Area Support Manager

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization that assists people forced to flee their homes due to conflict and crises. Established to provide life-saving and long-term assistance, NRC operates in 40 countries with a workforce of approximately 15,000 staff members. The organization is dedicated to addressing the needs of millions of people every year, particularly in regions facing severe humanitarian challenges. NRC's mission is to ensure that displaced individuals receive the support they need to rebuild their lives and regain their dignity, focusing on providing essential services and advocating for their rights.

Job Overview:
The Area Support Manager position is crucial for ensuring that all support functions, including finance, human resources, logistics, administration, and ICT, operate efficiently across the area office and its sub-offices. This role serves as a vital link between program implementation teams and support departments, facilitating the compliant and timely delivery of NRC’s projects to affected populations. The Area Support Manager is expected to lead and manage support units, ensuring adherence to NRC and donor guidelines while providing high-quality support for program implementation. The position requires strategic and operational oversight to enhance the effectiveness of support functions and to ensure that they align with the overall objectives of NRC in South Sudan.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Area Support Manager will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• Providing line management for directly reporting staff in Finance, HR & Admin, Logistics, and ICT, including overseeing performance management processes and setting clear goals aligned with area strategy.
• Ensuring compliance with NRC policies, guidance, and donor/auditor requirements.
• Facilitating strategic input from support functions into the development of the Country Strategy and Plan of Action.
• Overseeing the Master Budget and area-level budgets, assessing costs and resource allocation needs.
• Developing area-specific technical SOPs, guidelines, and tools to enhance operational efficiency.
• Leading the financial management of the Area Office, including budget planning, expenditure tracking, and financial risk mitigation.
• Championing staff welfare and promoting a positive organizational culture.
• Ensuring effective management of fleet and transport, office facilities, and procurement operations.
• Developing and implementing area-specific operational systems and process improvements. 1
• Providing operational leadership in proposal development and project design.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Management, or a related field. A minimum of 4 years of experience in a senior management position within a humanitarian or recovery context is required. Proficiency in financial systems and software, such as Agresso or QuickBooks, is essential. Candidates should have a strong understanding of donor compliance, audit requirements, and internal control systems. Experience in managing HR processes, including recruitment and performance management, is necessary, along with a solid grasp of national labor laws and organizational HR policies. Candidates should also demonstrate the ability to work in complex and volatile contexts and possess expertise in resource allocation and cost management.

Educational Background:
A university degree in a relevant field such as Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or Management is mandatory for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate has the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to manage the various support functions effectively.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 4 years of experience in a senior management role within a humanitarian or recovery context. This experience should include managing support functions such as finance, HR, logistics, and administration, demonstrating the ability to lead teams and ensure compliance with organizational policies and donor requirements.

Languages:
Fluency in English, both written and verbal, is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Aweil, South Sudan, under a national contract for a duration of 12 months. The salary is graded at level 8 on NRC’s national salary scale, and the role may require approximately 30% travel. NRC is committed to diversity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, particularly females. The organization emphasizes a zero-tolerance approach to exploitation and abuse, ensuring a safe environment for all employees.