Inside Syria, 6.2 million people are internally displaced and 11.7 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, with 5 million in acute need. There are 5.3 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 1,250 staff in the region. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries 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.
Within Northeast Syria, IRC’s fiscal year 2020 portfolio is 28 million USD with an additional 10 million USD in the pipeline. IRC provides services across all three governorates in Northeast Syria—Al Hasakeh, Ar-Raqqa and Deir ez Zoir—focusing on basic health services, food and non-food items, livelihoods assistance, and protection services for vulnerable populations including women and girls, unaccompanied and separated children, the elderly and the disabled. IRC provides health services in static and mobile facilities, and conducts community outreach, within camp and non-camp settings.
Job Overview
With direct management support from the Integrated Protection Coordinator and technical support from CP Technical Advisor, the Child Protection Senior Manager plays a key role in leading project development and implementation, providing technical and managerial support and guidance to the IRC’s child protection services including management of staff and/or partners inside Northeast Syria. The CP Senior Manager will be primarily responsible for the establishment or strengthening of existing and future direct and partner-led child protection programs reaching families and children. He/she will be responsible to supervise the direct child protection program activities in the different locations in Northeast Syria. Moreover, the Child Protection Senior Manager will also support the integrated protection coordinator in strategic decisions for child protection programs.
Roles and responsibilities
1. Program Design, Support and Planning
• Technical oversight and support to field level implementation of IRC’s and partners’ CP programming in Northeast Syria. Including comprehensive child protection services through case management, Safe Healing and Learning Spaces, parenting education; outreach PSS; raising awareness on child protection; support to community child protection committees; and training of service providers and community leaders; and rapid emergency assessments and response.
• Ensure IRC’s case management service follow proper case management steps, referrals and documentation are happening in timely and quality manner, and case conferences with the different teams happen on a regular basis; Support the team in doing assessments and following up with case management CAAFAG cases:
• Support the CP managers and the CP case management team in the roll out of CPIMS+, liaising and cooperating with the other agency that are involved in the roll out.
• Design new approaches to build the capacity building of partners including operational and technical support on on-going child protection case management services including but not limited to strengthening care for child survivors.
• Explore new areas of programming in Northeast Syria to ensure that boys and girls are safe in their homes and communities and receive through direct or partner implementation.
• Support the identification of new partners to expand the child program portfolio in Northeast Syria.
• Development and implementation of training and technical support to mainstream child protection standards across Northeast Syria response
• Contribute to any business development required for the integrated protection program, including drafting concept notes, proposals as required by the Integrated Protection Coordinator
• Support program design including the development of project narratives and budget, and development of qualitative and quantitative reporting from inside Syria.
• Working with the MEAL team develop M&E teams, ensuring frequent data collection and reporting on weekly basis.
• Develop and regularly update activity implementation, spending and procurement plans and budgets for new and existing child protection programs. Plan and monitor the procurement/distribution of new materials for all Child Protection activities as per work plans and donors’ requirements;
• Lead child protection emergency response in areas where new displacement occur in Northeast Syria including the contingency planning and preparedness
• Develop and/or update tools for Child Protection Assessments (or ensure child protection issues are covered during integrated protection assessments) in all IRC selected locations, including: revising tools, directing the child protection staff on how to conduct these assessments and analyzing findings
• Manage the integration of Early Childhood and Development child protection in existing and new child protection programs
• Support the Integrated Protection Coordinator to enhance collaboration and synergy across the Child Protection (CP), Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) and Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL) program components to promote integration
• Lead inclusion and child protection mainstreaming in IRC’s Health and Early Recovery and Development (ERD) programs
2. Staff management
• Recruit child protection staff members as needed.
• Coach, train and supervise 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.
• Support with capacity building to build the strengths of the team in technical areas and soft skills
• 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.
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least bi-weekly.
• 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
• 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.
3. Project Monitoring and Evaluation
• Work with IRC Monitoring team, IPC, technical advisor, and partner organizations to ensure a safe and confidential mechanism for collecting information on project activities is implemented.
• Support the design of monitoring and evaluation tools that are contextually appropriate and will allow the IRC to measure the impact of programming.
• Develop and maintain an appropriate archiving system / database in order to track activity progress and quality;
• Ensure that all internal and external reporting requirements are met and that reports are of a high quality and submitted on time.
• Lead on the roll-out of the CPIMS+
4. Coordination & Representation
• Support the timely information sharing regarding challenges and needs at the field level.
• Represent IRC in internal and external forums as needed, including the protection cluster and CP sub-Cluster.
• Assist in contributing to the development of referral mechanisms in collaboration with IRC coordinators, other NGOs, and the Protection cluster.
Job Requirements
• Minimum 3-4 years of experience of which a minimum of 2 years is in a managerial level in a child protection program.
• Bachelor / Master’s degree in areas including in social work, social sciences, education, human rights or related field or;
• Undergraduates in relevant field of studies alongside the equivalent years of experience in relevant fields.
• Experience in INGOs is preferred
• Experience in budget management and design is required.
• Ideally experience with establishment and running of child protection programs directly or through local partners
• Demonstrated experience with child protection case management and psychosocial support.
• Demonstrated experience with capacity building and training of internal and external teams.
• Demonstrated understanding of protection mainstreaming demonstrated understanding of best practices for integration of child protection interventions in humanitarian action.
• Report and proposal writing skills.
• Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal skills, and the ability to liaise diplomatically.
• Solid ability to provide leadership, management, team building, coaching, and development for staff.
• Experience of working with local stakeholders and partners.
• High standards written and spoken English is required, Arabic is highly desired.
• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
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 in English and Arabic.
• 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.
Work Environment
The position will be based in Derek with frequent travels to all operating areas in Northeast Syria. Accommodation will be in shared housing, which includes basic amenities including internet and electricity.
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.
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.
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.
IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.
How to apply
https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/2/home/requisition/17449?c=rescue