solutions adviser role.
Generic responsibilities
As Regional Head of Unit – c. 30% working time
Policy, strategy and programme development
- Accountable for excellence and ensuring that NRC delivers high quality, effective and relevant programming in the region in line with NRC Strategy, programme priorities, and existing policies.
Team leadership
- Provide leadership to a team of technical experts by approving relevant pieces of work, allocating cross-team pieces of work, and bringing a coherence to the team through integrated programming and complementary approaches.
Technical development, support and capacity building
- Accountable for strategic prioritizing within the core competencies and thematic work in the unit to ensure regional positioning and responsible for contributing to the technical development of the core competencies themselves.
Quality standards, data analysis and M&E
- Responsible for the institutionalisation and promotion of best practices and learning related to the programmatic areas in the Unit. Accountable for internal communication and information sharing on the core competencies through the regional CC team structures.
Networking, representation and relationships
- Work in partnership with the Regional Programme Director to ensure effective networking and representation of NRC at strategic level ensuring NRC’s access to regional policy debates and for participation of the unit’s advisers in regional clusters and representation in various fora when requested and relevant.
As Regional Durable Solutions Adviser – c.70% working time
The postholder will work with the Regional Programme Director to ensure a good prioritisation of the Adviser level tasks listed below so that the postholder has sufficient time to deliver the Head of responsibilities.
Policy and strategy and programme development
- Responsible for ensuring compliance and adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures in relation to durable solutions while contributing to the development of policies, strategies, tools and new approaches with a focus on innovation and piloting.
- Responsible of supporting the development of country/regional core competence strategies and implementation plans, with the aim of all CCs contributing and layering interventions towards self-reliance and durable solutions.
Technical development, support and capacity building
- Responsible for providing strategic advice and technical support to the Country Offices in the region on self-reliance and durable solutions by providing capacity development across Country Offices in the region and the Regional Office.
- Ensure integrated and area-based programming approaches are used to successfully work towards self-reliance and durable solutions.
Quality standards, M&E and organisational learning
- Responsible for ensuring that best practices in self-reliance and durable solutions are identified, documented and disseminated both within the region and beyond.
- Responsible for the alignment of the programmatic areas in the M&E and PCM systems in relation to self-reliance and durable solutions, working in partnership with country, regional and global M&E staff.
Networking, representation and relationships
- Responsible for identification, development and maintenance of relationships with relevant stakeholders (e.g., donors, UN agencies, NGOs, research- and educational institutions, private sector) related to programmes in general and more specifically as related to NRC’s Core Competencies and durable solutions
- Work in partnership with the regional and country office advocacy leads to identify and develop regional advocacy issues related to the core competencies, durable solutions and other relevant cross-cutting issues.
Specific responsibilities
This section will include any specific responsibilities the Region wishes to allocate to this position. Below are some examples as Regional Head of Unit
- Provide thought-leadership and strategic direction on all thematic areas including but not limited to self-reliance and durable solutions in the East Africa and Yemen region in line with the response policy and global framing paper. Together with the countries come up with a roadmap on how to get there.
- Strengthen NRC’s contribution to regional coordination on durable solutions and influence according to agreed direction.
- Work collaboratively with Learning and Development (L&D) lead in the Region, and HO Programme and L&D colleagues, on the review and development of thematic learning provision within the region, including induction and thematic training provision to CO project managers, and capacity building initiatives.
The above responsibilities are just part of the Job Description. Please check the full Job Description, here.
Professional competencies
Generic professional competencies:
- Substantial documented experience working within Durable Solutions field, including in-depth knowledge and expertise of Durable Solutions policy and programming implementation. Substantial documented experience working within Durable Solutions and/or Self-RelianceDurable Solutions field, including in-depth knowledge and expertise of Durable Solutions policy and programming implementation.
- Several years leadership/management/adviser experience within the humanitarian field
- Extensive experience in programming in complex and volatile contexts
- Experience of strategic planning, including strategic approaches to programme development
- Experience of programme quality assessments, programme development and delivery.
Behavioural competencies
- Strategic Thinking
- Handling insecure environments
- Empowering and building trust
- Initiating action and change
- Managing performance and development
- Influencing
Additional Information:
Position: Regional Head of Thematic Unit/ Regional Durable Solutions Adviser
Grade: 10
Reports to: Regional Programme Director
Supervision of: Regional Thematic Advisers, and other staff as allocated. Some technical supervision to Thematic staff within Country Offices.
Duty station: Nairobi Regional Office
Travel: Up to 40%
Duration and type of contract: 2 years with possibility of extension
What We Offer
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to join our work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility: At NRC, we think outside the box. We encourage ideas and give responsibility to all employees at all levels, to help solve the complex issues that we face. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative
- 24 months fixed term contract
- An opportunity to match your career to a compelling cause
- A chance to meet and work with people who are the best in their fields
Internal candidates are encouraged to apply but we are also open to external applicants who can show a commitment to NRC and being part of a challenging, but important mission to make a difference.
To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity MarketPlace
Click this email to contact the recruitment team; quote the full name of the advert on your subject line. Applications sent via email will not be accepted. Please check your application status on your NRC application profile.
This position is open to all nationalities.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. We work in crises across more than 31 countries, providing emergencies and long-term assistance to millions of people every year. We stand up for people forced to flee, advocating their rights. NORCAP, our global provider of expertise, helps improve international and local ability to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from crises. NRC also runs the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre in Geneva, a global leader in reporting on and advocating for people displaced within their own country. Employment with NRC may lead to employment in or deployment to Regions, Countries, Areas or Offices that may be host to considerable health, safety and security risks. NRC takes this very seriously and we have procedures in place to reduce known risks, but will never be able to take away all risks. NRC is an equal opportunities employer and aims to have staffing diversity in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality and physical ability.