Area Manager Darfur

Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) is an ecumenical diaconal organization for global justice founded in 1947 as a small fundraising drive by Norwegian churches. Today, we are one of the Nordic countries’ largest aid organizations with a presence in over thirty-two countries. NCA is a member of the ACT Alliance, one of the world’s largest humanitarian alliances, with presence in over 130 countries.

NCA began its work in Sudan in 1972, and we currently have four offices across the country, covering South and Central Darfur, South Kordofan and, Khartoum, and Gedaref states. Under the current Country Strategy (2020-2024), NCA Sudan focuses on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Climate Resilient WASH, Climate Smart Economic Empowerment, and smaller contextual programmes of Health and Nutrition and Education. Strengthening civil society is a key cross-cutting goal and highly relevant in country undergoing socio-political transition.

In Sudan, implementation is carried out through partners, as well as through NCA operational offices and staff in South and Central Darfur, South Kordofan, and Gedaref.

Over many years, NCA has gained valuable credibility as a reliable and results-driven organization with an in-depth contextual understanding of Sudan, and Darfur in particular, and with capacities for flexible programming and thematic complementarity.

We are seeking a highly motivated and engaged Area Manager to represent NCA Sudan in Darfur and lead our teams in Nyala and Zalingei.

We are looking for you who have the following qualifications:

• Higher education.
• Strategic leadership including fulfilling the Country Strategy of “One Country, One Programme”.
• Overall responsibility for the Darfur area office and the implementation of the area programme in accordance with NCA Sudan’s strategy.
• Ensuring effective and efficient cooperation and coordination between the departments contributing to team building.
• Overall responsibility for security management in Darfur in accordance with NCA global and NCA Sudan security regime.
• Overall personnel responsibility for staff in Darfur.
• Representation, networking, and lobbying at local government and Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), UN systems, coordination mechanisms.
• Contribute to mobilisation and optimising of financial and personnel resources.
• Leadership skills, experience in leading managers and employees.
• Experience in delivery of programs in conditions similar to that of Darfur.
• Have experience and be acquainted with humanitarian as well as developmental skills and tools, conflict sensitivity.
• Program management, minimum 5-6 years relevant experience.
• Experience with organizational/transitional processes.
• English as at a high level, Arabic may be an advantage but is not a requirement.
• Ability to fulfil initiated processes.
• Ability to keep deadlines while delivering quality products.
• Must be pragmatic and solution-oriented.

Main Tasks:

• Ensure Darfur is integrated into the NCA Sudan program.
• Follow up the new organizational structure and ensure it is functioning.
• Management of Darfur support functions and support budget.
• Ensuring management of the grants of the assigned area in accordance with NCA’s policies, ensuring cost efficiency and optimizing use of resources.
• Make informed decisions on safety/security measures as deemed necessary in Darfur.
• Lead the Darfur management team.
• Facilitating effective and efficient coordination between Darfur finance, logistics/procurement, and program departments.
• Follow up staff in Darfur on a day-to-day basis and provide support and accompaniment when needed.
• Represent NCA in relevant fora.
• Keep an overview of and liaise with relevant stakeholders; partners, local authorities, UN organizations and other I/NGOs.
• Ensure NCA active participation in relevant coordination mechanisms in Darfur.
• Be a member of the Country Office Senior Management Team (SMT).
• Any other task assigned by the Country Director.

The Darfur Area Manager is required to distribute his/her time equally between the two offices in Darfur, in Nyala and Zalingei.

Personal characteristics:

• Like to work with people and staff of various qualifications and abilities/capacities. See potential in staff, team-oriented.
• Experience and comfort living, working, and leading a team in multicultural contexts.
• Ability to delegate and build trust/self-confidence of staff.
• Patient, calm in stressful situations.
• Must be able to represent NCA and its value-based profile.

We are looking for a leader who will help promote the importance of the work we do, both internally and externally. It means that you, together with your highly qualified colleagues, will deliver high quality in the work that is performed. It also means that you must contribute to the continued development of the organization and the leadership culture we want to prevail through NCA value-based visible leadership/management.

The position is extremely operative and requires constant focus, attention to detail, and great commitment to be successful.

Since you are going to lead team members, you need good interpersonal skills and master the art of communicating. You are capable of being a strategic and visionary ambassador to our collaborative partner, and at the same time are an inspiring team builder. You know how to set a direction, with a practical approach to the team’s tasks. In addition, you bring solid analytical skills to the table, and you know and understand data.

If you can recognize yourself in this role, we will urge you to apply for the position.

We encourage all qualified persons to apply for a job with us, regardless of gender, age, disability, or cultural background. NCA uses an electronic gateway for all recruitment where you can register and submit your CV, write an application / cover letter, and attach relevant certificates. Only applicants using this electronic gateway will be considered for the position.

Before you apply:
We kindly ask you to carefully read the ACT Code of Conduct for the prevention of misconduct, including corruption, fraud, exploitation and abuse, including sexual; and to ensure child safeguarding and the Protection from Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse and Child Safeguarding policy before you submit your application. If you are the selected candidate for this position you will be asked to complete and sign our Code of Conduct and Protection from Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse, and Child Safeguarding Policy.

In accordance with core humanitarian principles, NCA implements a range of safeguards to prevent or reduce the possibility of humanitarian aid falling into the wrong hands. This includes those individuals and groups who are subject to sanctions by the United Nations Security Council. As part of this process, NCA will screen the details of the successful candidates for this post against the sanction’s lists maintained by the UN and by some of NCA’s governmental donors.