MEAL Manager At Independent Doctors Association

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Who we are?

IDA is an international independent non-governmental organization providing medical and humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflicts, natural disasters and epidemics regardless of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.
IDA was founded in 2012 by Syrian doctors from Aleppo in response to the healthcare and humanitarian crisis in Syria.

IDA Syria is the main healthcare provider in the Northern Aleppo/Syria area, working closely with 500,000 IDPs and 700,000 host community through 20 healthcare facility and other health and nutrition projects

During last year, IDA has provided 1.2 million services in Heath, Nutrition, WaSH and Camp Management

Location: Syria – Aleppo with Frequent visits to Damascus Office

Specific responsibilities:

These responsibilities will be the same for all positions with the same title.

  • The MEAL Manager will provide the leadership necessary to ensure that the IDA Syria program develops and meets its monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning commitments, as set out in accordance with donors as well as internal requirements and policies. The MEAL Manager will lead Syria program MEAL Department that contributes to evidence-based program design and continuous improvements of program quality based on data and learning. S/he will be part of the extended senior program management team and report to the Deputy Director of Programs

Roles and responsibilities

  • Specific responsibilities:
  • Building on existing practices, establish a coherent Syria MEAL system (approaches, procedures, structures), encompassing both programs implemented by IDA.
  • Provide MEAL technical assistance to program teams and inputs into the design stages of program proposals, budgets, log frames, indicators, and measurement methodologies, plans and tools.
  • Ensure all programs meet IDA’s monitoring standards for improved monitoring practices, data quality and use of data within the organization. As part of this, champion an organizational culture shift from a focus on data being primarily for donor reporting or indicator calculation purposes to using data for programmatic course correction and other decisions.
  • Ensure continued functioning of, and improvements to, the regional beneficiary feedback and response mechanism, and adherence to regional standards and expectations.
  • Ensure continued generation of accurate information about beneficiary reach, as per regional requirements.
  • Ensure that programs have innovative and technology-driven appropriate MEAL systems and tools.
  • Develop systems and procedures that measure programs-wide performance and achievements towards outcomes (using the Outcomes & Evidence Framework core indicators and other methods as appropriate) and strategic and organizational commitments.
  • Lead on planning and managing internal or external program evaluationProgram Development
  • Support program sector teams and the Grants dept. in ensuring that MEAL elements support strong proposals for new funding and high-quality reporting on current programs.Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:
  • Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of MEAL team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
  • Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths of the team in Syria.
  • Coach, train, supervise and mentor 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.
  • Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of staff.Coordination & Representation
  • Participate in relevant working groups including the UN cluster system.
  • In close coordination with program leads and the Partnerships departments, engage with IDA’s partners with respect to MEAL to look into any possible learning or building up opportunity to scale up the capacity of MEAL department in the organization.
  • Actively participate in and contribute to the Syria Resilience Consortium M&E working group.
  • Conduct a regular debrief meetings with program on monthly and/or as needed.
  • Coordinate the missions of Third-party monitoring and evaluation firms.Research, Learning and Analysis
  • Identify, monitor and report unmet needs related to MEAL. Explore the potential of the IDA to address those needs within the parameters of the Strategic Action Plan and sector priorities.
  • Lead assessments and research aimed at generating a strong evidence base for IDA programming, as well as to inform IDA advocacy.
  • Work closely with IDA’s advocacy and media teams, for the launch and dissemination of advocacy reports and findings.
  • Contribute to the advocacy efforts of IDA Syria through analysis of the policy environment and trends, staff briefings, and external representation in relevant discussions.
  • Support the greater sharing and use of research and learning within IDA’s program sectors, by contributing to program development and design, to ensure interventions are responsive to needs and informed by a sound understanding of the humanitarian context in Syria.Competencies
  • Competencies are important in order for the employee and the organisation to deliver desired results. They are relevant for all staff and are divided into the following two categories:
  • 1. Professional competenciesGeneric professional competencies for this position:
  • BA/BS Degree in international development, social sciences, or a related field; MA/MS a plus.
  • Work Experience:
  • At least 7 years of experience within the international development / humanitarian sector.
  • Minimum of 5 years’ specific experience in monitoring and evaluation of multi-sectoral programming in emergency or post conflict settings.
  • Experience with multi-sectoral and multi-donor funded programs
  • Previous experience with remote management.Demonstrated Technical Skills:
  • Excellent technical understanding of contemporary MEAL methods and practices, with hands-on experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis
  • 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.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of humanitarian accountability principles and their translation into practice.
  • Experience with multi-sectoral and multi-donor funded programs.
  • Proven experience in designing and delivering capacity-building activities.
  • Strong methodical planning and organizational skills
  • Strong leadership, interpersonal and communications skills
  • Strong analytical, presentation, and reporting skills
  • Proven ability to design and lead training engagements with staff and partners to enhance skills and adapt to changing program demands.
  • Positive attitude to work, self-reflective, motivated, inspired, collegial.
  • Proven ability to work well in and promote teamwork, thrive in a multi-cultural environment, be flexible and handle pressure with professional grace.
  • Strong commitment to IDA’s mission, purpose and values
  • Languages:
  • Professional fluency in spoken and written English and Arabic is required.
  • Computer/Other Tech Requirements:
  • Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
  • Experience with statistical and data management software.
  • Ability to Travel: 50 – 75% to Syria for Field visits and work closely with the team in the field as needed based on the security and access situation.Context/specific skills, knowledge and experience:
  • Knowledge of the context in Northwest Syria
  • Good standing and reputation in the community
  • Experience of working with local partners;
  • Experience of conducting assessments and monitoring activities;
  • These are personal qualities that influence how successful people are in their job, the following are essential for this position:
  • Planning and delivering results
  • Communicating with impact and respect

Independent Doctors Association does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, and committed to acting professionally and ethically.
Independent Doctors Association is zero tolerable with any SEA case, IDA is creating the best environment to make sure that all staff have understood SEA and how to report in case there is any suspected case

How to apply

Interested candidates may apply through the above link:

Female Candidates are highly encouraged to apply,