Regional Head of Operational Support

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization established to protect the rights of displaced and affected individuals during crises. Founded in 1946, NRC has grown to operate in 40 countries, providing immediate humanitarian assistance and working towards durable solutions for those forced to flee. The organization is committed to delivering high-quality programs that support individuals in rebuilding their lives and establishing a new future. NRC has a streamlined organizational structure with a leaner Head Office and Representation Offices, supported by smaller Regional Teams. Global support structures have been established for functions previously managed by Regional Offices, including Finance, Risk & Compliance, People & Organization, Media and Communication, PCM & Grants Management, and Programme Core Competency and Thematics, as well as MEAL. The aim of these structures is to improve efficiency, equity, access, and flexibility, ensuring that all regional staff and country offices have predictable access to the same services in an efficient manner. More information about NRC can be found on their official website and through their promotional video.

Job Overview:
The Regional Head of Operational Support is responsible for ensuring an integrated approach to operational management within the region, which is crucial for the quality and timeliness of NRC's response. This role involves enabling support needs across various functions including HR, Risk and Compliance, Humanitarian Access and Safety (HAS), Finance, ICT, Logistics, and Administration, while ensuring compliance with NRC policies. The Regional Head of Operational Support plays a vital role in holding country offices accountable for their performance, ensuring they meet operational standards and deliver on strategic objectives. This position is part of the Regional Management Team and requires a proactive approach to operational challenges, fostering collaboration and efficiency among support functions within the regional team.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Regional Head of Operational Support include ensuring that support functions within the regional team operate efficiently and effectively. This involves holding country offices accountable for their operational progress by leveraging reports, analyses, and compliance data from NRC’s global resource pools. The role also includes providing capacity building and problem-solving support to country directors and heads of support, as well as Humanitarian Access Managers. The postholder will offer advice and mentorship to operational support teams in country offices, fostering skills development and capacity building. Participation in global discussions on planning and strategy related to support functions is also a key responsibility. Additionally, the Regional Head of Operational Support will review finance, HR, and logistics requirements related to regional grants in collaboration with the Global PCM and Grants Management facility. The postholder may also act on behalf of the Regional Director when requested, including leading relevant Crisis Management Teams and performing other tasks as assigned by the Regional Director.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of relevant leadership and management experience within the humanitarian field. Candidates should possess relevant higher education in a related field such as business administration, management, finance, or other suitable disciplines. A background in managing support functions, including finance, HR, and logistics, is essential, and experience in security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security and safety management is considered an added value. Proven results related to the responsibilities of the position are required, along with relevant experience overseeing finance, logistics, or other support functions. Candidates should also have a clear understanding of their own leadership skills and profile, and fluency in English, both written and verbal, is mandatory.

Educational Background:
Candidates are expected to have a higher education degree in a relevant field such as business administration, management, finance, or other suitable education that aligns with the responsibilities of the position. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of operational support in humanitarian contexts and for effectively managing the various support functions required in the role.

Experience:
The position requires a significant level of experience, specifically a minimum of 10 years in leadership and management roles within the humanitarian sector. Candidates should have experience working in complex and volatile contexts, demonstrating their ability to navigate challenges and deliver results in demanding environments. Experience with start-ups, exits, and organizational change processes is also beneficial, as is a proven track record of managing support functions effectively.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, both written and verbal. Additionally, fluency in French is essential, as it is a key language in the Central and West African region. Knowledge of local languages, if different from English, is considered an advantage and can enhance communication and collaboration with local stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The duty station for this position is Dakar, Senegal, and the contract is fixed-term for 24 months with the possibility of extension. The salary is classified as Grade 11 on NRC’s 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 employees at all levels with opportunities to take responsibility and be heard. NRC also emphasizes safeguarding, expecting all employees to treat everyone with respect and dignity, contribute to a safe environment, and report any form of exploitation or harassment. The organization has a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against such issues.