SayPro Emergency Food Security and Livelihoods Coordination – Syria

About the role: This is a 12 month (renewable) new role with unaccompanied terms based in Syria with intermittent travel to Iraq with a salary of Grade 4 € 44,133 – €49,038.

You will report to the Syria Programme Director. You will line-manage the Food Security and Emergency manager, the Livelihoods Manager and the Shelter Officer. You will liaise with Programme Coordinators and Programme Managers, MEAL Coordinator, Area Coordinators, Country Finance Controller and Programme Partners, as relevant. You will also represent Concern in Clusters, Coordination Forums and with NGOs.

We would like you to start as soon as possible.

Your purpose: You will provide management and technical oversight of Concern’s multi-sectoral emergency programmes in Syria, in particular in the fields of food security, livelihoods, shelter, NFI distribution, winterization and other emergency activities designed to support conflict-affected and vulnerable IDPs, returnees and host communities. You will also contribute to Concern’s emergency response in Syria through the development of new programmes and proposals, along with preparing high quality internal and external reports. You will lead on coordination efforts relating to Concern’s Emergency and Livelihoods work with other NGOs in Syria through various cluster and coordination fora. You will be responsible for line-management of the Food Security and Emergency manager, Livelihoods Manager and Shelter Officer.

You will be responsible for:

Programme Implementation and Partnerships

• In close liaison with the Programmes Director and the Food Security and Emergency manager, Livelihoods manager and Shelter Officer, provide technical and management oversight and supervision of assigned emergency multi-sectoral projects.
• Ensure that all programme targets are reached in accordance with agreed programme objectives, as per contracts with donors, in line with the overall programme approach and ensure integration with other programme activities.
• Ensure that all resources (technical, financial, HR) are in place to implement the different projects of the emergency response programme in accordance with the work plans and realistic timeframes and milestones agreed with donors.
• Working with staff line-managed by you, ensure the preparation of detailed implementation work plans and provide the necessary guidance and support to the team to achieve timely and quality implementation of activities.
• Monitor and manage programme expenditure and budgets, ensuring resources are optimally utilized and spending is in line with Concern financial procedures and donor requirements.
• Carry out regular field visits to inspect the implementation and organize regular participatory project review sessions involving beneficiaries and other stakeholders in the areas of intervention, with the aim of establishing and/or verifying emerging needs, gaps and priorities, and communicate these to the Programme team as part of a continuous programme review and improvement process.
• Lead in the rollout of a new e-voucher mechanism, ensuring extensive testing so that it meets the needs of the programme and doesn’t negatively affect programme implementation.
• Ensure the early preparation of an appropriate and effective winterization and summerization response in coordination with other NGOs, through the relevant cluster.
• Establish a clear Preparedness Plan to enable Concern programme teams to be able to respond to an emergency, arising from either a natural or manmade disaster, within a short timeframe, .
• Identify vendors/shops and market actors to participate in the Food Security, Livelihoods and Cash and Voucher activities using the standard market/vendor identification tools.
• Comply with standard procedures for cash and voucher interventions, including compliance with donor and organizational policies and guidance relating to Emergency Food Security, Vulnerable Livelihoods, Cash and Voucher programming, and incorporate best practice.
• Liaise with Concern Coordinators and Managers to develop and conduct multi sector assessments across the programme area ensuring an integrated and holistic response to the needs of conflict affected populations.
• Ensure the smooth integration of the livelihoods response, in rural or urban areas, with the food security approach.
• Support the MEAL team in the implementation of an appropriate M&E system to monitor progress,capture the impact of projects and make necessary adjustments to work plans if necessary in a timely manner, ensuring monitoring and evaluation plans become an integral part of programming.
• Oversee the preparation of high-quality donor narrative reports in a timely fashion.
• Write concept notes and full proposals for both grants and contracts under the strategic guidance of the Programmes Director and with support from the Programme Development and Grant Manager. This includes undertaking background research, stakeholder analysis, data collection and analysis, consultation processes, development of narrative, development of budget and production all associated documents to a high standard in accordance with donor requirements.

