Area Manager CAR Bouar

The Area Manager based in Bouar will provide overall operational leadership and ensure high-quality, safe, compliant and cost-effective programme implementation across NRC’s CAR operational area. The role includes field-level leadership, programme delivery, support-function coordination, security and access management, area-level representation, staff management, and implementation of the CAR transition roadmap.

Responsibilities

• Line management responsibilities for directly reporting staff including performance management, setting clear goals aligned to country strategy and priorities, and supporting staff achievement.
• Responsible for workforce planning, recruitment, staff induction and development and ensuring Duty of Care for own staff.
• Ensure compliance with NRC policies, guidelines, and procedures.
• Provide area-specific input to country strategy, Core Competency strategies, transition planning, annual plans and programme development processes.
• Ensure high-quality implementation of projects in the area, including timely delivery, budget monitoring, donor compliance, synergies between projects and optimal use of resources.
• Lead area-level grant management processes, including grant opening, review and closure meetings, with support from Grants, Finance, M&E and programme teams.
• Ensure effective coordination between programme and support functions to enable accountable, timely and cost-efficient programme delivery.
• Represent NRC at area level and, when delegated, in Bangui with relevant authorities, coordination mechanisms, donors, partners, local leaders and other stakeholders.
• Ensure overall safety, security and duty of care for staff, assets and operations in the area, in collaboration with HSS and senior management.
• Assess needs, monitor context changes and contribute to emergency preparedness, access analysis and response planning.
• Promote the rights of displaced people, returnees and affected communities in line with NRC’s advocacy strategy and the principle of Do No Harm.
• Lead and support staff development, accountability, team cohesion and change management during the transition period.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a senior management position in a humanitarian, recovery or development context, including staff management responsibility.
• Documented experience in area management, field operations, programme implementation and support-function coordination in complex and volatile contexts.
• Strong experience in grants management, donor compliance, budget monitoring and multi-department coordination.
• Experience managing multi-site operations, including office opening, transition, scale-up, restructuring, closure or handover processes.
• Experience in external representation and coordination with authorities, donors, UN agencies, NGOs, local leaders and community structures.
• Strong understanding of safety and security management, humanitarian access, duty of care and risk management.
• Fluency in French, both written and verbal; professional working knowledge of English required.
• Knowledge of NRC systems, procedures and Core Competencies is an advantage.
• Knowledge of the CAR context, particularly western and central CAR, including Nana Mambéré, Ouham-Pendé and Nana-Gribizi.
• Experience working with displacement, return, durable solutions, civil documentation, education, protection, ICLA, WASH, livelihoods or social cohesion programming.
• Experience coordinating with local authorities, traditional leaders, partners and communities in sensitive environments.
• Experience managing change processes involving staff uncertainty, programme transition, funding constraints or new operating models.
• Ability to analyse operational, political, security, financial and reputational risks and translate them into practical mitigation measures.
• Ability to lead teams remotely and across multiple locations while maintaining accountability, communication and performance.

Skills

• Senior Management
• Humanitarian Operations Liaison
• Area Management
• Field Operations Experience
• Programme Implementation
• Support-function Coordination
• Grants Management
• Donor Compliance
• Budget Monitoring
• Multi-department Coordination
• Multi-site Operations Management
• Office Opening and Closure
• External Representation
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Safety and Security Management
• Humanitarian Access
• Duty of Care
• Risk Management
• Change Management
• Operational Risk Analysis
• Political Risk Analysis
• Security Risk Assessment
• Financial Risk Management
• Reputational Risk Management
• Remote Team Leadership
• Multi-location Team Management
• NRC Systems Knowledge
• Displacement Programming
• Return Programming
• Durable solutions programming
• Civil Documentation
• Education Programming
• Protection Programming
• ICLA Programming
• WASH Programming
• Livelihood Programming
• Social Cohesion Programming
• Coordination with Local Authorities
• Coordination with Traditional Leaders
• Community Engagement

Languages

French, English