Senior Program Coordinator

Programme & Policy

Job Description

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria - more than half of the country's population - are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. 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.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary

The Senior Program Quality Coordinator is responsible for leading the programmatic quality and effective implementation of multi sector humanitarian activities within the IRC portfolio in Northwest Syria from Gaziantep through direct implementation and Syrian partners. Under the supervision of the Deputy Director for Programs (DDP), the Senior Quality Coordinator participates in the Extended Senior Management Team and will drive program implementation, which requires effective coordination with the all departments across the country program.

Responsibilities:

• Manage technical program coordinators to ensure timely program delivery and implementation according to IRC’s Outcomes and Evidence Framework (OEF), Quality Standards and organizational global best practices.

• In collaboration with DDP and technical program coordinators, contribute to participatory and inclusive proposal design and development processes, ensuring that projects are data-driven and aligned with the IRC Syria Strategy Action Plan (SAP), IRC2020’s Global Strategy and IRC Theories of Change.

• Ensure budgeting is realistic and project implementation deliverables can be achieved to deadline.

• Liaise with the IRC Regional and HQ-based Technical Units to ensure regular and consistent engagement with the country program to provide technical oversight of programs.

• Ensure consistent collaboration with Field Management Team to ensure program implementation is collectively planned and coordinated

• Promote inclusive approaches to programming that promote women and girls, people with disability, and elderly people to ensure assistance reaches the most vulnerable populations

• In conjunction with the DDP and technical program coordinators, develop learning and research initiatives that support the generation of new evidence.

• Actively participate in regular grants meetings, including all Budget vs Actuals Meetings, Grant Opening, Mid-Term, and Closing Meetings, ensuring follow up on action points.

• Ensure Technical Program Coordinators budget accurately and realistically, and consistently spend and implement in a timely fashion while meeting program targets.

• Develop close working relationship with Grants Coordinator to ensure IRC program implementation is compliant with the respective donor regulations.

• Coordinate with DDP, Technical Program Coordinators, Operations leads, and Grants Unit on all grant modifications, with a focus on identifying and troubleshooting potential issues well in advance.

• In coordination with Technical Program Coordinators and Grants Coordinator, ensure timely utilization of tracking of budget management tools such as spending and procurement plans per grant.

• Develop a close working relationship with the Partnership Coordinator to ensure that projects implemented by Syrian partners are provided with the necessary support and collaborative problem solving to meet program deliverables

• Work closely with M&E coordinator to ensure all the complaints and issues related to low quality programing is addressed and data-driven decisions are taken and implemented to assure consistent quality of programs.

• Work closely with counterpart in NWS to make sure the Syria programmatic strategy is harmonized and uplifted

Partnership Coordination and Capacity strengthening

• Champion robust partner relationship management characterized by the core partnership principles from IRC’s Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS) of responsibility, results-oriented approach, equality, transparency and complementarity

• Ensure appropriate proactive and reactive communications and engagement with IRC partners to implement sub-grant agreements and complete program deliverables through regularly scheduled partnership management meetings

• Design, lead, and/or participate in relevant workshops and meetings to support coordination and collaboration, including partner monitoring visits and training events

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.

• Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths of supply chain and administrative teams in Syria.

• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.

• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.

• Approve and manage time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.

• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, minimally on a monthly basis.

• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.

• As required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.

• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.

• 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 both national and international 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 national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.

Required Experience/qualification/Skills:

• Experience in ensuring timely and quality implementation of large projects in unstable Environments.

• Successful experience writing and coordinating high-value proposals for major donors (USG, UN, DFID, EU,ECHO, SIDA etc.), including budgeting skills

• 5 – 7 years in Program development and management experience mandatory, including development of key project documents such as logical frameworks and monitoring tools.

• Experience directly managing and leading diverse teams and achieving positive results.

• Previous experience with remote management and/or implementation through partners a plus

• Experience in implementing systems and standards to enhance program quality and effective planning (ex: data-driven, client-based) highly desirable. Minimum of five years’ experience in an international NGO in similar role/with similar responsibilities.

• Ability to work under pressure and maintain professional poise while managing a large workload.

• Ability to independently organize work and prioritize tasks.

• Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual.

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

• Being a team player and builder is mandatory

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.

• Credible written, presentation and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training and staff development

• Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution.

• Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context.

• Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.

• Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.

• Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop and a sense of humor is a must.

• Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language:

• Excellent English writing and spoken is required, while Arabic is desired.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Deputy Director for Programs

Indirect/Technical Reporting: N/A

Position directly Supervises: Integrated Protection Coordinator, Health Coordinator, Early Childhood Development Coordinator, Economic Recovery and Development Coordinator

Key Internal Contacts:

• Country Program: Deputy Director for Operations, Partnership Coordinator, Grants Coordinator, MEAL Coordinator, Area Coordinator, Field Director, Access Coordinator, Sn Program Co NES, Deputy Director for Finance, Human Resources Director

• Region/Global: Whole of Syria Health and Protection Coordinators, Regional Partnership Director, Global Inclusion Advisor

Key External Contacts: IRC Syria partner organizations and peer humanitarian agencies

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen 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. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

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Added 2 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: rescue.org