Background

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an international non-governmental organisation of Norwegian origin, present in more than 25 countries worldwide. NRC has been working in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2001. Its programmes focus on the sectors of Education, Rapid Response to Population Movements (RRMP), Protection from Violence (PfV), Shelter, WaSH, Livelihood and Food Security, and Information, Counselling, and Legal Assistance (ICLA) in favour of populations forced to move.

NRC is the lead of an EU Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP)-funded project in Eastern DRC, implemented in Consortium with International Alert, Search for Common Ground and Justice Plus. The project’s overall objective is to contribute to peacebuilding and stabilisation efforts in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu through the promotion of social cohesion. The project duration is 18 months, starting from October 2024

The project proposes to address the causes and consequences of some of the historical, land and identity-based conflicts found in Ituri, such as those between some farmer and pastoralist communities, power conflicts or conflicts in mining sites. Through the reinforcement of social cohesion, community reconciliation and sustainable solutions to displacement and by providing support for trauma healing, NRC and its partners seek to enhance social cohesion in the targeted areas, keeping communities at the heart of the intervention.

The Consortium governance structure is composed of the Steering Committee (SC), the Consortium Coordination Unit (CCU) and the Technical Working Groups. The SC oversees the overall strategic management of the project and is composed of a senior representative of each Consortium partner. The SC bases its strategic orientations and decisions on the analysis and information provided by the Consortium Coordination Unit. The Technical Working Groups (TWG), with representation from all relevant partners, advise the CCU on technical programming issues and set standards for all work to ensure consistent project implementation and quality from the outset of the project, among other tasks.

The CCU is responsible for managing the coordination of the project and is the focal point for all activities that facilitate integrated programming in the areas of operation. The CCU focuses on learning, managing and monitoring of all integrated aspects of the project, capacity building of partners, and consolidated narrative & financial reporting, among others. The CCU is composed of the Head of the CCU, Finance Coordinator, M&E and Information Management Coordinator and Inter Consortium Coordinator/Liaison Officer.

The Head of the IcSP Consortium Coordination Unit is hosted by NRC and reports to the Head of programme. The purpose of this role is to facilitate overall grant management, intra-member engagement, information-sharing, coordination and reporting of Social Cohesion Consortium in DR Congo.

What we are looking for:

The ideal candidate will have strong experience in project coordination, grant management, and partner engagement. They must demonstrate diplomacy, effective communication, humility, collaboration and coordination skills. Experience in leading Consortia, and knowledge of the DR Congo context will be an added advantage.

What you will do:

The following are the roles and responsibilities of the Head of the IcSP Consortium Coordination Unit:

Strategy and Coordination 

• Coordinate the project cycle management (PCM) processes, including the kick-off meeting and regular monitoring meetings.
• Liaison manager between the Coordination Committee Unit (CCU) and the Pilot Committee
• Foster communication and collaboration between consortium members and within the CCU
• Ensure transparency and information exchange between consortium members and all Consortium Governance Units (CCU, SC, Technical Working Groups).
• Coordinate operational and strategic issues among the Consortium members
• Promote holistic social cohesion solutions and strategies
• Representation and advocacy as directed by the Steering Committee (SC).
• Provide the secretariat for the Steering Committee
• Lead the effective coordination, engagement and communication among consortium members, steering and technical committees, programmatic and finance/support teams across partners, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with all terms of the project contract and all relevant donor rules and regulations and guarantees the successful leadership, management, and project’s technical and operations oversight.

Overall Program Management and Oversight

• Oversee the day-to-day implementation of project activities in liaison with project managers, identifying gaps and possible opportunities for fundraising
• Ensure effective program coordination and provide technical support, monitoring and evaluation, quality assurance, adapt methodologies and accountability in close collaboration with the program teams the operations, finance, and administration teams of consortium organizations.
• Coordinate and supervise the development of interim and final narrative and financial reports to the donor.
• Coordinate aspects of Monitoring and Evaluation and the consolidation and analysis of information.
• Maintain a detailed familiarity with all approved project planning and compliance materials, including the project technical proposal, Cooperative Agreement terms, implementation plans, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan (MELP), Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP), the Performance Indicators.
• Ensure the development of implementation plans and corresponding programmatic annual budget.
• Build consensus and facilitate collective agreement on the overall project management, e.g. by identifying objectives, establishing roadmaps and identifying and addressing bottlenecks and red flags.
• Coordinate all operational aspects of the project implementation and work closely with operational consortium members to solve problems that may arise during implementation.

Team Management

• Manage the CCU staff, including the position of Project Manager
• Create and supervise the relevant technical working groups necessary for the smooth implementation of the programme.

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the role

What you will bring:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in management of complex programs including experience as part of a Consortium.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in programmatic implementation in a humanitarian/recovery context
• Experience in coordinating consortium/partnership programmes on forced displacement contexts
• Strong communication, interpersonal, facilitation and diplomatic skills, including the professional credibility to provide coordination and guidance to member organisations
• Experience in peacebuilding/social cohesion/mediation programming is an important asset
• Experience working in complex and volatile contexts
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Strong leadership skills/profile
• Fluency in both French and English, both written and verbal.

What we offer:

• Duty station: Goma (Non-family duty station)
• Contract: 18-month contract
• Travel: up to 50%
• Salary/benefits: grade 10 on NRC’s scale with accompanying terms and conditions
• 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:

• 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.
• Submit your application and CV in English or French, ensuring to attach your latest CV. Candidates who submit their application without their CV will not be considered.
• 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.
• We receive many applications for each vacant position, as a result only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• We invite applications from all qualified and interested candidates. Send in your application by 22nd September 2024.
• If you have any questions about this role, please email cwa.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.