Background:

The Area Operations Manager position is a senior leadership role within NRC’s field structure, responsible for overseeing operational delivery and ensuring alignment with country-level strategies. Positioned at the intersection of programme implementation and support services, the role provides direct management of area office operations, enabling effective coordination between field teams and the Country Office.

This is an established area of work for NRC, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to maintaining high-quality, compliant, and cost‑effective programming in complex contexts. The role operates at a strategic level, representing the area within the Country Management Group and leading the Area Management Group, while also ensuring that operational bottlenecks are addressed and risks escalated appropriately. It provides guidance and support to a large team, ensuring that NRC’s Duty of Care, accountability standards, and programme objectives are consistently upheld across the designated area of operations.

What you will do:

The Area Operations Manager leads the day-to-day operational oversight of the designated Area Office by coordinating programme implementation and ensuring compliant, high-quality support services. The role drives for the achievement of key programme objectives, addressing operational bottlenecks, maintains the area delivery of services, and escalates risks to country leadership to ensure high quality and cost-effective programme/project implementation within the area operations.

General Responsibilities:

  1. Line management responsibilities for directly reporting staff. This includes the:

    • Performance management process; setting clear goals aligned to country strategy and priorities, and to follow up and support staff’s achievement. 

    • Responsible for key processes as workforce planning, recruitment, staff induction and development and ensure Duty of Care for own staff.

  2. Act a member of the Country Management Group (CMG) representing the area of operations and chair the Area Management Group.

  3. Collaborate with the programme unit at the country office to ensure that area-specifics are embedded in the core competencies and country strategy and Plan of Action. Support the development of concept notes, project proposals and budget development to scale-up response activities

  4. Contribute to the development and monitor area office budget, donor proposals and reports, in compliance with contractual commitments and global guidelines.

Specific responsibilities:

  • Organise grants opening and closure meetings for the area office in coordination with the country office programme and support relevant staff.

  • Represent the organisation externally at the local level in the area and build professional networks to promote NRC as delegated by the Country Director.

  • Contribute to assessments for new areas of operation, outline possible areas of intervention and develop program strategies for implementation in relevant area. 

  • With the support of the Country Office management teams, contextualize, adapt and implement SOPs and procedures to ensure the effective provision of assistance within designated area.

Please refer to the Job Description to read all the roles and responsibilities as the above ones mentioned are just a snapshot. 

What you will bring:

  1. Generic professional competencies: 

  • Minimum 3 years of experience in a Senior Project and team Management role, preferably within a humanitarian/recovery context.

  • Bachelor's degree in political sciences, Social Studies, Business Administration, or any other relevant field.

  • Fluency in English, both written and verbal.

  1. Context-Related Skills, Knowledge, and Experience:

  • Experience in implementing and managing cash-based interventions and market-based programmes.

  • Knowledge of the context.

  • Experience with start-up, exit or similar.

  • Good knowledge of (local language if different from English) is an advantage.

  • Experience with start-up, exit or similar.

What we offer:

  • Duty station: Kakuma, Kenya. 

  • Contract: Fixed Term

  • Travel: 30%

  • Salary/benefits: grade 9 on NRC’s national contract. 

  • NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, 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

  • For Internal candidates: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity MarketPlace.

  • When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.

  • Applicants who do not fill in the required information will not be considered for the role. 

  • Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.

  • 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.

  • Mandatory to submit the below when applying:

    • Your most updated English CV and remove all previous outdated CVs. 

    • Your updated Cover Letter.

    • Do not attach certificates or any other documents apart from the two mentioned above. 

    • Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

  • This position is only open for NRC’s internal candidates. 

  • This position is open for candidates who have the legal right to work form Kenya. NRC will not sponsor work permits nor visa as the position is national. 

  • Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply. 

  • We receive many applications for each vacant position and so only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

  • If you have any questions about this role, please email esa.recruitment@nrc.no with the job title as the subject line.

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.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.