Refugee Biriyani & Bananas (RBB) is a female-led, community-led grassroots organisation that began in 2015, cooking biriyani for people displaced and living in an informal camp in Dunkirk, Northern France. Since then, we have continued supporting displaced communities in places where assistance is urgent, limited, delayed, or inconsistent. Our work has taken us through border crisis zones and war-affected areas, from delivering medical aid to Syria to supporting camps in Kurdistan and Serbia. Today, our main focus is Greece, and community-led projects through our teams and partners in Cairo and Gaza.

We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate individual to join our small team, leading ground operations and supporting the CEO with organisational development. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone looking to work in emergency relief with grassroots, community-led approaches. We are looking for someone who is a self-starter and able to grow the role as needed. If you are looking to gain experience in a senior role within an organisation, then this might be the opportunity for you!

This is a diverse role, and outcome objectives for the first year include:

• Maintain and deliver consistent, safe operational humanitarian support and assistance systems across Chios, including procurement and budget management responsibilities. 
• Strengthen relationships with local authorities, suppliers, community partners, and other stakeholders.
• Enhance RBB’s practice of supporting leadership from community members, including mentoring those with lived experience of displacement to take over responsibilities in projects.
• Embed ethical storytelling and field insight processes into the organisation’s reporting cycle.

Contract Type: Freelance contract (full time)

Contract Duration: 12 months (review after first 3 months), with possibility of renewal funding dependent.

Fee: Competitive freelance rate, starting from €2000 per month. To be calculated based on experience and cost of being based in Greece. 

The role requires the post-holder to manage their own freelance tax status, insurance, and legal right to work in Greece. Applicants must be willing to be based in Chios or Athens, with travel across Greece. This is a full time position with flexible hours across 7 days on a freelance contract. Evening and weekend hours may be required as the nature of the work is not fixed to office hours. We aim to provide as much support as possible including mentoring, opportunities for skill building, and covering work-related costs wherever needed or agreed with the CEO.

Essential skills required:

• At least 3 years in field-based humanitarian work, grassroots aid delivery, or similar frontline roles.
• Direct experience working in Greece, or other displacement contexts.
• Relevant educational/professional background (social sciences, migration studies, social work, public health, medical, community work, logistics, safeguarding).
• Valid driving licence (manual vehicles and vans)
• Strong IT and digital skills, including using Word, Excel and cloud sharing platforms. Basic skills with content editing tools such as Canva and Capcut for social media or willingness to learn.
• Strong fluency in English (spoken and written), with clear, accurate, sensitive communication. Fluency in another language is highly desirable, especially in Arabic, Farsi, French, Greek, Dari or any other.
• Knowledge of safeguarding practices and practical experience ensuring no harm while working with vulnerable communities.

How to Apply

You can download the full role description here.

You can apply for this role by sending your CV and cover letter outlining your suitability and motivation to. When writing your cover letter please answer the following guiding questions: 

1. How do you describe “community-led action” in your own words? (Provide examples of community-led action that you have been part of if possible.)
2. Please tell us about a time when you had to show leadership in a group and what challenges did you face? 
3. What is your main motivation for applying for this role and what challenges do you expect to face? 

Please send your CV and cover letter by email with the subject line: RBB Deputy CEO (Operations & Field Leadership Application)

Application should be sent to the following email address:  [email protected]

Applications close on Monday 12th January 2026 11:59pm UK time. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Early applications are encouraged. We expect to hold interviews remotely the week beginning 19th January 2026. Applicants with lived experience of displacement are encouraged to apply.

Please visit www.refugeebiriyanibananas.orgfor more information.