Deputy Regional Director – Eastern Africa Region

Title: Deputy Regional Director – Eastern Africa Region

Reports to: Regional Director

Start Date: September 1, 2025

Contract Duration: 2 Years

Location: Nairobi / Kenya

Organisational Context

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is a global ministry of the Society of Jesus, incorporated as an international catholic non-governmental organisation with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for the cause of forcibly displaced people that they may heal, learn, and determine their own future in community. JRS was founded on 14th November 1980 by Fr. Pedro Arrupe SJ, then Superior General of the Society of Jesus, as a response to the needs of Vietnamese refugees fleeing their war-torn country in Asia. Currently, JRS has a presence in over 57 countries with its International Office based in Rome – Italy and the Regional Office of Eastern Africa based in Nairobi – Kenya.

The style of JRS’ service is human, pedagogical and spiritual, working in situations of greatest need, seeking the long-term well-being forcibly displaced people while not neglecting their immediate or urgent needs.

The main services provided are in the fields of Education, Social Inclusion & Livelihood, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Reconciliation, Global Advocacy and strengthening the Climate Resilience of the people served.

To do its work, JRS seeks to recruit those who can offer service under difficult conditions, work in a collaborative and transparent manner, commit themselves to train others in whatever competencies they possess, and live a lifestyle that reflects a commitment to address issues of injustice.

Role

The JRS EAR Deputy Regional Director is responsible for assisting the Regional Director by providing him with the necessary support in the management of the Region. This position includes the responsibility to help propose and implement comprehensive regional strategies.

The Eastern Africa Region comprises 6 countries namely Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania. The Region is expected to expand to include South Africa, Malawi and Mozambique. This expansion will be effective from August 2025 when the Region will become Eastern & Southern Africa Region (ESAR).

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Vision and Planning

• Promote the vision, identity and unity of the JRS in the Region.
• Assist the Regional Director and Country Directors in the development and implementation of multi-year strategies.
• Assist the Regional Director in setting policies for the JRS EAR in consultation with the Project Directors, Country Directors and the International Office.
• Assist the Regional Director in the design and implementation of regional strategic planning.
• Advise the Regional Director on key regional and country issues.

Supervision and Staff Care

• Assist the Regional Director in providing support, direction and supervision to Country Directors (e.g implementation of the regional priorities & strategic vision) and to the Regional Office Staff.
• Support the various processes at the country office level, in accordance with the JRS EAR Inter Office Coordination Procedures (IOCP).
• Assist the Regional Director to ensure a better workforce planning in the Region, in coordination with the Country Directors (recruitment of expatriates, annual performance evaluations, moving expatriates between countries taking into account experiences and needs...)
• Assist the Regional Director in ensuring the well-being and commitment of the Country Directors and, as a result, the general well-being and safety and security of all the JRS staff in the Region in collaboration with the Country Directors and Country HR Officers.
• Encourage and strengthen the capacity of Country teams so that they can achieve their goals with greater operational autonomy.
• In coordination with Country Directors and Country HR Officers, ensure that all JRS HR Manual and Policies are updated and followed by all staff.
• Visit the Country and Project Field Offices, listen to them and support each member of the staff. Raise any particular concern to the attention of the Regional Director.
• Supervise the Regional Office Staff.

Programs & Grants Monitoring

• Ensure that the JRS project cycle is followed by the Country and Project Offices.
• Develop a tracking tool to consolidate all donor agreements for each Country in the Region and support the Country Directors in the continuous maintenance of various reporting deadlines to donors.
• Assess new initiatives to open new projects after consultation with the Regional Director and Country Directors and other key members of the regional management.
• Facilitate project evaluation and determine how the exit, closure or transfer process can best be achieved for each project.
• Ensure the capitalization of the Region's achievements and learning.
• Ensure that best practices are harmonized between the different Country programs in the Region.

Finance and Budgeting

• Prepare for the consolidation of the Region's accounts and to ensure better distribution and optimal use of funds.
• Ensure that all offices in the Region (Regional, Country and Project Offices) implement Navision.
• Assist the Regional Director to ensure that the various Country and Project Offices have the necessary funds.
• Support the annual country-level planning and budgeting process. Ensure that the Regional Director approves the Country Budgets before they are implemented.

Coordination and Communication

• In coordination with the International Office Focal Points (Finance, Programmes, HR) for the Region, organize the technical monthly meeting with the Country Officers to provide them support in their areas of challenge.
• Hold a weekly meeting with the Regional Director.
• Prepare agenda and take minutes for the monthly Country Directors meeting.
• Support the Regional Director to plan and facilitate a meeting of JRS Country Directors at the regional level twice a year.
• Support the Regional Director to plan and facilitate the Advisory Board meeting twice a year.
• Support the Regional Director in representing JRS with key stakeholders

Qualification and Experience

The candidate should have:

• An advanced, accredited university degree in Management, Political Sciences, Law, International Development or another related discipline. An undergraduate degree with strong relevant field experience will be considered in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Minimum of ten (10) years’ experience of increasing responsibilities in human service organizations, ideally in humanitarian or development organizations with a strong human rights, and/or faith, background. Experience in project development and management, work with refugees, and/or advocacy with forcibly displaced people is a particular advantage.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ employment in a managerial or leadership position
• Demonstrated evidence of leadership in a professional setting/humanitarian response with the ability to think strategically, motivate others, create new projects, solve problems and be part of a multi-cultural and multi-faith team.
• Proven performance in organizational management, budget development and management, and general office coordination.
• Demonstrated ability to fundraise.
• Demonstrated evidence of an entrepreneurial spirit.
• A proven ability to capture impact and learning from operations and feed it into new programmes.
• Knowledge of and/or familiarity with key concepts and current trends in forced migration and challenges faced by forcibly displaced people.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen, effectively communicate, negotiate and work creatively with stakeholders of varying backgrounds: beneficiaries, government representatives, church leaders and refugee groups among them.

Language:

• Excellent proficiency in written and verbal English.
• A professional working knowledge of French is highly desirable.

How to apply

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application following this link: Deputy Regional Director – Eastern Africa Region | JRS - Jesuit Refugee Service

The application should include:

• A Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English including the names and contact information(phone and

  email) of three (3) professional references.

• A cover letter outlining your motivation and suitability for the position

The deadline for submission is 27 July 2025 (23:59 CET).

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

JRS International Office is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We believe that diversity enriches our organization and strengthens our ability to serve refugees worldwide. We actively encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, including those historically underrepresented in the humanitarian sector, to apply. We are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where all staff members feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute to our mission of accompanying and serving refugees with compassion and solidarity