Background/IRC Summary: Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee is a world leader in relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict development services for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression. The IRC is currently working in over 25 countries around the world, addressing both the immediate and life saving needs of conflict affected people in emergencies and the reconstruction needs of post-conflict societies. The IRC has been working in Syria from Turkey since 2012 to provide support to IDPs and vulnerable host community members in the areas of women’s protection, children’s protection and education, livelihoods and economic recovery, health, environmental health, and protection and rule of law.
The IRC’s Protection/Rule of Law programming was initiated in 2014 and currently comprises protection monitoring and community-based protection programming targeting displaced Syrians in northern Syria, as well as new initiatives related to wider protection mainstreaming and capacity building of partners, and programming to address civil status documentation concerns in northern Syria. The program aims to improve the protection environment by documenting key protection concerns related to physical safety and security, access to basic services, and specific needs of certain groups (women, children, persons with disability, etc.) to support advocacy and facilitate provision of information and referral of vulnerable people to vital services.
Job Overview/Summary: Under the direction of the Senior Coordinator for Integrated Protection (SCIP), the Protection Coordinator will be responsible to oversee the quality implementation of protection and rule of law programming in Syria as well as to provide technical support to capacity building initiatives in protection mainstreaming for IRC and LNGO partners in the design and delivery of humanitarian assistance. The Protection Co will focus on maintaining and refining effective protection monitoring systems and tools and lead on the identification, analysis and succinct reporting of protection trends and issues of concern to feed into protection sector strategy development, IRC programming, and the Protection Cluster. In line with country program strategy, the Protection Co will guide expansion of protection monitoring programming and adaptation of approaches based on the operating environment. The Coordinator will oversee the community-based protection (CBP) program com
ponent and lead on the introduction of new CBP activities in an additional program locations as well as drive forward research and learning on this programme area. The Coordinator, with the support of the Protection and Rule of Law Technical Advisor, will also design and oversee the implementation of new programming to address civil documentation concerns, including creation of legal guidance manuals and information dissemination materials, as well as contributing significantly to wider programmatic discussions within the humanitarian community related to civil documentation. The Protection Co will contribute to the continued development of the protection sector, including drafting proposals and budgets, under the guidance of the SCIP and in close collaboration with other technical sector leads.
Reporting to the Senior Coordinator for Integrated Protection, the Protection Coordinator will be based in Antakya, with travel to other IRC offices in Gaziantep as needed. The Protection Coordinator will directly oversee a Protection Manager and a Legal Documentation Specialist, and other staff depending on project development.
Responsibilities:
Technical Quality/Program Management
* Develop or refine, maintain and update quality systems and tools for protection monitoring to ensure the effective collection and analysis of qualitative data relating to the protection environment, including on physical safety and security, freedom of movement, documentation, access to services, etc.
* Support the Protection Manager in the development and implementation of a context-appropriate, scalable community-based protection approach to foster self-protection capacities and engagement of conflict affected populations in camp and urban areas.
* In collaboration with TAs and specialists from the Technical Unit, design and implement research and learning on CBP and other thematic areas in-line with Northern Syria’s Strategic Action Plan.
* Provide quality oversight of the information material developed by the Protection Manager and team and of the information sessions on rights and entitlements of the crisis-affected population.
* Oversee the quality provision of guidance on legal protection (e.g. civil status documentation) to crisis affected populations and assist in the development of standard procedures for assistance to the most vulnerable amongst the crisis-affected populations.
* Support the Protection Manager and other team members in the development and delivery of appropriate trainings for IRC staff and partners on protection mainstreaming and issues related to protection monitoring, including definitions, and guiding principles, human rights concerns, basic humanitarian needs and prevailing legal frameworks.
* Ensure that protection/human rights trainings for external actors and partners and IRC protection and other sector staffs are of high quality.
Staff Management and Development
* Manage, supervise and develop all staff in the IRC Turkey/Northern Syria Protection Rule of Law Program with a strong focus on building the capacity of national staff to take on management responsibilities
* Create and deliver a succession plan to nationalize this position within 18 months
* 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.
