Head of Legal Aid Department, Human Mobility Hub – Middle East Office (open to internal candidates only)

What we are looking for:

An experienced professional with senior management experience in complex and volatile contexts with protracted crises and refugee-hosting countries. He/she is Head of the Legal Aid Department and leads the Human Mobility Hub’s (HMH) legal aid activities and capacity sharing with its rapidly growing network of over 40 local partners and refugee/migrant-led community organisations and networks.

The Head of Unit will lead all HMH work with legal aid partners in Tunisia and Egypt, and networks of lawyers and academics, on a wide range of issues, to ensure better protection of people on the move and greater involvement of community-based and refugee/migrant-led organisations in response and policy efforts.

What you will do:

• Lead the development of a legal aid program.
• Manage the implementation of legal assistance projects in accordance with contractual obligations (i.e. quality, synergy, timeliness, use of resources) and aligned with regional and global strategies.
• Lead the development and implementation of joint projects and initiatives with partners.
• Provide technical support to partners, involve other programs as needed, and support colleagues.
• Lead the development and implementation of a capacity sharing strategy with partners in the country.
• Ensure that key lessons from capacity sharing with partners are learned and integrated into HMH programming.
• Lead the development of legal assistance partnerships in Egypt and Tunisia and the establishment of new partnerships based on the NRC/HMH guidelines and priorities.
• Ensure that effective communication and coordination mechanisms are in place between the HMH and its partners.
• Lead consulting firms that use technical experts to develop substantive thematic articles and ensure the high quality of legal analyses, studies, guidelines and other products.
• Build a network and lead the engagement of relevant stakeholders on legal aid issues to achieve the most mutually beneficial terms for collaboration between the HMH and in-country partners.
• Proactively seeking creative solutions to challenges faced by partners in the country.
• If necessary, represent NRC with donors or during coordination meetings.

Download the detailed job description for more information about the position.

What to bring:

• At least 4 years of experience in a managerial position within legal assistance in a humanitarian/recovery context.
• Experience working in complex and unstable contexts with protracted crises and countries hosting refugees. Previous experience working in the MENA region is preferred.
• Significant insight into the humanitarian, political and socio-economic context of North Africa and the key challenges faced by people displaced in North Africa
• Attorney with extensive expertise in managing and delivering legal aid programs
• Expertise in working with local actors is a requirement
• Good skills and experience in all aspects of programme cycle management – design and development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation
• Demonstrable experience in learning, evaluation and program development.
• Experience with capacity sharing and community-based programming.
• Experience in coordinating activities and maintaining contacts with external parties.
• Knowledge of own leadership skills/profile with documented results related to the responsibilities of the position.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. French and/or Arabic are highly desirable.

What we offer:

• Location: Any NRC office in the Middle East and North Africa (Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Tunisia, Palestine, Syria, Yemen)
• Contract: 12 months (fixed term, extendable based on performance, funding and need for the position)
• Travel: Up to 50% within the work areas (regional, international)
• Salary/benefits: scale 10 on the NRC salary scale, with associated conditions
• NRC is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction in 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 initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working at NRC

Why NRC?

NRC currently has over 3,000 staff in the Middle East working to help people affected by conflict in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, Libya, Tunisia and Egypt. The humanitarian interventions are based on programming expertise in the core competencies of education, shelter, WASH, livelihoods and food security, and information advice and legal assistance (ICLA) for vulnerable displaced people.

NRC’s Human Mobility Hub (HMH) aims to improve understanding of human mobility today and in the future. It introduces innovative partnership models that forge long-term strategic relationships in vulnerable contexts with local actors. Through partnerships and in-country collaboration, the Hub will promote effective responses to trends in human mobility and the protection of people on the move. The Hub will produce strategic analysis, regional linkages and capacity sharing to improve the protection of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in transit and displacement situations.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

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

• doing demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
• Join a work culture where every employee has the opportunity to share ideas and take responsibility.
• Be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.

About us

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organisation that helps people on the run.

Join us as we help millions of people in places where others cannot, by tackling some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult crises. Bring your skills and dedication to an organization known for delivering high-quality aid and advocating for the rights of refugees and displaced people.

At NRC, we empower employees at all levels and encourage professional growth and innovative teams. You can expect a supportive culture and open dialogue with management. We are committed to diversity, equality and inclusion.

Together we save lives and rebuild the future.

Safeguarding is central to NRC’s work. We expect all employees to:

• treat everyone with respect and dignity

• contribute to creating a safe environment for everyone

• never engage in any form of exploitation, intimidation and in particular sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH)

• always report. NRC has a zero tolerance policy regarding inaction against exploitation, abuse and SEAH