Humanitarian Access and Safety (HAS) Manager

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organization that has been operational since 1946, dedicated to helping people forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, and disasters. NRC's mission is to protect displaced communities and support them in rebuilding their lives. The organization operates in multiple countries, focusing on providing assistance in areas such as legal aid, water and sanitation, shelter, and education. NRC has a strong presence in crisis-affected regions, including the Far North, Northwest, Southwest, East, and Adamawa regions of Cameroon. With a commitment to an integrated approach, NRC aims to provide coordinated support that helps communities transition from emergency situations to stability. The organization employs a diverse workforce and promotes a culture of respect, inclusion, and professional growth among its employees. More information about NRC can be found on their official website at https://www.nrc.no/ and through their promotional video at https://vimeo.com/736782633.

Job Overview:
The Humanitarian Access and Safety (HAS) Manager is a pivotal role within the NRC, serving as the lead technical resource on safety and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, crisis management, and access. This position is essential for managing safety and security risks, building capacity among staff, and implementing Duty of Care in collaboration with the People and Organisation department. The HAS Manager is responsible for developing humanitarian access strategies, facilitating principled humanitarian programming, and ensuring that implementing partners have the necessary capacities for effective access and security risk management. Reporting directly to the director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Country Director and receiving technical oversight from the Regional Head of HAS, the HAS Manager is a core member of both the Country Management Group (CMG) and the Crisis Management Team (CMT). The role requires a proactive approach to understanding the humanitarian context, conducting analyses, and briefing the Country Director on key security developments and access challenges.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The HAS Manager will implement the NRC Global HAS operational Plan in alignment with global initiatives, ensuring timely and quality reporting. The role involves fostering a culture of safe and principled humanitarian response, upholding Humanitarian Principles in accordance with Programme Criticality. The HAS Manager will lead and manage direct reporting staff, overseeing performance management, workforce planning, recruitment, induction, and professional development. Coordination with Area Managers is crucial to ensure duty of care and effective area-level HAS staff management. The HAS Manager will maintain a comprehensive understanding of the humanitarian context, conduct security risk assessments, and implement appropriate mitigation measures. Additionally, the role requires the development and maintenance of country-level HAS documents, procedures, guidance, and tools, ensuring consistency across the country programme. The HAS Manager will also build capacity among NRC staff and partners through training and guidance in humanitarian access, safety, and security, while coordinating with internal and external actors to enhance humanitarian access and safeguard humanitarian space.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of three years of experience in a senior role with managerial responsibility within a humanitarian or recovery context. A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as international relations, humanitarian affairs, or social sciences is required. A strong understanding of the Humanitarian Principles and their practical application in program implementation, coordination, advocacy, risk management, and humanitarian access is essential. Demonstrated experience working in complex contexts and high-risk environments, including engagement and negotiation to maintain access, is necessary. Formal training or certification in humanitarian access or negotiation, along with proven experience in delivering training and building staff capacities, are considered strong assets. Professional working proficiency in both French and English, both written and spoken, is mandatory.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as international relations, humanitarian affairs, social sciences, or a related discipline. This educational foundation is crucial for understanding the complexities of humanitarian work and the principles that guide effective program implementation and coordination in challenging environments.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of three years of experience in a senior role with managerial responsibility in a humanitarian or recovery context. Candidates should have demonstrated experience working in complex and high-risk environments, showcasing their ability to engage and negotiate effectively to maintain access. Previous experience in Cameroon is mandatory, while experience in the broader region or similar complex humanitarian contexts is considered an asset. Additionally, experience in remote management of teams or operations in insecure environments is advantageous.

Languages:
Professional working proficiency in both French and English is mandatory for this position, encompassing both written and spoken communication. Knowledge of at least one local or regional language is considered an asset, enhancing the ability to engage with local communities and stakeholders effectively.

Additional Notes:
The duty station for this position is Yaoundé, Cameroon, with a contract duration of 12 months. The salary and benefits are classified as Grade 9 on NRC’s National salary scale. NRC is committed to being an equal opportunities employer, promoting diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability. The organization encourages innovative ideas and provides opportunities for employees at all levels to take initiative. Interested candidates are advised to send any questions about the application process to cwa.recruitment@nrc.no, noting that applications sent via email will not be accepted. Candidates should check their application status on their NRC application profile.