Head of Support - Country Representative

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organization that has been operational in Burkina Faso since 201

• NRC's mission is to assist people affected by conflict and displacement, providing humanitarian interventions based on its programming expertise in various core competencies such as Shelter, Site Management, Education, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Protection from Violence, and Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) to vulnerable displaced individuals. The organization operates in two primary areas in Burkina Faso, namely Liptako/Soum (Dori office) and Goulmou/Sirba (Fada office), and has several field offices in hard-to-reach areas. NRC is transitioning into a Central Sahel multi-country operating model, which currently includes Burkina Faso and Niger, with a unified Country Office led by a Multi-director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Country Director based in Niamey. This model allows for shared strategic and technical functions while decentralizing field operations through Area Offices.

Job Overview:
The Head of Support - Country Representative role is crucial for ensuring that all support functions in Burkina Faso provide high-quality and efficient backing to enable impactful program implementation. This position also serves as NRC’s legal and official representative in-country, leading country-level liaison, representation, and external engagement within the Central Sahel multi-country structure. The ideal candidate will be a passionate humanitarian leader with proven senior management experience in a humanitarian or recovery context. They will be responsible for ensuring compliance, risk awareness, and effective internal controls while enabling efficient field delivery through strong coordination across functions. The role requires a strategic thinker and strong relationship-builder who can maintain constructive working relationships with authorities, donors, and strategic stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Head of Support - Country Representative include serving as NRC’s legal representative in Burkina Faso, ensuring legal registration, statutory compliance, and appropriate management of official documentation and authorizations. The representative will lead NRC’s official country-level representation with host government, regulatory bodies, local authorities, and local partners, maintaining constructive working relationships that protect NRC’s access and operational continuity. They will also manage country-level donor liaison and external engagement in alignment with the multi-country strategy, ensuring strong internal controls and compliance across the Burkina Faso support platform. The representative will oversee operational stewardship, ensuring timely and compliant services from Finance, HR/Admin, and Logistics to support area operations and program implementation. Additionally, they will support grants compliance, operational readiness, and effective coordination between Coordination Office functions and Area Offices, while representing Burkina Faso operational priorities in multi-country management discussions.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a minimum of 4 years’ experience from a senior management position in a humanitarian or recovery context, with experience in complex and volatile environments. Candidates should have expertise in resource allocation and costs, including support budget oversight and internal controls. Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities are essential, along with strong leadership skills and the ability to build trust and influence across functions. Experience in representation, external liaison, and stakeholder management in a humanitarian context is also required. Fluency in both French and English, both written and verbal, is mandatory, along with a valid driver’s license.

Educational Background:
While the specific educational background is not detailed in the job ad, it is typically expected that candidates possess a relevant degree in fields such as international relations, humanitarian studies, or a related discipline that aligns with the responsibilities of the role.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 4 years of senior management experience in a humanitarian or recovery context, demonstrating a strong understanding of the complexities involved in such environments. Experience in advocacy, representation, and donor engagement is also crucial, as is familiarity with operating within a matrix-managed or multi-country structure.

Languages:
Fluency in French and English is mandatory for this position, both in written and verbal communication. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not specified as mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, with a contract duration of 12 months and the possibility of extension. The salary is graded at Grade 11 on NRC’s Burkina Faso National Salary scale. NRC is committed to diversity and equal opportunities, encouraging applications from individuals regardless of age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, or physical ability. The organization emphasizes a supportive culture, professional growth, and innovative teamwork, with a strong focus on safeguarding and a zero-tolerance approach to exploitation and abuse.