Internal Displacement Monitoring and Data Unit Manager, IDMC

What we are looking for:

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) is looking for an experienced manager with a strong background in displacement monitoring and data systems to lead its global monitoring and data unit. In this senior leadership role, you'll drive IDMC's internal displacement monitoring and data strategy, oversee its core technical infrastructure, and harness data science and AI to strengthen the world's leading evidence base on internal displacement. Working closely with colleagues across IDMC and NRC, as well as external partners, you'll be responsible for the production and accessibility of IDMC’s data products including data sets on the number of internal displacements and the number of people living in internal displacement around the world. Ultimately you will help shape the future of humanitarian and development data to deliver lasting global impact.

What you will do:

Here are some of your specific responsibilities

Strategy

• Contribute to the development of organisational strategies (programme, fundraising, stakeholder engagement, etc.) and support their effective implementation
• Coordinate closely with relevant colleagues and stakeholders to develop and implement an internal displacement monitoring & data strategy aligned with IDMC’s global strategy and supporting the sustainable running of data functions across departments.
• .Identify and communicate institutional risks related to data infrastructure, data quality, and technical sustainability, and propose mitigation strategies to leadership.

Technical Leadership & Innovation

• Establish and maintain IDMC's institutional data governance framework — including data quality standards, metadata management, data lifecycle processes, and access controls across all datasets.
• Ensure the maintenance of IDMC’s global monitoring standards and tools
• Manage and develop IDMC’s core data infrastructure and systems in compliance with data governance framework (including Helix, GIDD, IDU, APIs, knowledge base platform, and website data components).
• Lead data science and innovation efforts including data automation workflows and innovation initiatives.
• Manage the delivery of organisational data products, workflows, and services (e.g. APIs)
• Lead the design of technically complex innovation projects, delivering transformative improvements to data volume, quality, and timeliness of IDMC data products.
• Coordinate and collaborate effectively with other programme departments to tailor data and innovation efforts to organizational needs and priorities.

Project & Contract Management

• Ensure that projects or outputs under responsibility are effectively delivered in compliance with donor requirements, regulations and NRC policies and procedures; including timely reporting and appropriate use of organisational and donor visibility guidelines and tools.
• Ensure projects or outputs under responsibility are delivered in line with project cycle management standards including the development and oversight of programme work plans, procurement plans, MEAL plans, and budget allocation plans
• Conduct regular budget forecasting and monitoring
• Develop technical specifications and work closely with procurement to ensure sound contracts are established with third party suppliers
• Supervise third-party contractors and ensure their compliance with contractual obligations.
• Supervise and line manage external consultants, of the unit, including planning of work and development, coordination of resources and ensuring achievement of deliverables.

People Planning & Management

• Contribute to the development of organisational and project specific HR plans and job descriptions (JDs), and lead recruitment, onboarding, and offboarding processes.
• Ensure staff and consultants under direct line management are clear on their roles, responsibilities and accountabilities through the effective use of NRC people management tools and workflows.
• Ensure direct reports’ adherence to donor regulations and NRC's policies and procedures, including Code of Conduct and PSEA standards and obligations.
• Nurture a positive and collaborative team environment of mutual respect, peer learning, and creativity.

External Representation, Coordination & Business Development

• Lead & coordinate unit specific stakeholder engagement and represent IDMC in technical fora and expert groups, and strengthen partnerships that promote the sustainability of services
• Contribute to outreach activities; conduct training workshops, seminars, etc.
• Support the institutional fundraising and reporting strategy to sustain and expand activities of the HUB, represent IDMC in relevant fora and develop a network of partners and contacts to help IDMC obtain analyse and validate data on internal displacement.
• Contribute to the development and submission of high-quality concept notes and proposals to donors
• Participate in donor meetings to provide project specific updates and/or facilitate new business development.
• Contribute to stakeholder engagement strategies and plans.

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

What you will bring:

• Master's degree in data/computer/information science, international or humanitarian affairs, migration and displacement, or disaster risk management and climate adaptation or related field; equivalent professional experience considered.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in data science, information management, or technical leadership — ideally in a humanitarian, research, or policy context.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in project management including managing multidisciplinary technical teams, remote management and management of external consultants.
• Strong representation skills including the ability to translate complex technical concepts into accessible language and strategic narratives for peers, donors and external audiences both verbally and in writing.
• Proven track record developing networks and engaging with a variety of different partners (national governments, IOs, civil society)
• Knowledge of internal displacement, humanitarian information ecosystems, and global data standards (e.g. OCHA, IASC).
• Experience in grant writing, donor reporting, and technically oriented business development.
• Excellent written and oral communication in English; additional languages an asset.
• Experience or sound knowledge in displacement data collection methodologies and analysis and ability to evaluate the quality of data sources. Knowledge of IDMC monitoring tools and standards would be an advantage;
• Ability to communicate clear contextual analysis and description of methods used to collect, interpret, analyse and validate data on internal displacement
• Expertise in developing and managing data infrastructure, cloud architecture (e.g. AWS), database management, open data products, public APIs or large-scale data dissemination platforms.
• Demonstrated expertise in applied data pipelines and analysis with the ability to set an innovation roadmap and lead technically complex, grant-funded projects from design to delivery.
• Applied knowledge of machine learning, NLP, and AI-driven automation — with demonstrated experience deploying these at scale.
• Strong command of data governance frameworks, metadata standards, and data quality assurance methodologies.

What we offer:

• Duty station: The preferred location is Berlin, Germany. . However, applications from candidates based in other countries (except Geneva, Switzerland) where NRC has an office or Employer of Record (EoR) arrangement will also be considered, provided they are within Central European Time (CET) or up to three hours ahead or behind (CET ±3).
• Contract: 1 year – Renewable.
• Travel: Up to 20%
• Salary/benefits: Grade 9 on NRC’s Resident 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.

Organization context

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee.

Join us in assisting millions of people in areas where others cannot, tackling some of the world's most dangerous and difficult crises. Bring your skills and dedication to an organisation recognised for providing high quality aid and for defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced people.

At NRC, we give responsibility to employees at all levels and foster professional growth and innovative teams. You can expect a supportive culture and an open dialogue with management. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Together, we save lives and rebuild futures.

Safeguarding is central to NRC’s work. We expect all employees to:

• treat everyone with respect and dignity

• contribute to building a safe environment for all

• never engage in any form of exploitation, harassment and specifically sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH)

• always report. NRC has a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against exploitation, abuse and SEAH