Head of Unit, Peace and Democracy

Job Posting Organization:
NORCAP is an organization dedicated to improving aid to better protect and empower people affected by crises and climate change. Established as part of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), NORCAP operates globally, collaborating with humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding partners to enhance the effectiveness of aid. The organization focuses on providing targeted expertise and developing solutions to address unmet needs and challenges faced by vulnerable populations. NORCAP's mission emphasizes the importance of collaboration and innovation in reducing risks and vulnerabilities over time, aiming not only to alleviate immediate needs but also to create opportunities for those affected by crises. The organization is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, welcoming applications from all qualified candidates and ensuring a safe and respectful workplace for all employees.

Job Overview:
The Head of Unit for Peace and Democracy plays a crucial role in advancing NORCAP's mission by leading a specialized team focused on peace, democracy, human rights, rule of law, and credible elections. This position is situated within the Climate Action, Peace and Democracy portfolio and is essential for strengthening partners' capabilities to prevent violence, build trust in institutions, and support inclusive democratic processes. The role involves steering program and policy development, ensuring high-quality implementation of initiatives, and enhancing operational systems to enable staff and experts to deliver measurable impacts. The Head of Unit will be responsible for translating NORCAP's strategic objectives into actionable plans, fostering collaboration across units, and maintaining effective partnerships with various stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:
As the Head of Unit, you will be responsible for translating NORCAP's strategy into clear plans and priorities for the Peace and Democracy Unit, ensuring alignment with organizational goals. You will lead, mentor, and manage unit staff, overseeing recruitment, performance management, and workforce planning. Your role will include providing program leadership, ensuring quality delivery against time, cost, scope, and risk parameters, and maintaining financial oversight. You will strengthen cross-unit collaboration, ensuring that learning and best practices are shared across NORCAP's global portfolio. Additionally, you will lead strategy development for the thematic area, initiate new initiatives, and support teams with technical direction. You will also develop and maintain key partnerships with stakeholders, oversee daily operations within the unit, and ensure timely decision-making when progress is off track.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates for this position should possess a Master's degree in a relevant field and have at least 10 years of relevant experience, including a minimum of 3 years in a managerial role. Demonstrated experience in program management, business development, fundraising, and donor engagement is essential. The successful candidate should have a broad professional network, particularly with Norwegian stakeholders, and a strong understanding of peacebuilding, democracy support, human rights, and rule of law. Experience working in international contexts and across both humanitarian and development systems is also required. Excellent communication skills in both English and Norwegian are mandatory, with the ability to represent the organization credibly to external partners.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree in a relevant field is required for this position. This educational background should ideally be complemented by extensive knowledge and understanding of the key issues related to peace, democracy, human rights, and rule of law, as well as the global policy frameworks that govern these areas.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 10 years of relevant experience in fields related to peace and democracy, with a minimum of 3 years in a managerial role. This experience should include program management, business development, and donor engagement, particularly in international contexts. Familiarity with both humanitarian and development systems is also crucial for success in this role.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, and strong communication skills in Norwegian are also required due to the role's extensive engagement with Norwegian stakeholders. The ability to communicate effectively in both languages is essential for representing NORCAP to external partners and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Oslo and involves approximately 10% travel. The role is full-time and offers flexible working hours and hybrid working arrangements. NORCAP provides a supportive work environment with a focus on employee wellbeing and innovation. The organization is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and has a zero-tolerance policy towards exploitation and abuse. All offers are subject to reference and background checks, and feedback will be provided to all applicants within four weeks after the closing date.