Syria Response Director

Job posted by: International Rescue Committee (IRC)-USA - Fri, 26 Sep 2014

Job Details:

Organisation: International Rescue Committee (IRC)-USA

Deadline Tue, 25 Nov 2014

Job type: Permanent

Location: Jordan

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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, the 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, the IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. The 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, 6.5 million people are internally displaced and 9.3 million are in need of humanitarian assistance. Today’s 3 million refugees are expected to increase to 3.5 million by the end of 2014. 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.

 

The IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis. With an annual budget in excess of $100 million and a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1100 staff, 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.

 

For more than two years IRC has been assisting displaced and war-affected people inside Syria through cross-border programs originating in Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. These programs are managed largely independent of the others, often in overlapping geographic areas and occasionally with the same partner organizations. Donors have been funding cross-border programs on a country-by country basis, but that is evolving as the need for greater coordination of assistance inside Syria increases. IRC is moving towards a “one Syria” model that seeks a more unified and coordinated approach to providing assistance by restructuring how it manages its cross-border operations. The new management structure will also serve as the basis of a country program in Syria should IRC decide to pursue that.

 

Refugee and IDP assistance as well as support to host communities in Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Lebanon will continue to be undertaken by IRC’s country programs and led by Country Directors. However, as the humanitarian needs, number of implementing partners and operational challenges continue to increase inside Syria, IRC will consolidate its humanitarian assistance programming inside Syria under a more unified management structure. This restructuring includes the new position of Syria Response Director, the functional equivalent of an IRC Country Director, who will focus exclusively on IRC’s provision of humanitarian assistance to persons in need inside Syria.

 

SCOPE OF WORK

Under the supervision and guidance of the Regional Director, the Syria Response Director (SRD) will lead and coordinate the delivery of IRC’s response to people in need inside Syria, working closely with the country directors in Jordan, Turkey and Iraq from where IRC’s cross-border operations originate. In doing so, the SRD will design and establish a new “one Syria” operating model for IRC’s work inside Syria that will, within 18 months, supersede the current multi-country model.

 

While the new operating model is being designed and implemented, the SRD will work closely with the Country Directors of Iraq, Turkey and Jordan to ensure operational efficiencies and will coordinate with them on the flow of assistance into Syria that originates in their areas of responsibilities. Close coordination with Country Directors will be required for effective, timely and unified messaging and liaison with donors, UN agencies, IRC’s partner organizations, host governments and international NGOs.

 

The SRD works closely with the Regional Director, who is accountable for the two components of IRC’s response to the Syria crisis: cross-border operations to assist people in need inside Syria, and programs in neighboring countries that assist Syrian refugees and vulnerable people in host communities. Working with the Regional Director, the SRD acts as the point person for the cross-border response, translating strategy into operations, ensuring that quality and accountability standards are met, and monitoring the cross-border response budget.

 

