Head of Mission Support (AUSSOM)

Lead mission support operations in high-risk environments

This opening expired 22 days ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

AUC - The African Union Commission

Open positions at AUC / Open positions at AU
Logo of AUC

Application deadline 22 days ago: Friday 12 Jun 2026 at 23:59 UTC

Open application form

Overview

Lead mission support operations in high-risk environments

You have:

  • Master’s degree in Business or Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, Law, Human Resources Management, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Communications, Social Sciences, or a related field
  • Twelve (12) years of relevant professional experience
  • Seven (7) years at managerial level
  • Five (5) years at supervisory level in complex operational environments
  • Experience working in field missions or stabilization operations, preferably in high risk, high pressure environments
  • Demonstrated experience in logistics, HR, finance, and administration in remote settings
  • Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish)
  • Fluency in another AU language is an added advantage

Job Description /* Keep the native text formatting visually consistent with the theme */ .joqReqDescription, .job-description, .joblayouttoken[data-tag="jobdescription"] { font-family: 'Univers', 'Univers LT Std', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; color: #4b5563 !important; }

/* Keep the native text formatting visually consistent */

.joqReqDescription,

.job-description,

.joblayouttoken[data-tag="jobdescription"],

[itemprop="description"] {

font-family: 'Univers', 'Univers LT Std', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important;

color: #4b5563 !important;

}

/* Mobile collapse classes */

.au-mobile-collapse {

max-height: 350px;

overflow: hidden !important;

position: relative;

display: block !important; /* Forces the span to behave like a box so max-height works */

}

/* Adds the white fade over the text */

.au-mobile-collapse::after {

content: "";

position: absolute;

bottom: 0;

left: 0;

width: 100%;

height: 100px;

background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0), rgba(255, 255, 255, 1));

pointer-events: none;

}

.au-read-more-btn {

display: block;

width: 100%;

padding: 12px;

margin-top: 15px;

background-color: #f3f4f6;

color: #1A5632;

border: 1px solid #1A5632;

border-radius: 4px;

text-align: center;

font-size: 14px;

cursor: pointer;

font-weight: bold;

font-family: 'Univers', 'Univers LT Std', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;

}

document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function() {

// Language detection logic matching header/metadata locale detection

let isFrench = false;

const currentUrlStr = window.location.href.toLowerCase();

const htmlLang = document.documentElement.lang ? document.documentElement.lang.toLowerCase() : "";

if (currentUrlStr.includes("locale=fr") || currentUrlStr.includes("lang=fr") || currentUrlStr.includes("-fr_fr") || currentUrlStr.includes("/fr/")) {

isFrench = true;

} else if (htmlLang.includes("fr")) {

isFrench = true;

} else if (typeof appParams !== 'undefined' && appParams.locale === 'fr_FR') {

isFrench = true;

}

/* Wait for the Unified Data Model to inject the text */

const checkDesc = setInterval(function() {

// Target the actual element holding the job description in UDM

const descContainer = document.querySelector('[itemprop="description"]');

// Check if the container exists and has substantial content

if (descContainer && descContainer.innerHTML.trim().length > 100) {

clearInterval(checkDesc);

/* Ensure it behaves like a block so max-height works properly */

descContainer.style.display = 'block';

/* Only apply the collapse if the description is actually long */

if (descContainer.scrollHeight > 0) {

descContainer.classList.add('au-mobile-collapse');

const readMoreBtn = document.createElement('button');

readMoreBtn.className = 'au-read-more-btn';

if (isFrench) {

readMoreBtn.innerHTML = 'Lire la suite ';

} else {

readMoreBtn.innerHTML = 'Read More ';

}

// Insert the button right after the description container

descContainer.parentNode.insertBefore(readMoreBtn, descContainer.nextSibling);

// Remove the fade and height limits when clicked

readMoreBtn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {

e.preventDefault();

descContainer.classList.remove('au-mobile-collapse');

readMoreBtn.style.display = 'none';

});

}

}

}, 500);

// Safety timeout just in case it never loads so it stops checking after 10 seconds

setTimeout(() => clearInterval(checkDesc), 10000);

});

AU Values

• Respect for Diversity and Team Work • Think Africa Above all

• Transparency and Accountability • Integrity and Impartiality

• Efficiency and Professionalism • Information and Knowledge Sharing

Download CV Template Here

Please download the African Union CV template here. Kindly fill it out correctly and upload it to the "Resume" tab of your profile. This is MANDATORY.

AU CV Template_ENGLISH.docx

Organization Information

Reports to: Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission (DSRCC) Directorate/Department/Organ: Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security Division:AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia Number of Direct Reports:3 Number of Indirect Reports: 0 Job Grade:P5 Number of Positions:1 Contract Type: Fixed Term Location: Mogadishu, Somalia

Purpose of Job

The Head Mission Support reports to the DSRCC and is responsible for planning and implementing all mission support/administrative sections of the mission. The Head of Mission Support ensures the provision and efficient use of all mission material requirements and provides logistical and administrative support required to all mission components. Within delegated authority, the Head of Mission Support shall be responsible for the following functions.

