Afghanistan: Country Representative, Afghanistan

Norwegian Church Aid (‘NCA’) works together with people and organisations across the world in 32 countries to eradicate poverty and injustice. We provide emergency assistance in disasters and work for long-term development in local communities. NCA is a also member of the ACT Alliance, one of the world’s largest humanitarian alliances. The Alliance consists of organisations in over 130 countries across religious faiths. Norwegian Church Aid – Together for a just world!

NCA is now seeking a new Country Representative to lead our country office in Afghanistan. The Country Representative is the senior management position and has responsibility for the strategic leadership of NCA’s office and Country Programme in the region. The main NCA programmes in Afghanistan cover areas such as peacebuilding, livelihood development, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

Applicants must have solid international (experience from working in more than 3 countries) leadership experience managing development aid and humanitarian assistance programmes in challenging and insecure environments.

This is a two year contract with a September 2016 start date. Please note that Kabul is classified as a high risk area and is a non-family duty station.

Job description

• Provide strategic leadership to NCA’s Country Programme in Afghanistan and work to further develop the Programme in line with NCA’s priorities and strategies.


• Responsible for the operational management of NCA’s office in Afghanistan, which includes overseeing the finance, human resource and administration function.


• Responsible for representing NCA and proactively building and strengthening NCA’s working relationships in Afghanistan with embassies, donors, partners, official authorities and other stakeholders.


• Work to secure new sources of income and funding opportunities to help diversity and strengthen the funding-base.


• Responsible for ensuring proper security management across NCA’s operations in the region.


• Help develop and support NCA’s collaboration with partners in the region, which includes capacity building and professional development.


• Responsible for communications, internal and external, related to NCA’s program in Pakistan.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated strategic leadership experience in the context of development aid and humanitarian assistance in a high-risk environment.


• Solid experience in managing and working with financial management, administration and HR.


• Solid experience in project management, preferably from NCA or a similar organization.


• Demonstrated ability to lead and build teams, network and manage donor relations.


• Contextual knowledge of Afghanistan and the region is an advantage.


• Relevant higher university degree.


• Excellent English communication skills, both verbal and written.

Personal qualities

• Proven ability to work well in a cross-cultural and complex work environment; religious and culturally sensitive.


• Excellent communication and decision-making skills.


• Motivating and inspiring leadership style.


• Must be able to handle stress and a high workload under challenging work conditions.


• The successful candidate must adhere to NCA´s core Christian values and accept the ACT Alliance’s Code of Conduct.

We offer

• Opportunity to play a key role in overseeing and coordinating significant and meaningful work for one of Norway’s largest humanitarian organizations.


• Competitive terms and conditions and a comprehensive pension plan.