Head of Support – Niger / Central Sahel MCO

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organization established to assist people forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or natural disasters. NRC operates in various countries, including Niger and Burkina Faso, focusing on providing essential services such as education, shelter, livelihoods, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, and protection. The organization is committed to delivering high-quality aid and defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons. NRC has a strong field presence in operational areas and employs a multi-country office model to enhance efficiency and coherence in its humanitarian response. The organization values diversity and inclusion, fostering a supportive culture that encourages professional growth and innovation among its employees. NRC is dedicated to safeguarding and ensuring a safe environment for all individuals involved in its operations, with a zero-tolerance policy towards exploitation and abuse.

Job Overview:
The Head of Support for the Niger / Central Sahel Multi-Country Office (MCO) is a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing and ensuring high-quality, compliant, and efficient support to NRC's operations in Niger. This role involves managing support functions such as Finance, HR/Admin, Logistics, and ICT, while also contributing to the coherence and harmonization of support across the MCO. The Head of Support will work closely with the director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Country Director and other management groups to represent Niger's support priorities and operational constraints in decision-making processes. The position requires a strong understanding of Niger's operational and administrative context, as well as the ability to navigate complex and volatile environments. The ideal candidate will demonstrate sound judgment, a focus on internal controls and compliance, and the capacity to work effectively within a multi-country management structure while respecting country-level accountability.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Head of Support will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Line management for Niger support managers and coordinators across Finance, HR/Admin, Logistics, and ICT.
• Participation in the Country Management Group and Multi-Country Management Group to ensure representation of Niger support priorities in management decisions.
• Ensuring compliance with NRC policies, donor requirements, and auditor standards across the Niger support platform.
• Facilitating strategic input from support functions into the development and implementation of the Central Sahel strategy and Niger operating plans.
• Providing operational support input during proposal development and aligning operational support with program plans.
• Ensuring quality and timely support for project implementation in Niger.
• Managing the Master Support Budget and Niger country-level budgets, including cost assessment and resource allocation monitoring.
• Developing and contextualizing Niger-specific technical SOPs, guidelines, and tools in line with NRC standards.
• Promoting organizational learning related to program support and technical capacity building for Niger/MCO support staff.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of 4 years of experience in a senior management position within a humanitarian or recovery context. They should have a strong understanding of Finance, HR/Admin, Logistics, and ICT support systems in humanitarian operations. Expertise in resource allocation and cost management, including support budget oversight and internal controls, is essential. Candidates should demonstrate documented results related to their responsibilities and possess strong leadership skills, with the ability to build trust across functions. Fluency in both French and English, both written and verbal, is mandatory, along with a valid driver's license.

Educational Background:
The position requires a relevant educational background, typically a degree in a field related to humanitarian assistance, management, or a similar discipline. Advanced degrees or specialized training in humanitarian operations, project management, or related areas may be advantageous.

Experience:
Candidates should have substantial experience working in complex and volatile contexts, particularly in humanitarian settings. Experience managing support functions in insecure and access-constrained environments is crucial. Familiarity with change management, restructuring, and multi-country coordination will be considered an asset.

Languages:
Fluency in French and English is mandatory for this position, as effective communication in both languages is essential for collaboration and coordination within the organization and with external stakeholders. Additional language skills relevant to the Niger context may be beneficial but are not required.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Niamey, Niger, and is offered on a 12-month contract. The salary is classified as Grade 11 on NRC's Niger National Salary Scale. NRC is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from diverse backgrounds, particularly from female candidates. This is a national post targeting Niger Nationals, and the organization is committed to fostering a safe and respectful work environment, with a strong emphasis on safeguarding and preventing exploitation and abuse.