Integrated Protection Coordinator ( Syria Country Program )

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Inside Syria, 6.1 million people are internally displaced and 13.1 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, with three million in hard-to-reach areas. There are 5.4 million Syrian refugees in neighboring countries. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair..

Job Overview/Summary: --------------------------

The Integrated Protection Coordinator (IPC) will provide overall strategic direction and management for the protection program and any arising emergency response in Northwest Syria (NWS). The Coordinator will work with the Senior Program Coordinator and Deputy Director of Programs and sector leads to implement integrated protection programming inclusive of Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Child Protection and Protection and Rule of Law, directly and with partners.

Major Responsibilities: ----------------------------

Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy

- Provide leadership and overall technical and management oversight to the protection portfolio in NWS in line with the country and sector strategy. - Develop/adapt and implement protection strategies that enhances our capacity deliver needs-based protection services. - Lead in the management of the protection team, including senior managers who are responsible for delivery of their respective pillars. - Working closely with other sector leads, ensure IRC’s protection program reflects standards for good practices, quality, and innovation, and are responsive and adapted based on monitoring data to ensure implementation modalities remain context- and need-appropriate. - Ensure effective, collaborative protection partnerships with Syrian organizations that result in more effective, responsive and durable assistance that reaches more people. - Ensure that technical capacity strengthening support to partners effectively addresses their priority needs. - Coordinate with program sector leads, supply chain and finance staff to ensure timely payments, distributions and compliance for activities. - Ensure smooth management and integration of project work plans and budgets (budget forecasting, development of spending plans and budget follow-up), timely recruitment, partner support plans, and accurate reporting in line with IRC and donor regulations. - Collaborate with Technical Unit advisors to ensure relevant support, tools and resources are being provided and integrated into programming. - Actively participate in all grant management meeting processes. - Work closely with IRC’s advocacy and media teams, and the relevant Technical Units for the dissemination of monitoring findings and key messaging.

Program Development -----------------------

- Identify, monitor and report unmet needs. Explore the potential of the IRC to address those needs within the parameters of country strategy and sector priorities. - Expand IRC’s Northwest Syria integrated protection portfolio through development of concept notes and proposals. - Support identification of opportunities for integrated programming initiatives in support of service delivery and/or thought leadership with country program senior management, business development staff and technical advisors. Collaborate with Syrian partners on the identification of proposal development opportunities, and the design of new interventions. - Anticipate, plan and manage programmatic and structural transitions. - In collaboration with the MEAL team, support integrated protection staff to develop and use relevant monitoring tools and adapt them to context. - Support the development of business development skills and responsibility among the protection team.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development: -------------------------------------------------------------

- Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of protection team members in relevant technical and management competencies. - Lead collaborative partner relationships focused on mutual learning and capacity building as well as technical guidance in areas of IRC expertise, including through recruitment, training/mentoring support and performance management. - Develop and implement remote management capacity sharing approaches to build the strengths of the team in Syria. - Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews. - Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team and solution-oriented spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to perform in their positions. - Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly. - As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these as per IRC’s HR policies. - Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of all staff. - Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of field-based staff to successfully transition roles and responsibilities where possible. - Adhere to IRC’s HR Policies and Procedures, and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations. - Ensure safeguarding measures are applied throughout the implementation with respect to do-no-harm principles and coordinate with HR for safeguarding capacity sharing needs.

Coordination & Representation -------------------------------------

- As needed and in coordination with other protection sector leads and country program management, represent IRC in inter-agency forums and discussions. - Regularly coordinate with internal program and operational stakeholders, and relevant Technical Advisors. - Participate in relevant working groups both within and outside of the UN cluster system.

Key Working Relationships: -------------------------------

Position Directly Reports to: Senior Program Coordinator

Indirect Reporting: Technical Advisors, Deputy Director of Programs ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Position Directly Supervises: Senior Program Managers for Women Protection and Empowerment, Child Protection and Protection and Rule of Law, Cluster Co-Lead, Information Management Officer.

Qualifications

Key Internal and External Contacts: ----------------------------------------

- Internal: Grants, Partnership and MEAL Departments, Health, Economic Recovery and Development, Early Childhood Development and Education Program Coordinators, Country Director, Supply Chain, Finance, HR, Research Evaluation and Learning Technical Unit - External: Protection Working Group/Cluster bodies, peer and partner agencies, donors

Job Requirements: ----------------------

Education:

- BA/BS Degree in related fields; MA/MS a plus.

Work Experience: --------------------

- Minimum of 7 years’ professional humanitarian/development experience, including specific experience in protection programming (inclusive of general protection, women’s protection and empowerment and child protection) in emergency or post conflict settings. - A minimum of 3 years program and team management experience in humanitarian setting - Demonstrated experience using international human rights standards in protection - Prior experience working in remote-management situations preferred - Prior experience collaborating with and supporting local partner organizations - Prior experience in Syria Crisis Response is preferred

Demonstrated Technical Skills: ----------------------------------

- Strong program/technical, proposal writing and budget management skills, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills. - Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties. - NGO experience required; experience working with the interagency coordination mechanisms desirable. - Proven experience in implementing programs under grants, including high quality donor reporting and proposal development. - Proven experience in designing and delivering capacity sharing activities.

Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies: ----------------------------------------------------

- Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively represent IRC at forums and with donors. - Strong negotiation skills with experience in conflict resolution desirable. - Strong oral and written communication skills, with ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior stakeholders. - Experience of working successfully with local stakeholders such as local and international NGOs, government, etc. with sensitivity and diplomacy. - Proven track record to design and lead training engagements with staff and partners to enhance skills and adapt to changing program demands. - Mature and structured approach to team management and project delivery. - Positive attitude to work, self-reflective, motivated, inspired, and collegial. - Proven track record in working well in and promote teamwork, thrive in a multi-cultural environment, be flexible and handle pressure with professional grace.

Languages: ---------------

- Professional fluency in spoken and written English is required. - Familiarity with spoken Arabic is a plus.

Computer/Other Tech Requirements: -------------------------------------

- Excellent computer skills and full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Attention Returning National Candidates IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs. We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a national of the country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply.

Working Environment: Position is based in Gaziantep, Turkey.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.