we are looking for a Regional Core Competency (CC) Advisor for Livelihoods and Food Security (LFS) who will be responsible for providing specialist advice and guidance to the Country offices for ensuring that optimal CC programme strategies, systems, policy, tools and practices are in place, will also contribute to funding bids from the CC perspective and assist the Country Office in ensuring that donor opportunities are identified, and donor obligations and requirements are met.

The Regional LFS Adviser will provide a range of advisory support, technical oversight and capacity building to CO staff in relation to their own specialist area of expertise.

Additionally,  you may act within regional CC team as the lead on a particular cross- cutting area of programme strategy and development. Staff within the team will be expected to contribute to global development initiatives as part of the wider community of specialists.

The CC team is part of a technical matrix structure and is required to work collaboratively with colleagues in both the technical and the operational management structures in country offices, and the regional team.  They also have a technical accountability to the global programme function, policy, strategy, and direction as determined through the Head Office level of NRC.  Collaborative working with colleagues within the wider regional programme team, at HO and in other Regions is essential to effectiveness in the role and maximising the shared learning across NRC.

What you will do: 

Policy and strategy and programme development

1. Responsible for ensuring compliance and adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures in relation to the thematic area while contributing to the development of policies, strategies, tools and new approaches with a focus on innovation and piloting.
2. Responsible of supporting the development of country/regional core competence strategies and implementation plans in line with global policies and strategies.
3. Work in partnership with the HO Programme department to contribute to specific areas of innovation and development, including piloting and learning from experiences at the country office and regional level, development of policies, strategies and tools, and sharing learning with other regions.
4. Contribute to the resource mobilization and fundraising for regional programme development related to LFS. 

Technical development, support and capacity building

1. Responsible for providing strategic advice and technical support and capacity building support to the Country Offices in the region on relevant core competency or cross-cutting issues across Country Offices in the region and the Regional Office.
2. Ensure that LFS based programming approaches contributes to integrated programming and analysis and that these interventions are measured
3. Contribute to development and delivery of induction and training provision of CO staff in relation to own core competency, working collaboratively with L&D and other colleagues.  Contribute to recruitment interviews for technical staff.  Provide technical supervision to LFS leads in Country Offices.

Quality standards, data analysis and M&E

1. Responsible for ensuring that best practices within the core competency are identified, documented and disseminated both within the region and beyond.
2. Work in partnership with M&E staff, to ensure the alignment of the programmatic areas in the M&E and PCM systems in relation to own core competency.
3. Responsible for supporting and monitoring country programme compliance with the Programme Policy and respective quality assurances in relation to the core competency.

Networking, representation and relationships

1. Responsible for identification, development and maintenance of relationships with relevant regional stakeholders (e.g., donors, UN agencies, NGOs, research- and educational institutions, private sector) related to programmes in general and more specifically as related to NRC’s Core Competencies.
2. Work in partnership with the regional and country office advocacy leads to identify and develop regional advocacy issues related to the core competence and relevant cross-cutting issues.

What you will bring: 

• In-depth knowledge and expertise of Livelihoods & Food Security  in an economic recovery, developing country and/or urban development context
• At least 6 years working experience in a senior position within Livelihoods & Food Security in the humanitarian or development sector
• Experience of strategic approaches to programme development
• Experience of developing practical tools and resources
• Experience of programme quality assessments, programme development and delivery
• Understanding of and commitment to organisational learning, and the role and contribution of M&E to quality management and development
• Understanding of, and commitment to working collaboratively with technical and operational colleagues within a matrix structure, including capacity building
• Experience of delivering learning and development as part of quality improvement and capacity building
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal
• Master’s degree or similar level in relevant field of economic recovery, sustainable livelihoods, urban development and livelihoods or related field of expertise
• Knowledge, experience and skills with market based programming
• Experience working in partnership with public and private institutions and organisations
• Experience designing relevant assessments and multisectoral needs assessments and analysis is required
• Understanding of and commitment to integrated programming approaches
• Contextual knowledge or previous experience in Central and Eastern Europe is an asset

We encourage you to check the details Job Description 

What we offer

• Duty station: Warsaw, Poland (flexibility within the region can be considered)
• Contract: national contract, 12 months
• Travel: up to 35%
• Salary/benefits: grade 9 on NRC’s regional salary 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

• 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.
• Nationals from Central and Eastern Europe are highly encouraged to apply.
• If you have any questions about this role, please email [email protected] 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 have been present in Ukraine since 2014, helping more than 700,000 people with food, shelter, water, sanitation, and legal assistance. Following the escalation of conflict on 24 February 2022, we scaled up our work inside Ukraine and its neighbouring countries Poland, Moldova and Romania. Today we support hundreds of thousands of people in the region, both directly and through local partners.

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

Learn more about NRC