Jordan: Livelihoods Coordinator, Syria Country Program

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.

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Inside Syria, 7.6 million people are internally displaced and 12.2 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, with 4.8 million in hard-to-reach areas. There are 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.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis. With an annual budget in excess of $140 million and a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 3,000 staff and workers in the region, IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, education, women's protection and empowerment, NFI and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, 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.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Livelihoods Coordinator position will be responsible for the overall leadership, coordination, and technical oversight and support of an expanding livelihoods portfolio. The post holder will design, develop and manage the continued growth, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of livelihoods programming in north and south Syria, including employment training and microenterprise and private sector development. The portfolio will include a continuation of direct implementation alongside exploring the potential for partnerships with Syrian NGOs. The IRC's Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) programming relies on a market-based approach to the greatest extent possible - meeting the urgent priority basic and livelihood needs of displaced populations without compromising existing market structures and mechanisms. The scope also looks toward future livelihoods development opportunities. Livelihoods feature as part of the IRC's wider ERD continuum which seeks to progress people from basic needs support to more sustainable income earning opportunities.

Reporting to the Sr. ERD Coordinator and in close coordination with the Cash and Basic Needs Coordinator, the Livelihoods Coordinator will oversee the quality implementation and growth of livelihoods programming within the ERD portfolio and in line with the country program Strategic Action Plan. The post holder will ensure needs and contexts based programs are coherently delivered in northern and southern Syria. The Livelihoods Coordinator will also serve as the focal point, leading and representing IRC in the multi-agency Syria Resilience Consortia.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Management & Development

• Coordinate and manage IRC's expanding livelihoods programs in Syria;
• Provide overall management for livelihoods programming within the ERD portfolio across northern and southern Syria program hubs in line with the Strategy Action Plan and in close coordination with the Cash and Basic Needs Coordinator;
• Lead design processes and provide technical oversight that ensures quality, new and adapted livelihoods programming in northern and southern in accordance with best practice and IRC policy, adapted to the context of southern Syria, with strong remote management mechanisms to support;
• Along with the Sr. ERD Coordinator ensure the development and smooth management of project work plans and budgets, timely recruitment, partner support plans, and accurate reporting in accordance with IRC and donor regulations;
• Support the quality development of M&E systems that collect quality data;
• Lead the analysis of livelihoods data trends to course correct and adapt programming;
• Liaise with economic advisors within the technical unit to ensure relevant support, tools and resources are being provided and integrated into programming;
• Actively and meaningfully participate in all grant management meeting processes as assigned by Sr. ERD Coordinator;
• Proactively continue to grow the northern and southern Syria livelihoods portfolio through development of concept notes and proposals to existing and new donors, maintaining a coherent ERD strategy across IRC's areas of intervention in Syria;
• Support the development of technical and project management skills and responsibility among the livelihoods team, with a particular focus on national staff and including remote management strategies;
• Work closely with Cash and Basic Needs Coordinator to ensure smooth transition and referral of programming across the ERD portfolio;
• As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies;

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

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

• Adopt a structured management approach that cascades support down to satff at all levels on:

• Budgeting and grants management;

• Project and HR management;

• Leadership, delegation, decision-making, problem solving, strategic planning, and conflict management;

• Technical performance management support (setting of objectives, appraisals and professional development action plans and follow up);

• Develop and implement remote management capacity building 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 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 all 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, at least monthly.

• 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.

• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures, and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

Coordination & Representation

• Working closely with the region, technical staff and the Sr. ERD Coordinator serve as focal point for IRC within the Syria Resilience Consortia - leading area based coordination for the Northern hub as well as providing input into Southern hub;
• Participate in relevant working groups both within and outside of the UN cluster system.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Position Reports to: Senior ERD Coordinator
• Indirect/Technical Reporting: Deputy Director for Programs; Country Director.
• Position directly Supervises: Livelihoods managers and officers

• Key Internal Contacts:

• Country Program: Peer program coordinators; field coordinators; grants coordinator; M&E coordinator; and partnerships and sub-awards unit

• Region/Global: Livelihoods/ERD Technical Advisors

• Key External Contacts: Livelihoods sector working groups/clusters;

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor degree in social sciences, agriculture, economics, international affairs or related field required;
• A minimum of 5 years professional humanitarian experience;
• Structured and systematic approach to managing teams and project cycle;
• Experience with livelihoods programming in complex environments;
• Prior experience working in remote-management situations preferred;
• Strong program/technical and budget management skills, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills;
• Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, positive and professional attitude, ability to lead and work well in a team setting and with multiple partners;
• Personal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well;
• Fluency in English; Arabic a plus.
• All IRC staff are required to adhere to THE IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies.
• Self-reflective, collegial; and open to feedback.
• Ability to travel in the region as required.

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

The overall security situation in Jordan is relatively calm, especially in Amman. The Jordanian government is stable, and civil unrest is largely peaceful. However, Jordan's generosity in hosting refugees from Palestine, Iraq and now Syria have created huge strains on the country's economy and infrastructure. The IRC office is in a modern professional building.

IRC is offering this post as fully accompanied for the successful candidate and accompanying dependents including: vacation leave, home leave, education allowance, housing, water, electricity, internet connectivity, and other generous benefits. Modern amenities (health care, international schools, etc.) are readily available.

Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=YXN0cmlkLm1hdGhldy43MDU1MS4zODMwQGlyYy5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20