Head of Legal Assistance Unit Human Mobility Hub – Middle East Office (open to internal candidates only)

What we are looking for:

An experienced professional with senior management experience operating in complex and volatile contexts involving protracted crises and refugee-hosting countries, the Legal Assistance Unit Head is expected to provide leadership of the Human Mobility Hub’s (HMH) legal assistance activities and capacity sharing with the rapidly growing network of more than 40 local partners and refugee/migrant-led community-based organisations and networks.

The Head of Unit will lead all of HMH’s work with legal aid partners in Tunisia and Egypt, as well as with 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 organizations in response and policy efforts.

What you will do:

• Leading the development of legal aid programs.
• Manage the implementation of legal assistance projects in compliance with contractual obligations (i.e. quality, synergies, timeliness, use of resources) and in accordance with regional and global strategies.
• Lead the development and implementation of joint projects and initiatives with partners.
• Provide technical support to partners and involve other program and support colleagues as needed.
• Lead the development and implementation of a capacity sharing strategy with in-country partners.
• Ensure that key insights are gained from capacity sharing with partners and integrated into HMH programming.
• Lead the development of legal assistance partnerships in Egypt and Tunisia and the establishment of new partnerships based on NRC/HMH policies and priorities.
• Ensure that effective communication and coordination mechanisms exist between the HMH and its partners.
• Oversee consulting firms that engage technical experts to develop substantive issue papers and ensure the high quality of legal analyses, studies, guides and other products.
• Build a network and lead engagement with relevant stakeholders on legal assistance issues to achieve the most mutually beneficial terms of cooperation between HMH and in-country partners.
• Proactively find creative solutions to challenges that partners may face in the country.
• Represent NRC to funders or at coordination meetings as needed.

Please download the detailed job description to find out more about the position.

What you bring with you:

• At least 4 years of senior experience in legal assistance in a humanitarian/reconstruction context.
• Experience of working in complex and volatile contexts involving protracted crises and refugee-hosting countries. Previous work experience in the MENA region is desirable.
• Comprehensive understanding of the humanitarian, political and socio-economic context in North Africa and the key challenges facing people on the move in North Africa
• Lawyer with extensive experience in the administration and delivery of legal aid programs
• Expertise in working with local actors is essential
• Good knowledge and experience in all aspects of program cycle management – ​​design and development, implementation and monitoring and evaluation
• Proven experience in learning and evaluation and program development.
• Experience in capacity sharing and community-based programming.
• Experience in coordinating activities and liaising with external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of one’s own leadership qualities/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:

• Duty station: Any NRC country office in MENA (Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Tunisia, Palestine, Syria, Yemen)
• Contract: 12 months (limited, extendable depending on performance, funding and need for the position)
• Travel: Up to 50% within the operational areas (regional, international)
• Salary/Benefits: NRC Salary Scale Level 10 with applicable terms and conditions
• NRC is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to diversity without regard 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. They are given many opportunities to be heard and to take initiative.

Learn more about the benefits of working at NRC

Why NRC?

NRC currently has over 3,000 staff in the Middle East dedicated to supporting people affected by conflict in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, Libya, Tunisia and Egypt. Its humanitarian operations are based on its programming expertise in the core competencies of education, shelter, water and sanitation, livelihoods and food security, and information advisory and legal assistance (ICLA) for vulnerable people affected by displacement.

The NRC’s Human Mobility Hub (HMH) aims to improve understanding of human mobility today and in the future. It introduces innovative partnership models that build long-term strategic relationships in fragile contexts with local actors. Through in-country partnerships and collaboration, the Hub will promote effective responses to mobility trends 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 these people? Then NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• perform demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
• Become part of a work culture in which every employee has the opportunity to exchange ideas and take on responsibility.
• Be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.

About Us

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organization that helps people forced to flee.

Help us help millions of people in areas others cannot reach, tackling some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult crises. Bring your skills and commitment to an organization recognized for delivering high-quality assistance and protecting the rights of refugees and internally 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, equity and inclusion.

Together we save lives and build a new future.

Protecting people is a central part of the NRC’s work. We expect all employees to:

• treat everyone with respect and dignity

• contribute to building a safe environment for all

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

• always report. NRC has a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against exploitation, abuse and SEAH