The Humanitarian Access Manager supports NRC Ukraine’s country strategy (50%) by providing strategic advice and analysis, operational support, technical guidance, and capacity strengthening for NRC teams and partners. Through humanitarian engagement, advocacy, access coordination and analysis, and civil-military coordination, the manager will support the Country Office and Area Office’s in planning and operationalizing of strategies and approaches that will increase the reach, acceptance and impact of NRC programmes, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. S/he will advise on strategic decision-making, program design, monitoring, and operational footprints to be principled, conflict sensitive, adaptive and contextually driven, enhancing NRC’s response capacity, preparedness, and comparative advantage.

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Generic Responsibilities

The following is a brief description of the role:

1. Ensure adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures on humanitarian access, negotiations and hard-to-reach strategic objective.
2. Lead the development of access initiatives and strategies, at the country and area-level, in coordination with senior colleagues at Country Office and Area Office level.
3. In coordination with the country director and country management group (CMG), and in line with NRC’s approach and systems, lead and support individual efforts to secure access from relevant local authorities and other external stakeholders.
4. Monitor and evaluate the political, social, security and humanitarian situation for developments affecting humanitarian access.
5. Contribute to the development of operational and program modalities in hard-to-reach areas.
6. Provide capacity building to field-based staff engaged in access and programme duties across Ukraine, including on humanitarian engagement and principles.
7. Expand and maintain NRC’s network of relevant contacts through direct engagement as well as strategic support to stakeholder engagement.
8. Represent NRC in co-chairing the Humanitarian Access Working Group (HAWG), supporting the wider humanitarian community in Ukraine and the further development and leadership of access coordination mechanisms.

Professional Competencies

• Minimum 3 years of experience from working as a Senior Project Manager in a complex emergency with high level access constraints
• Advanced University/Master’s degree in relevant field
• Previous experience chairing, cochairing or playing a prominent role in coordination mechanisms is a strong asset
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal
• Ukrainian and/or Russian language skills considered an asset

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What We Offer

• Duration and Type of contract: 12 months employment contract with possibility of extension.
• Salary/benefits: According to NRC salary scale, terms and conditions.
• Duty station:  Kyiv, Ukraine.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC HERE.

Important information about the application process:

• Internal candidates only: please click on the suitcase icon labelled “I am an employee” to be redirected to NRC’s internal careers site.
• 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, taking care to attach your latest CV.
• 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.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We receive many applicants for each vacant position.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization 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.

NRC has been present in Ukraine since 2014. Since the escalation of the war in 2022, we have been continuously scaling up our response across the country and working with national partners.

Eight years of conflict in the east of Ukraine escalated into a full-scale war on 24 February 2022, causing death, destruction and displacement for millions of people across the country. 17.6 million people were estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023, including 6.3 million internally displaced people and 11.3 million people who returned or remained home. Almost 16 million people received humanitarian assistance in 2022.

Throughout the winter months, the Russian Federation attacked critical energy infrastructure, leaving thousands with no heating, water or gas. Many residential buildings were also damaged and destroyed, killing and injuring civilians and forcing millions more to leave their homes. While indiscriminate attacks continued in different regions of Ukraine, the south was struck by the Kakhovka Dam breach on 6 June 2023, causing flooding and the displacement of thousands of people in the area, and leaving many regions without access to clean drinking water. Those who decided to remain are struggling to access food, water, health care, education and other essential services.

The most vulnerable people are still in need of safe housing, protection services and livelihoods support among other needs. Displaced people in rural areas are also struggling to access services. Many of those in need of assistance live in the areas beyond the control of Ukrainian government, where the response is limited due to access constraints.

• Learn more about NRC HERE and NRC Ukraine HERE.

NRC might review applications before the advertised deadline, therefore interested candidates are encouraged to apply early.