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.