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Leadership and Representation
    • With the Regional Director and in consultation with country teams, provide leadership for development and implementation of a comprehensive, unified humanitarian assistance strategy inside Syria, including developing appropriate indicators of success.
    • Provide strategic leadership in the development of standardized approaches and best practices for delivering aid in Syria.
    • In coordination with Country Directors, undertake strong regional-level representation with donors including OFDA, DFID, BPRM, SIDA and ECHO; UN and other international organizations; international and local NGOs; and networks such as the Syria INGO Forum.
    • Ensure that the IRC remains a partner of choice for cross-border operations for major international donors.
    • Develop and maintain a high level of understanding of donor priorities and planned funding levels.
    • Seek out and pursue opportunities to raise the profile of the work of the IRC and its partners inside Syria as security considerations permit.
    • Lead efforts to deliver regional advocacy as it pertains to operations inside Syria.
  • Strategic Direction, Program Quality and Growth
    • Assess IRC’s current cross-border program portfolio as well as the operational modalities and partnerships through which it is delivered.
    • With the Regional Director, set the strategic vision and direction of IRC’s emerging “one Syria” approach to serve more people with the most responsive and highest quality programming possible, and secure the resources necessary for realization.
    • Lead the transition from multi-country cross-border operations to a single “one Syria” operating model by maintaining open and professional relations with colleagues, promoting a strong team spirit and providing guidance, oversight and resources to enable staff to undertake this transition successfully.
    • Develop, cost and lead implementation of a workplan that transforms, within 18 months, IRC’s operating model for delivering assistance inside Syria.
    • Align programming inside Syria to IRC’s mission and strategy, sectoral expertise and technical standards.
    • Ensure program quality through consistent use of rigorous assessment, design, and proposal development and review processes; comprehensive monitoring & evaluation, accountability and learning systems; staff development investments; and partner organization capacity strengthening.
    • Remain current on national and regional issues impacting operations inside Syria, and develop responsive strategies to ensure the IRC mission can be carried out appropriately in rapidly changing contexts.
    • Provide timely information to country offices about donor interests and new resource opportunities for programs in Syria.
    • Identify opportunities for appropriate expansion and growth of programs, supported by the acquisition and investment of human resources.
    • Ensure timely submission of competitive, responsive and high-quality proposals, and support colleagues in negotiations with donors.
  • Risk and Security Management
    • Ensure business continuity through an integrated risk management approach, including security, financial, operational and reputation risks by developing contingency plans and scenarios; and take ownership of the action plans.
    • Maintain close coordination and communication with the Regional Safety and Security Advisor on safety and security concerns and evolving issues that could adversely affect IRC staff or operations.
    • Identify and/or develop and disseminate guidelines for IRC and partner organizations to operate safely with high-quality programs inside Syria.
    • Develop and/or identify optimal practices to minimize the diversion of aid and assistance in Syria.
  • Staff Performance Management and Development
    • Supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and leading documented semi-annual performance reviews.
    • Provide constructive feedback and counsel on appropriate career paths and professional development for IRC staff.
    • Oversee the management, coaching and development of national and international staff to build a cadre of skilled, committed and motivated personnel.
    • Offer leadership support for successful adherence by all staff to IRC’s Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures.
    • Work with regional HR staff to identify and implement recruitment and retention strategies.
  • Stewardship and Operational Management
    • Drive operational excellence to achieve optimal efficiency and cost-effectiveness in all functions and operations of the country program.
    • Build consensus around priorities to improve the delivery of assistance inside Syria and make business processes (e.g., financial, procurement, donor reporting) more consistent between country programs for partner organizations operating in Syria.
    • Identify key areas for improvements in these processes and practices and work to push them forward.
    • Oversee the development, deployment and utilization of financial and operational policies, procedures, and systems to deliver compliance with IRC and donor requirements.
    • Provide timely and effective oversight of the financial position of IRC’s cross-border operations.
    • Maintain effective and coordinated budget monitoring processes.
    • Seek opportunities to introduce efficiencies and eliminate redundancies in existing business processes.

 

Professional Standards

  • The IRC and IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional 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, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

 

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

  • Graduate degree in a relevant field
  • At least ten years of progressively responsible international work experience, including leadership at the Country Director level of multi-site, multi-sectoral operations in a complex operating environment
  • Demonstrated successful leadership experience managing a multi-disciplinary team and cross-cultural dynamics
  • Proven track record of leading multi-location teams
  • Repeated, successful experience delivering appropriate levels oversight for a portfolio consisting of a variety of complex, high-value donor-funded projects
  • Politically astute, with well-developed diplomatic and negotiating skills
  • Strong oral and written communication skills, with ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders
  • Extensive representation and fundraising success, including prior experience with European, US and international donors
  • Experience of managing security in a complex and rapidly changing security context
  • Established capacity to deal with ambiguity in stressful situations
  • Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes
  • A keen understanding of political complexities in the Middle East region
  • Willingness to travel across the Middle East region
  • Strong commitment to IRC’s vision, mission and core values
  • Innovator and calculated risk taker

This position is based in either Amman or Beirut and is fully accompanied with an estimated 35% of the Syria Response Director’s time spent in other locations in the region.


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