The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a non-governmental, humanitarian organization with 60 years of experience in helping to create a safer and more dignified life for refugees and internally displaced people. NRC advocates for the rights of displaced populations and offers assistance within the shelter, education, emergency food security, legal assistance, and water,sanitation and hygiene sectors. The Norwegian Refugee Council has approximately 5000 committed and competent employees involved in projects across four continents. In addition, NRC runs one of the world’s largest standby rosters -NORCAP, with 650 professionals, ready to be deployed on 72 hours notice when a crisis occurs

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Regional Director East and Southern Africa
Nairobi, Kenya
Trending
Job Description
What we are looking for

NRC is looking for a Regional Director, East & Southern Africa to join the organisation. The role holder will be responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of the country programmes, regional positioning, donor relations, and partnerships. He/she will be accountable for the leadership culture and a working and learning environment.

If you are an experienced leader who holds a track record of developing and integrating distinctive strategies; with strong coordination, networking, and stakeholder management skills; the ability to inspire and influence others; the ability to manage ambiguous environments; and experience building and leading collaborative, engaging, and effective teams, then this is the role for you!

What you will do

People leadership responsibilities (performance management, workforce planning, recruitment, induction, duty of care, resource and budget management, etc.)
Strategic direction priorities development.
Country strategies and compliance approval against direction, policies, and standards.
Duty of care. Promoting a safety, security, and risk management culture.
Accountability, ethics, and humanitarian principles promotion.
Advocacy and NRC representation nationally, regionally, and internationally.
Fundraising for programme and business development. Maintenance and development of partner and donor relations.
Emergency assessment and response oversight.
Contextual understanding, ideas, and actions contribution and engagement.
We highly encourage you to learn more about the role, please review the full Job Description here.

What you will bring

Senior leadership experience.
Humanitarian/recovery/emergency response context experience.
International humanitarian community connections.
Representation track record across various levels.
Change management experience.
Start-up experience is an added advantage.
East and Southern Africa Region context exposure and knowledge.
Complex and volatile context exposure.
English fluency, both written and verbal.

What makes this position attractive?

The country programmes in the East and Southern Africa region incorporate Ethiopia, Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique.
The total budget for the region in 2025 is approximately 170 million USD.
From June 2025, NRC will have a new, simplified organisational structure with a leaner Head Office and Representation Offices and smaller Regional Teams. The Regional Director will be instrumental in overseeing the establishment and management of the new Regional Team structure and ways of working.
This is an opportunity to contribute to meaningful work that responds to the diverse needs across the region, priorities, and concerns raised by the different communities where NRC works.
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to join our work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.

What we offer

Nairobi, Kenya duty station.
24-month contract duration.
30% travel, approximately.
Grade 13 in NRC’s Salary Scale, with accompanying terms and conditions. NRC offers a competitive compensation and benefits package.
NRC is an equal opportunities employer and aims to have staffing diversity in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.
Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC.

Important information about the application process

Internal Candidates: to apply log in with your official NRC email address or click on Opportunity Marketplace.
When creating your profile, include your full name as per your passport.
Apply by completing all the system-required fields of your experience, employment history, and education in your application.
Ensure to attach your latest CV.
Submit your application and CV in English.
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. NRC is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role and you meet most, but not all the requirements, we encourage you to apply anyway.
Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered.
Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
For any queries, please email us at aela.recruitment@nrc.no with “Regional Director ESA” as the subject line. This email address is for queries only. Applications will not be accepted via email.
Please note that NRC does not request any fees in connection with its recruitment processes.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

Do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
Join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
Be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.
Learn more about NRC here.

About Us
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee.

Join us in assisting millions of people in areas where others cannot, tackling some of the world's most dangerous and difficult crises. Bring your skills and dedication to an organisation recognised for providing high quality aid and for defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced people.

At NRC, we give responsibility to employees at all levels and foster professional growth and innovative teams. You can expect a supportive culture and an open dialogue with management. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Together, we save lives and rebuild futures.

Safeguarding is central to NRC’s work. We expect all employees to:
• treat everyone with respect and dignity
• contribute to building a safe environment for all
• never engage in any form