Economic Recovery & Development Coordinator, Northwest Syria

Background/IRC Summary:

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, agriculture, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihoods 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 Economic Recovery and Development Coordinator (ERD) will provide overall strategic direction and management for the ERD program and any arising emergency response in Northwest Syria (NWS) and Turkiye. The coordinator will work with the Senior ERD Coordinator, the Program Implementation and Quality Director and sector leads to implement integrated protection programming inclusive of Cash & Basic Needs, Agriculture & Food Security, and Livelihoods and Early Recovery, directly and with partners.

Responsibilities:

• ·Program Management, Technical Quality and Strategy
• ·Lead and oversee the ERD portfolio in NWS and Turkey in line with country and sector strategy.
• ·Develop and implement ERD strategies that enhance capacity and deliver needs-based protection services.
• ·Manage the ERD team, including managers responsible for their respective pillars.
• ·Collaborating with sector leads to ensure RC’s ERD program reflects good practices, quality, and innovation based on monitoring data.
• ·Foster effective ERD partnerships to provide more responsive and durable assistance.
• ·Strengthen technical capacity support for partners to address their priority needs.
• ·Coordinate with program sector leads, supply chain, and finance staff to ensure timely payments, distributions, and compliance.
• ·Ensure smooth management and integration of project work plans and budgets, timely recruitment, partner support plans, and accurate reporting.
• ·Work with Technical Unit advisors to integrate relevant support tools and resources into programming.
• ·Participate in grant management meetings.
• ·Collaborate with IRC’s advocacy and media teams and Technical Units for dissemination of monitoring findings and key messaging.
• ·Assist the Senior Program Coordinator in ensuring all staff follow work plans and ERD project deliverables are completed as planned.
• ·Work closely with the supply chain to ensure timely procurements, complying with IRC and donor rules and regulations.
• ·Prepare annual and quarterly spending and procurement plans with monthly phased expense plans linked with work plans and BVAs (Budget vs. actual).

Program Development

• ·Identify and report unmet needs, exploring IRC’s potential to address them within country strategy and sector priorities.
• ·Review and monitor detailed program spending, procurement, and work plans for the ERD program to ensure high-quality implementation.
• ·Ensure Project Cycle Meetings (PCM) are prepared and conducted in accordance with guidance and that action points are promptly followed up.
• ·Manage programmatic and structural transitions.
• ·Review technical aspects of internal and external reports prepared by the managers within agreed deadlines using IRC and donor formats.
• ·Support the development and use of relevant monitoring tools in collaboration with the MEAL team.
• ·Provide support and oversight to the program manager on Budget vs. Actual reports and bring any over/under expenditure issues to the attention of the SMT, Senior Programs Coordinator, Grants, and Finance teams, along with proposed corrective actions.

Coordination and Representation

• Attend ERD coordination meetings and communicate relevant information to ERD staff.
• Maintain coordination and collaboration with finance and operations to ensure coordination of procurement, project planning, and logistics related to the ERD program.
• Represent IRC in internal and external meetings.
• In collaboration with the Senior Management Team (SMT), cultivate strong relationships with potential implementing partners, donors, embassies, and key multilateral stakeholders to build IRC’s visibility as the ERD partner of choice in Northwest Syria and Turkey.
• Organize and facilitate field visits for stakeholders interested in IRC’s programming in Northwest Syria and Turkiye. upon request by the SMT.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

• ·Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
• ·Lead collaborative partner relationships focused on mutual learning and capacity building, as well as technical guidance in areas of IRC expertise.
• ·Develop and implement remote management capacity-building approaches to strengthen the teams in Syria.
• ·Coach, train, supervise, and mentor direct-report staff, including setting annual performance objectives and providing regular performance feedback and reviews.
•           Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to perform successfully.
• ·Approve and manage time, attendance, and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage.
• ·Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report regularly, minimally on a monthly basis.
• ·Provide measurable development plans with on-the-job learning to strengthen technical capacity and provide guidance on career paths.
• ·Address staff performance issues with Human Resources, documenting and addressing these in accordance with National Staff Employment Policies.
• ·Promote and monitor staff care and well-being, modeling healthy work-life balance practices.
• ·Support staff in their career growth and develop national staff capability and capacity for succession planning and nationalization goals.

Minimum Qualifications:

Required Experience/qualification/Skills:

• ·University degree in social sciences, economics, business management, international affairs, agriculture, or relevant field.
• ·Minimum of 6 years of professional experience working on economic recovery & development programs in humanitarian and development contexts.
• ·Minimum of 3 years of team management and leadership experience.
• ·Experience in an emergency or conflict-afflicted setting required.
• ·Proven experience in implementing programs under grants, including high-quality donor reporting and proposal development in English.
• ·Ability to think strategically and to understand different donor priorities.
• ·Proven experience implementing integrated programming, especially between ERD and health/protection.
• ·Strong knowledge of Market-based programming and Systems strengthening methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience leading budgets, coordinating inputs from partners/sectors, reporting and program-specific donor and organizational compliance.
• ·Experience working successfully with local stakeholders, such as NGOs and government entities.
• ·Proven experience in designing and delivering capacity-sharing activities.
• ·Experience working with and coordinating with donors, UN bodies, NGOs, INGOs, and other stakeholders.
• ·Strong writing and analytical skills, including M&E and assessment data framework.
• ·Prior experience collaborating with and supporting partner organizations.
• ·Prior experience in Syria Crisis Response preferred.
• ·Commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values, and Professional Code of Conduct.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• ·Commitment to IRC Values: Deep dedication to IRC’s mission, vision, values, and adherence to the IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• ·Comprehensive Skill Set: Proficient in program and technical proposal writing, and budget management, and adept in presentation and verbal communication skills. Expertise in planning, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation.
• ·Effective Communication: Strong written and oral communication abilities, excelling in representation and liaison with external parties.
• ·Training and Development: Capable of conveying information effectively, with extensive experience in providing training and staff development.
• ·Team Player: Promotes teamwork, thrives in a multi-cultural environment, is flexible, and handles pressure with professional grace.
• ·Leadership and Interpersonal Skills: Excellent management and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to promote harmonious and cohesive teamwork in a cross-cultural context.
• ·Organizational Abilities: Validated ability to plan long-term, prioritize tasks, and work efficiently under administrative and programmatic pressures with attention to detail and professional patience.
• ·Collaborative and Resourceful: Highly collaborative, resourceful, and able to establish positive working relationships with senior management and partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
• ·Continuous Learner: Possesses curiosity, a strong desire to continually learn and develop, and a sense of humor.
• ·Analytical Proficiency: Skilled in creating effective solutions to complex issues while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.
• Technical Competency: Excellent computer skills with full professional proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Language/Travel:

• Professional fluency in spoken and written English is required, while Arabic and Turkish are desired.
• Travel: 15% to field sites in Turkey as well as attending regional and global workshops and meetings.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to Senior ERD Coordinator
• Position directly supervises: Field ERD Manager, Agriculture Manager, Support manager, Information management officer
• Indirect Reporting (If applicable): Technical Advisors, Program Implementation, and Quality Director
• Key Internal Contacts: Grants, Partnership and MEAL Departments, HR, Supply Chain, Finance, Health, Economic Recovery and Development, Protection, Deputy Country Director, Country Director.
• Key External Contacts: Working Groups, Cluster Bodies, peer and partner agencies, donors, and authorities.

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.

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.