Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a non-governmental, humanitarian organization with 60 years of experience in helping to create a safer and more dignified life for refugees and internally displaced people. NRC advocates for the rights of displaced populations and offers assistance within the shelter, education, emergency food security, legal assistance, and water,sanitation and hygiene sectors. The Norwegian Refugee Council has approximately 5000 committed and competent employees involved in projects across four continents. In addition, NRC runs one of the world’s largest standby rosters -NORCAP, with 650 professionals, ready to be deployed on 72 hours notice when a crisis occurs

The Head of the Inter‑Agency Working Group (IAWG) provides strategic leadership and representation for a regional, member‑led platform of international NGOs operating across East and Central Africa. The role exists to strengthen collective NGO leadership, coordination, and influence in humanitarian and protracted crisis contexts, ensuring that NGO perspectives shape regional humanitarian priorities, policies, partnerships, and resource decisions. The postholder serves as the primary convenor, strategist, and external representative of the IAWG at regional and global levels.

Responsibilities or duties

• Set and drive the strategic direction of the IAWG in line with its Charter and multi‑year strategy.
• Lead strategic reviews and future planning, ensuring relevance to evolving humanitarian, political, climate, and security dynamics.
• Provide regular high‑level reporting and advice to the IAWG Steering Committee.
• Convene and facilitate senior‑level coordination among NGO Regional Directors.
• Enable coherence, complementarity, and shared positioning across member organisations.
• Oversee the effective functioning of IAWG working groups and collective initiatives.
• Position the IAWG as a credible, authoritative regional NGO voice on humanitarian priorities.
• Lead the development and articulation of common policy positions, messages, and advocacy priorities.
• Represent agreed NGO positions in regional and global policy and decision‑making forums.
• Act as the primary representative of the IAWG with UN agencies, regional institutions, donors, and humanitarian partners.
• Build and sustain strategic relationships that advance collective NGO objectives and humanitarian outcomes.
• Strengthen alignment and collaboration with country‑level NGO fora and global NGO platforms.
• Ensure the financial sustainability and institutional credibility of the IAWG.
• Lead resource mobilization for core operations, analysis, and advocacy capacity.
• Support sound governance, transparency, and accountability to IAWG members.
• Ensure effective delivery, performance management, and compliance with host agency systems.

Note: The above responsibilities are just a snapshot.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Generic professional competencies for this position:

Experience and expertise

• Minimum 10 years of progressive international experience in humanitarian and/or development contexts, including regional‑level roles.
• Proven leadership in multi-agency coordination, coalition building, or network governance
• Strong understanding of humanitarian operations, NGO systems, and crisis dynamics in East and Central Africa.
• Proven experience in advocacy, policy engagement, and strategic communications.

Skills and Competencies

• Strategic leadership and systems thinking.
• Strong facilitation, negotiation, and representational skills.
• Excellent analytical and policy writing.
• Ability to build consensus across diverse organizations and mandates.
• High‑level communication and public speaking skills.

Education and Language

• Postgraduate qualification in international relations, development, political science, or a related field.
• Fluency in spoken and written English.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

What we offer

Duty station: Nairobi, Kenya

Salary/benefits: grade 11 on NRC’s international salary scale.

Duration of Contract: 2 years

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.

• Set and drive the strategic direction of the IAWG in line with its Charter and multi‑year strategy.
• Lead strategic reviews and future planning, ensuring relevance to evolving humanitarian, political, climate, and security dynamics.
• Provide regular high‑level reporting and advice to the IAWG Steering Committee.
• Convene and facilitate senior‑level coordination among NGO Regional Directors.
• Enable coherence, complementarity, and shared positioning across member organisations.
• Oversee the effective functioning of IAWG working groups and collective initiatives.
• Position the IAWG as a credible, authoritative regional NGO voice on humanitarian priorities.
• Lead the development and articulation of common policy positions, messages, and advocacy priorities.
• Represent agreed NGO positions in regional and global policy and decision‑making forums.
• Act as the primary representative of the IAWG with UN agencies, regional institutions, donors, and humanitarian partners.
• Build and sustain strategic relationships that advance collective NGO objectives and humanitarian outcomes.
• Strengthen alignment and collaboration with country‑level NGO fora and global NGO platforms.
• Ensure the financial sustainability and institutional credibility of the IAWG.
• Lead resource mobilization for core operations, analysis, and advocacy capacity.
• Support sound governance, transparency, and accountability to IAWG members.
• Ensure effective delivery, performance management, and compliance with host agency systems.

• Strategic leadership and systems thinking.
• Strong facilitation, negotiation, and representational skills.
• Excellent analytical and policy writing.
• Ability to build consensus across diverse organizations and mandates.
• High‑level communication and public speaking skills.

• Minimum 10 years of progressive international experience in humanitarian and/or development contexts, including regional‑level roles.
• Proven leadership in multi-agency coordination, coalition building, or network governance
• Strong understanding of humanitarian operations, NGO systems, and crisis dynamics in East and Central Africa.
• Proven experience in advocacy, policy engagement, and strategic communications.
• Postgraduate qualification in international relations, development, political science, or a related field.
• Fluency in spoken and written English.