Area Support Manager

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization dedicated to helping people who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict and crises. Established in 1946, NRC has grown to employ approximately 15,000 staff members who work across 40 countries, providing life-saving assistance and long-term support to millions of individuals each year. In the Middle East alone, NRC has over 3,000 staff members focused on aiding those affected by conflict in countries such as Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Libya, and Palestine. The organization is committed to delivering humanitarian interventions based on its core competencies, which include Shelter, Education, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Livelihoods and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Food Security, and Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA).

Job Overview:
The Area Support Manager (ASM) position is crucial for providing comprehensive support to various functions at the area level and field offices. The ASM will lead support units, ensuring compliance with both NRC and donor guidelines. This role is pivotal in overseeing all support-related matters within the NRC West Bank Office, ensuring that high-quality and efficient support is provided for program implementation. The ASM will contribute to the strategic direction of the area office, ensuring that the support strategy is aligned with national staff capacity development. Responsibilities include managing the Area Support Budget, coordinating operational support with program plans, and facilitating the implementation of new country-specific technical SOPs, guidelines, and tools. The ASM will also play a key role in emergency response programs, ensuring that support functions are effectively contributing to the success of these initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Area Support Manager include:

• Contributing to the strategic direction of the area office, ensuring an efficient structure and adequate support strategy.
• Overseeing the strategic development of area-level structures and human resource capacity.
• Providing input on operational support to the Area Plan of Action and aligning operational support with program plans.
• Managing the Area Support Budget and providing regular reports to the Country Office and Area Manager.
• Leading the Support Department and fostering collaboration with program units to ensure quality support for project implementation.
• Monitoring and managing day-to-day operations of West Bank operations for efficiency and effectiveness.
• Implementing new technical SOPs, guidelines, and tools in HR, Logistics/ICT, and Finance.
• Supporting the Area Office Emergency response program and ensuring that support functions are effective.
• Line managing and building the technical capacity of support staff in Finance, HR & Admin, Logistics, and ICT. 1
• Ensuring compliance with NRC policies, guidelines, and donor/auditor requirements. 1
• Facilitating training for program staff on finance, logistics, and HR procedures. 1
• Contributing to the implementation of Safe and Inclusive Programming Minimum Standards across the area of work.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a senior management position, demonstrating solid knowledge of HR, finance, and logistics routines within humanitarian or recovery contexts. Significant experience in complex and volatile environments is essential, along with a sound understanding of the Palestinian context and experience in implementing emergency or rapid response programming. Candidates should have experience managing large-scale budgets and the ability to process substantial amounts of data. Knowledge of donor compliance and requirements is also necessary, as well as excellent communication skills in English, both written and verbal. Fluency in Arabic is considered an asset.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a relevant degree in management, humanitarian studies, or a related field. Advanced degrees or certifications in areas such as project management, finance, or human resources may be advantageous and are often preferred by employers in this sector.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have substantial experience, specifically a minimum of 5 years in senior management roles. This experience should include working in humanitarian or recovery contexts, with a focus on HR, finance, and logistics. Candidates should also have a proven track record of managing large-scale budgets and navigating complex operational environments, particularly in regions affected by conflict or crisis.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, both written and verbal. Proficiency in Arabic is highly desirable and considered an asset, as it enhances communication with local stakeholders and staff.

Additional Notes:
The duty station for this position is in the West Bank, Palestine, with a fixed-term contract lasting 12 months, subject to renewal based on performance, availability of funds, and the ongoing need for the position. The role may require travel up to 30% within the West Bank areas of operation. The salary and benefits are classified under Grade 8 on NRC’s salary scale, which includes accompanying terms and conditions. NRC is committed to being an equal opportunities employer, promoting diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, or physical ability. The organization encourages innovative ideas and grants responsibility to employees at all levels, fostering a culture where every employee can contribute and be heard.