Chief of Party – ‘Catalyst Fund’ for Locally Led Humanitarian Response & Solutions
Norwegian Refugee Council · Oslo
What we’re looking for:
NRC is seeking an experienced Chief of Party to lead the ‘Catalyst Fund’ for Locally Led Humanitarian Response & Solutions, an ambitious new initiative transforming how humanitarian assistance is financed and delivered.
You will provide strategic leadership across countries, partners and workstreams, driving programme delivery, locally led partnerships, learning and humanitarian systems change. The Fund aims to strengthen local leadership in neglected displacement crises, initially in Africa, by combining rapid, flexible emergency response with locally led recovery, protection and sustainable pathways to solutions.
Beyond immediate impact, you will help shape a scalable model that strengthens local systems, promotes self-reliance, and influences wider humanitarian financing, policy and practice. The role is expected to begin with a six-month inception phase to establish the Fund’s operational model, partnerships, governance and learning systems, subject to final approval.
The ideal candidate must have a strong understanding of NRC’s internal systems, processes, and operational context.
What you will do:
Strategy
Set the strategic direction of the Fund and ensure the effective functioning of its activation, assurance and accompaniment arrangements across all levels of governance and implementation.
Working closely with the donor(s) and the Fund's governing bodies, develop and implement the Fund's multi-year strategy, including its results matrix, control measures and key performance indicators.
Accountable for robust risk mapping of Fund activities and implementation of appropriate risk mitigation measures.
Responsible for monitoring and reporting on progress against strategic objectives and KPIs to NRC leadership, donors, and the Fund's governing bodies.
Co-responsible (with NRC Management and the donor) for identifying and developing additional funding opportunities and co-donor partnerships to grow the Fund.
Responsible for the Fund's transition/continuity planning, including succession from the inception-phase support arrangements.
Fund Management Team
Ensure the Fund has the appropriate capacity and expertise required for effective delivery, and lead/support the recruitment of dedicated Fund positions.
Provide strategic and functional leadership to staff and functions supporting the Fund, through line management, and/or functional relationships, as appropriate to the final organisational set-up.
Establish effective working relationships with relevant NRC functions and teams, including the Emergency Response, Operational Support and Governance, and Global Programme Sections, ensuring coherent and timely support to the Fund across programme, grants, partnerships, finance, MEAL, learning, communications, policy and advocacy, and other relevant functions.
Maintain effective coordination with external or shared functions supporting the Fund, including the ICVA Local Coordination Adviser, as relevant.
Budget holder for the Fund, managing its budget, assets and resources.
Responsible for the review and submission of quality donor reports (programmatic and financial), evaluations, audits, and partner agreements/awards.
Ensure Fund functions (grants, finance, MEAL, communications, learning) provide effective and timely support to country teams and partners.
Ensure effective risk management, compliance and mitigation across the Fund Facility.
Accountable for the Fund's legal and regulatory compliance, including donor agreements and relations with the donor.
Governance
Convene and service the Fund's governing bodies (Steering Committee/Board), ensuring agreed courses of action are implemented, reported on and monitored.
Responsible for presenting the Fund's roll-out and delivery to the Steering Committee/Board and participate in board discussions as the Fund's representative.
Delivery
Review and sign off on Fund activations and awards, ensuring adherence to the Fund's proportionate due diligence and assurance model.
Responsible for ensuring high-quality implementation of Fund-supported responses, and accountable for control measures for monitoring delivery, in coordination with the roving staff deployed and country-level structures.
Ensure close coordination with Country Office management teams in the delivery of the response.
Ensure that NRC policies on safeguarding, Safe and Inclusive Programming and community engagement, and equitable partnerships are upheld in the delivery of the response
Ensure effective coordination with relevant NRC technical and thematic functions, drawing on their expertise and quality assurance to support delivery of the Fund's humanitarian response, localisation and solutions objectives.
Representation, Learning and System Change
Represent the Fund with external stakeholders (the donor(s), other donors, UN agencies, INGOs, local actors, coordination bodies such as ICVA), with the aim of advancing the Fund's strategic objectives and catalysing buy-in from key stakeholders.
Working with the Global Learning Advisor, drive the Fund's Learning Agenda, ensuring learning is captured and used to influence humanitarian policy, financing and coordination practice in support of locally led approaches.
Please download a more detailed JOB DESCRIPTION for more specific duties and responsibilities.
What you will bring:
Minimum 7 years' experience in a senior management role (e.g. Country Director, Head of Programmes, Fund/Grant Facility Director) in humanitarian or development contexts.
Strong understanding of NRC’s internal systems, processes and operational context.
Proven experience managing humanitarian pooled funds, grant facilities, or complex multi-partner consortia.
Experience in localisation and locally-led humanitarian response approaches.
Effective communication, interpersonal, facilitation and diplomatic skills, including the professional credibility to provide coordination and guidance to a multi-disciplinary global team.
Documented results related to the position's responsibilities.
Fluency in English , both written and verbal, with strong writing and editing skills.
Prior expertise in Sub-Saharan Africa displacement contexts is an advantage.
French language skills are an advantage, given the Fund's initial geographic focus.
Prior experience with fund facility programmes, or similarly structured multi-donor mechanisms, is an advantage.
What we offer:
Duty station: NRC’s HO in Oslo, Rep Offices in Berlin, Brussels and London, as well Employer of Records (EoR) listed countries. The position could also be hosted in Dakar and/or Nairobi on a Resident contract.
Contract: 24 months
Travel: Up to 40%.
Salary/benefits: grade 11 on NRC’s Resident/National 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
For Internal candidates: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity Market Place.
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.
We receive many applications for each vacant position and so only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
If you have any questions about this role, please email ho.recruitment@nrc.no 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.