Regional Head of Advocacy and Communication – Middle East Office

What we are looking for

This is a critical leadership role for the region and is part of the Senior Management Team for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional office. As such we are are looking for someone with professional credibility to provide strategic advice and guidance to senior managers in regional and country operations, as well as people management experience.  

Equally necessary for this role is proven record of media, advocacy, and communication experience in international context with significant understanding of advocacy networks relevant in the MENA region and experience in developing partnerships and alliance-building to advance advocacy objectives.

The successful candidate will have excellent understanding of the humanitarian context across the region, extensive knowledge of political debates related to conflict, asylum, and migration in the region, forced displacement policy issues including international refugee law, humanitarian principles and the international humanitarian response sector.

What you will do

The Regional Head of Advocacy, Media and Communication (RHoAMC) is responsible for and leads all Regional Office strategic processes related to Advocacy, including the development, coordination, and effective delivery of activities in line with regional and global advocacy priorities. 

The position will help to strengthen NRC’s response to prioritised concerns within the countries in the region and will provide overall vision and strategic direction to NRC’s advocacy work and link it to global NRC advocacy strategies and priorities. 

The RHoAMC is responsible for initiating and coordinating high quality communications and policy input to regional and global advocacy products/resources and for ensuring NRC’s advocacy and communication products are delivered to the highest standards. The RHoAMC leads on developing advocacy strategies, positions and products, applying experience and detailed knowledge of NRC operations and the external environment across the region. 

Key responsibilities

• Define and coordinate the region’s strategic advocacy response in cooperation with the Regional Management Team and the Regional Programme Department, ensuring alignment with the global advocacy priorities, organizational positions and policies, including on the production of advocacy products, talking points and input to regional strategy documents. 
• Lead on knowledge management for the Regional Office with responsibility for advising across all MENA countries on appropriate advocacy approaches based on experience of the humanitarian situation in the region and analysis and judgement of emerging trends and displacement patterns. 
• Support and provide strategic direction to Country Office advocacy leads to develop country-level advocacy strategies which include identified programme priorities.
• Provide analytical technical input, technical review and advice on appropriate strategies and activities for strengthening Country Office programme quality through the incorporation and integration of advocacy. 
• Support Country Offices to strengthen their capacity and resources on advocacy and improve the quality of prioritized advocacy initiatives aimed at both national and international targets as well as support to Country Offices to strengthen their communication and media capacity.
• Provide quality control and assurance for advocacy and media products at highest standards and in line with NRC branding.
• Lead on fundraising for advocacy activities, including the identification of opportunities in the region and lead and/or support the review and drafting of proposals as required. 
• Provide matrix technical line management of and supervisory support to advocacy staff in MENA country programmes as well as regional office staff engaged in advocacy efforts.
• Serve as the MENA Regional Office’s focal point for advocacy and communications related issues. 
• Participate in high-level representation of NRC at public events, humanitarian sector fora, and as spokesperson for media requests as necessary. Act as focal point on external engagement and relationship building with governments, donors, blocs, UN, peers, and coalitions, among others.

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the position. 

What you will bring

• Minimum 5 years of relevant Manager/Adviser experience within the humanitarian field with Professional knowledge about protection principles, humanitarian advocacy and understanding of the use of media for public advocacy.
• Excellent conceptual and analytical skills, as well as demonstrable ability to provide organisational and technical representation on humanitarian and displacement issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills particularly to convey information effectively and to write persuasively for a variety of audiences, including policymakers and donors. 
• Proven research and documentation skills, along with publication experience. 
• Fluency in English, knowledge of Arabic language is desirable.

What we offer

• Duty station: Amman, Jordan, Middle East and North Africa Regional Office.
• Contract: 24 months.
• Travel: Up to 35% within the region. 
• Salary/benefits: Grade 10 on NRC’s salary scales, 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

• We invite applications from all qualified and interested candidates. Please ensure you attach copies of your academic and professional certificates.
• For internal candidates only: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email address or click on Opportunity Marketplace.
• 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.
• 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 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