Coordination and outreach

• Participate proactively and contribute in relevant coordination forums, working groups and cluster meetings.
• Strengthen links with emergency and food security departments in other NGOs through effective and on-going coordination, information-sharing and results dissemination at regional level and national level.
• Represent Concern and its multi-sectoral emergency programme in relevant fora, including donor meetings, and with local authorities.
• Share information on Concern activities and intervention and promote good relations and collaboration with other actors working in the area.

Team Management and capacity building

• Train Concern and key partner staff in donor requirements and compliance rules under specific contracts, in collaboration with Concern Finance and Systems staff.
• Provide technical support and on-going on-the-job training and mentoring to Emergency and Livelihoods programme staff, contributing to their capacity building and career development.
• Agreeing Probation Objectives with new staff in a timely way and carrying our Performance Reviews.
• Ensure efficient team deployment through a system of up-to-date job descriptions developed in line with Concern’s organizational structure.
• Ensure team members are aware of core Concern policies and procedures relevant to their work, and with the support of others, carry out regular briefings on these policies, including the Code of Conduct and Associated Policies, and policies relating to security management, accountability etc. Contribute to the implementation of these policies.
• Monitor and review performance of staff line managed through Concern’s Performance Development Reviews system (PDR’s) and hold staff accountable for meeting the success criteria.

Accountability

• Work with the MEAL Coordinator and MEAL team to improve the design and implementation of accountability and quality initiatives ensuring that they are integrated into the programmes.
• Adhere to and promote Concern’s Code of Conduct and associated policies
• Ensure the highest stands of accountability through ensuring good communication and information sharing within and outside the programme and enabling staff, beneficiary and other stakeholder participation at all stages of the project cycle.

In line with Concern’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS):

• Actively promote meaningful community participation and consultation at all stages of the project cycle (planning, implementation, M&E);
• Work with relevant colleagues to ensure that the Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) is functional and accessible, that feedback and complaints are welcomed and addressed;
• Work with relevant colleagues to ensure that information about CRM, safeguarding and expected staff behaviour is disseminated among programme participants and communities.

General

• Contribute to all aspects of the Programme including mainstreaming of Equality, Protection, and Disaster Risk Reduction.
• Brief the Programme Director and Senior Management Team on programmes and situational context on a regular basis, sharing updates from ongoing programmes, cluster meetings and NGOs working in the same sector.
• Contribute to ongoing security management and planning as necessary.
• Actively participate in any emergency response if called upon to do so (within the existing programme area or in a new one).
• Undertake other related duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Country Director and/or the Programme Director.

Your skills and experience will include:

Essential:

This position demands a highly organised and dynamic individual with a demonstrated ability to achieve results in a demanding environment.

• Masters in social sciences or a related discipline, or undergraduate degree.
• At least 3 years’ overseas experience in the management and coordination of complex emergency interventions
• A strong grasp of project cycle management
• Experience working collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders including local authorities, partners, and other I/NGOs.
• Excellent communication skills in English
• Proven ability to work in insecure environments and live in confined areas
• Sensitivity to cultural differences, and the ability to work in a wide variety of cultural contexts.
• Proven track record in remote management and excellent teamwork skills with the ability to build good relations both internally and externally.
• Experience in report and proposal writing.
• Ability to cope with stress; work under pressure often to strict deadlines.
• Commitment to Concern’s ethos and values.
• Sound IT skills, including Word and Excel.

We would also like:

• Arabic language skills.
• Detailed orientated.
• Understanding and experience of the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership.
• Experience of working in Middle East (or elsewhere under similar conditions)
• Good team player, flexible and capable of working with a multinational country team, being politically and culturally sensitive.
• Proven influencing and negotiating skills with internal and external audiences. Experience working in partnership with Governments would be an advantage.
• Ability to train local staff and to motivate and develop skills of others.