The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today 16.2 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. This is no short-term humanitarian episode.
IRC is providing a robust humanitarian response in Syria, supported by more than 800+ staff across Syria, Jordan, Türkiye and Iraq. IRC is undertaking programs in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, women’s protection and empowerment, cash assistance, protection and rule of law, and economic recovery 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.
Job Overview/Summary:
The Field Director (FD) for Northwest Syria (NWS) based in Gaziantep, Türkiye is a member of the Senior Management Team. Reporting to the Country Director the FD will lead IRC field operations in northwest Syria in close coordination with other members of the SMT.
The FD is responsible for ensuring cohesion between programs and operations, established through a close working relationship with all SMT members. The FD advises senior management about contextual and operational realities and in doing so contributes to overall strategic thinking of the CPs operations in NWS. In this role the individual will seek to establish a conducive environment to ensure program activities are carried out effectively, efficiently, and safely, in furtherance of objectives as laid out in the Strategic Action Plan and taking into consideration all internal and external factors affecting the operational environment.
As the most senior team member located in the field, the FD will represent the IRC Syria Country Program on behalf of and in absence of the Country Director as needed in any external representation efforts. S/he will also represent the IRC in NGO Forim and other key coordination meetings, either in Türkiye or NWS as relevant.
Responsibilities:
Senior Leadership and Strategic Planning
•Serve as an active member of the SMT, contributing to SMT agenda, discussions, and decision-making.
•Remain up-to-date on the developments of NWS context and partner with all SMT members to ensure successful program operations.
•Provide data-driven analysis and recommendations on operational risks to CD and wider SMT.
•Empower the Field Management Team (FMT) to share thoughts and opinions on opportunities for program growth or shifts, and represent FMT voice within the SMT, ensuring that IRC continues to remain relevant and an added value in the NWS response.
•Support field leaders to identify and articulate clear pathways to support the achievement of partnership goals, including field-level support to partnership capacity sharing.
•Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders – including community leaders, NGOs, government ministries/authorities and UN agencies, to enhance cooperation and coordination between organizations (remotely and in person)
•Be an active participant in relevant external coordination fora in NWS/Türkiye, in coordination with other members of the SMT.
•Champion gender, diversity and inclusion throughout our operations and our programs.
Field Management for Program Delivery
•Provide leadership, vision, and insight to the FMT as a key enabler to the achievement of strategic goals and the successful delivery of programs; enable and empower the FMT to solve hub-level problems, build internal and external relationships, and unlock implementation challenges.
•Foster and maintain strong relationships and build trust across all functions (Programs, Finance, HR, Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security, Compliance and Advocacy) to ensure cross-functional ownership and accountability and enable quick, responsive solutions for program and operational staff in the field to successfully delivery programs.
•Work closely with HASS and HR to ensure safety, security, and duty of care for all staff and partners in field offices. Raise issues that are affecting staff and partners in field operations.
•Promotes strong linkages and exchange between operations and program teams, including in the field, other hub offices, and with the Country team in Jordan to ensure sharing of best practices and expertise.
•Closely monitors events in current and potential operational areas within Syria to identify other possible programming areas and support in identifying new partners in close coordination with the DCD-P.
•Under the guidance of the HAS Director, closely monitors context developments in the field to identify any significant shifts which could impact operations.
Operational Support
•Manages the operational field budgets in NWS, liaising closely with Finance to develop field support budgets, monitor cash flow, and supporting budget holders to monitor BvAs and track program spending, as per guidance from the DDF and DCD-P.
•Oversee external financial commitments including procurement contracts and lease agreements for all facilities including offices, guesthouses, and warehouses in NWS and Türkiye.
•With support from the HAS Director, promote safety and security practices and adherence to IRC global security principles, at all times
•Support Supply Chain, Admin and IT teams to ensure delivery of high-quality support services for the effective delivery of programs in line with established goals, workplans and program commitments.
•Oversees large procurements inside Syria in close cooperation with Supply Chain staff.
•Work with the Director of Compliance and Risk Management to ensure all policies, procedures, and practices comply with IRC, donor, and national requirements, and collaborate with FD(s) in other hub(s) to ensure consistency across the Syria Country Program as relevant.
•Actively participates in the development of local policies related to Supply Chain, Admin and IT and adaption of IRC global policies to local context as needed, and ensures cohesion in policies and practices between different regions of Syria with consideration for context differences.
•Promotes and ensures compliant use of IRC equipment and communication resources, including adherence to BIS licenses, confidentiality, and storage of data and similar.
•Maintain analytics and high-quality data to monitor performance, drive prioritization and planning, and course correct to improve program support services in a timely fashion.
People and Culture
•Promotes team spirit, cohesion, respect, and the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct among staff in Syria in close cooperation with Human Resources.
•Work with direct reports and with relevant SMT members for positions managed in partnership, to determine goals and identify skills gaps and to put into place plans for learning and training.
•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.
•With collaboration of Human resources department, 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.
•Partner in investigations when required and collaborate with the DCRM, CD and HRD if corrective actions are required, taking into consideration safety and security of IRC staff, programs, and assets.
•Ensure new field leadership positions receive well-structured orientation and onboarding.
•Ensure regular and reliable team meetings and maintain open and professional relations with all team members in NWS and Türkiye, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable and empower staff to successfully perform in their positions.
•In collaboration with HR, ensure duty of care activities are regularly conducted within the team to promote staff well-being and keep morale high.
Key Working Relationships
Position Reports to: Country Director
Position directly Supervises: Field Managers, key Field leadership positions
Key Internal Contacts: All SMT members, relevant regional and HQ colleagues
Key External Contacts: International and national NGOs, key stakeholders in areas of operation including local authorities, UN agencies, active forums and working groups that cover NWS.
Professional Qualifications and Requirements
•5 – 7 years minimum successful management experience in a humanitarian and/or development context with several years in an international NGO; at least 2 years managing field programs, especially in remote and hard-to-reach areas.
•Bachelor’s Degree required, Masters Degree is a plus.
•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.
•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.
Language and Travel
•English and Arabic are required; Turkish is an advantage.
•Travel: 50% to field sites in NWS, security situation permitting. Travel to other parts of the Country Program for workshops and meetings.
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Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.
Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.