Main Functions

• Effectively leads, coordinates and manages mission administration. • Delivers services that meet the established objectives and goals and contributes to the implementation of the mission’s mandate. • Responsible for the management of the mission support operations. • Supports the SRCC in delegated administrative tasks, ensuring a smooth relation with local and national authorities;

Specific Responsibilities

• Provides direct leadership and hands on oversight of all mission support functions in a high risk, field based environment, ensuring uninterrupted operational capability across logistics, supply chain, transport, aviation support, engineering, ICT, and administrative services. • Manages day to day mission support activities in remote and austere locations, ensuring that essential services (fuel, rations, water, accommodation, medical evacuation readiness, communications, and mobility) remain fully functional. • Serves as the principal adviser to the SRCC on all mission support, logistics, administrative, and operational sustainment matters, providing real time assessments and actionable recommendations. • Plans and executes complex logistical operations, including convoy movements, air tasking requests, supply distribution, and emergency resupply in insecure areas. • Ensures effective and accountable management of human, financial, and material resources, including asset control, inventory management, and compliance with AU rules and procedures. • Ensures integrated support to military, police, and civilian components, enabling coordinated operations and joint planning in the field. • Identifies and implements mission wide support strategies, contingency plans, and operational frameworks tailored to Somalia’s security and logistical realities. • Provides leadership, mentoring, and performance management for mission support personnel deployed across sectors and remote team sites. • Liaises and negotiates with Somali authorities, security actors, and local service providers on logistics, movement, customs clearance, infrastructure access, and administrative matters. • Establishes and enforces mission support policies, SOPs, and accountability mechanisms to ensure proper financial, HR, and asset management in line with AU standards. • Coordinates mission support during emergencies, including relocations, medical evacuations, supply disruptions, and security related contingencies. • Represents the Mission Support Component in senior leadership forums, budget discussions, coordination platforms, and official engagements. • Serves as a member of the Mission Senior Leadership Team and Mission Management Team, contributing to strategic planning and decision making. • Performs any other tasks assigned by the SRCC/DSRCC in support of mission objectives

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s degree in Business or Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, Law, Human Resources Management, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Communications, Social Sciences, or a related field, with twelve (12) years of relevant professional experience, including seven (7) years at managerial level and five (5) years at supervisory level in complex operational environments.

• Field Mission Support Experience — Demonstrated experience working in field missions or stabilization operations, preferably in high risk, high pressure environments such as the Horn of Africa. Experience should include hands on leadership of mission support functions (HR, logistics, supply chain, administration, finance, engineering support, or operational sustainment) in remote or austere settings. • Data & Analytics Qualifications — Additional qualifications in data analytics, business analytics, or data science are desirable, particularly for missions transitioning toward digital systems and evidence based planning. • Stakeholder Engagement & Leadership — Proven ability to operate effectively in complex, multi stakeholder environments, with a strong track record of building and maintaining relationships with host governments, military and police components, AU/UN partners, and local communities. • Multi Disciplinary Management Experience — Progressive experience overseeing Human Resources, Administration, Logistics, Financial Management, Budgeting, and Operational Support, ideally within a field mission or similarly demanding operational context. • Logistics Expertise — Experience across a broad range of logistics areas—including supply chain operations, transport, engineering support, asset management, and field operations—is highly desirable, especially in missions requiring rapid deployment and sustained support in challenging environments.

Required Skills

• Demonstrated outstanding verbal and written communication skills; • Ability to build productive teams and motivate individuals at all levels of an organization in the pursuit of common objectives. • Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; • Ability to provide seasoned effective specialized advice in a broad range of human resources, financial, logistical, and administrative areas to senior management team and other senior mission personnel; • Strong negotiation and conflict-resolution skills; • Prepared to work in a highly pressurized and hazardous/hostile environment.

Leadership Competencies

Strategic Perspective

Developing Others

Change Management

Managing Risks

Core Competencies

Building Relationships

Foster Accountability Culture

..Learning Orientation

Communicating with impact

Functional Competencies

Conceptual Thinking

Job Knowledge and Information Sharing

Drive for Results

Foster Innovation

Footer

TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables.

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

LANGUAGES: Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage

REMUNERATION:

The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$ 173,672.59 (P5 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 127,823.64 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

Applications must be submitted no later than June 12, 2026 11h59 p.m. EAT.

-Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted. -Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas (Bac+2), Bachelor's degrees (Bac+3), Master's degrees (Bac+5) and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise. -The African Union is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. -Candidates from least represented and underrepresented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles.

Least represented countries: Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, and Somalia.

Under represented countries: Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Sudan and Tunisia.

Potential interview questions

Describe a time you managed a high-pressure situation in a mission support role. What was the outcome? The interviewer wants to assess your ability to handle stress and make decisions under pressure. Provide a clear example focusing on your actions and their results.
How do you prioritize tasks in a complex operational environment? This question evaluates your organizational skills and ability to manage multiple responsibilities. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you provide an example of how you engaged stakeholders in a challenging situation? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies do you use to mentor and develop your team? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe your experience with logistics in high-risk areas. What challenges did you face? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you ensure effective communication within a diverse team? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What is your approach to managing conflict within a team? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you adapt your leadership style to fit different team dynamics? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 1 month ago - Updated 22 days ago - Source: au.int