* Overall responsibility for staff timesheets, work plans, leave schedules, and staff training/development activities.
* Take responsibility for discussing job expectations, performance, and objectives on a quarterly basis with all staff and as a part of the annual Performance Review and Planning Process.
* Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global and Turkey HR Policies and Procedures.
* Adhere to and serve as a champion of the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct.
Grant & Resource Management
* Implement and continually improve appropriate monitoring and evaluations systems; analyzing results to ensure and enhance program effectiveness and quality, and contribute regularly to all donor reporting requirements.
* Oversee smooth implementation of mobile data collection system for protection monitoring and safety audits, following appropriate data security protocol.
* Manage financial aspects of the protection program (budget forecasting, development of spending plans and budget follow-up), approve relevant expenses and review expenditures, in consultation with the Finance Team and SCIP to ensure that project activities are implemented within the assigned budget parameters.
* Put in place and monitor strong program work plans for the protection team to ensure activities are on target per agreed timelines, taking into account clear contingency plans in case of program disruption
* Actively seek appropriate partnerships, in collaboration with the partnership team, for implementation of protection activities when possible, including assessment and capacity building plans.
Program Growth and Strategy
* Actively contribute to completion of comprehensive protection/rule of law program strategy for northern Syria in conjunction with protection teams to guide current and new program direction.
* Coordinate closely with other technical sector leads to identify opportunities for cross-sector programming to strengthen outcomes for the people we serve.
* Support Senior Coordinator for Integrated Protection in establishment of overall protection strategy for northern Syria with an aim to ensure intricate linkages with women’s and children’s protection.
* Contribute regularly to program growth through participatory program design, proposal writing, budget development, etc.
Reporting and Advocacy
* Analyze protection data to produce succinct, analytical monthly protection monitoring reports to be shared with both external and internal stakeholders, highlighting key protection trends and concerns.
* Advise SCIP on protection trends to inform country-wide and regional advocacy, such as on housing, land and property issues affecting IDPs.
* Write fact sheets, briefs and recommendations for SCIP and Senior Management to circulate to UN agencies and other stakeholders.
* Use protection information to propose new areas of work for the IRC, and support in proposal development.
* Review weekly protection reports and consult with DDP and technical sector leads to ensure validity and quality of data for internal distribution and support Protection Manager in follow-up on protection responses.
Representation and Coordination
* Maintain IRC’s role as a leading agency in coordination mechanisms for Protection programming through regular attendance of Cluster meetings and bilateral coordination with other service providers, and active engagement on IRC-led initiatives in the Cluster, including Protection Monitoring Task Force and other relevant task teams
* Ensure the protection teams is in regular communication with local authorities and stakeholders to inform of and obtain support for IRC’s Protection activities and avoid duplication with other service providers
Requirements:
* University Degree in Law (Human Rights Law preferred), political science, or equivalent
* 3-5 years professional experience in protection work, experience in emergencies preferred
* Minimum one year of experience in remote management context managing programs
* Experience with qualitative data collection, analysis and reporting
* Experience with protection/human rights monitoring and legal aid service provision preferred
* Previous experience leading diverse teams and with remote management
* Proven training/capacity building experience
* Excellent drafting and oral communication skills in both English and Arabic.
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:
* Strong management and organizational skills.
* Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work independently, as well as part of a team.
* Excellent ability to interpret, analyze and synthesize information in a fast-paced environment.
* Excellent organizational skills, timeliness, ability to determine priorities and great attention to detail.
* Proactive, flexible, team spirited and willing to learn.
* Strong computer skills including, at minimum, MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Working Environment:
The position will be based in Antakya, Turkey, with shared housing, and with frequent travels throughout the region.
Returning National Candidates : We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a Turkish or Syrian and are currently located outside of Turkey and possess over two years of international work experience, the Syria Response 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.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) 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 lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure.
