Job Description

Requisition ID: req1654
Job Title: Senior Program Coordinator
Sector: Program Administration
Employment Category: Fixed Term
Employment Type: Full-Time
Location: Iraq-Duhok

Job Description
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, 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, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. 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, 7.6 million people are internally displaced and 12.2 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, with 4.8 million in hard-to-reach areas. There are over 4 million Syrian refugees in neighboring countries. 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. With an annual budget in excess of $140 million and a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 3,000 staff and workers in the region, IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, protection and rule of law, education, women’s protection and empowerment, NFI and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, 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.

SCOPE OF WORK: Under the supervision of the IRC Deputy Director for Cross Border (DDXB), the Senior Programs Coordinator for Northeast Syria (NES) will directly supervise and provide strategic leadership for a dynamic, expanding, multi-sector program across Northeast Syria covering Hasakeh, Raqqa and parts of Deir-ez-Zour governorates. S/he will supervise the Health, Economic Recovery and Development and Protection Coordinators as well as the Grants Coordinator and MEAL Coordinator. In addition to leading implementation of a wide range of programming across emergency to early recovery contexts, and conducting day to day team management, this role will also serve as the emergency response focal point for any rapid onset new emergencies, and support grants in proposal and business development.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
* Managing Program Coordinators to ensure quality program design and timely implementation according to IRC’s Outcomes and Evidence Framework (OEF) and best practices
* Ensure programming is aligned with the OEF including program planning, project design, communications with staff, orientation.
* In collaboration with Program Coordinators, oversee proposal design & development in a participatory way, ensuring that projects are data-driven and align with the OEF, the country program Strategy Action Plan (SAP), and the global IRC2020 Strategy. Ensure budgeting is realistic and project implementation deliverables can be achieved to deadline.
* Work with Program Coordinators to ensure ongoing monitoring of progress and accurate data collection are being practiced regularly by field program staff.
* Ensure that all beneficiary and project stakeholder feedback is addressed appropriately, and in a timely manner.
* In conjunction with the DDXB, liaise with the IRC HQ-based Technical Units to ensure regular flow of communication between field and headquarters, appropriate implementation of Technical Unit recommendations, and facilitate technical oversight of programs.
* In conjunction with the DDXB, develop learning initiatives that support the generation of new evidence.

Working with program coordinators and the DDXB to advance the IRC Iraq Cross Border’s Strategic Action Plan
* In collaboration with the DDXB and Program Coordinators, serve as the SAP focal point in-country to lead the ongoing implementation of the IRC Northeast Syria Strategy Action Plan (SAP) - including the development and careful monitoring of progress against country program priorities, monthly updates of the SAP Implementation Plan and quarterly SAP reports.

Oversee program development, fundraising and grants management
* Supervise the Grants Coordinator in the development of quality concept notes and proposals for all IRC Northeast Syria programs.
* Support Grants Coordinator and Grants Unit with development of a funding strategy, diversifying and strengthening donor base.
* Actively participate in grant meetings, including all Budget vs Actuals Meetings, Grant Opening, Mid-Term, and Closing Meetings, ensuring follow up on action points.
* Ensure Program Coordinators budget accurately and realistically, and consistently spend and implement in a timely fashion while meeting targets.
* Support the Grants Coordinator to ensure that all IRC Iraq NES programs are compliant with their respective donor regulations.
* Coordinate with DDXB, Program Coordinators, operations leads, and Grants Unit on all grant modifications, with a focus on identifying and troubleshooting potential issues well in advance.
* In coordination with Program Coordinators and Grants Coordinator, ensure timely utilization of tracking of budget management tools such as spending plans per grant.
* Oversee partnership staff to ensure that IRC implementing partners’ projects are tracked and evaluated, and that updates on partners/sub-grants are communicated in a timely and professional manner to appropriate stakeholders.

Oversee Monitoring & Evaluation (inclusive of management of the MEAL Coordinator):
* Oversee MEAL staff to identify and address needs for project monitoring and reporting strategies/templates, as well as to design/improve upon and implement processes related to data quality (including qualitative) and documentation/communication of program learning.
* Support multi-departmental tracking/monitoring tools and processes to improve and streamline IRC operational and project tracking systems.

Staff Management and Development
* Coach staff with the aim of strengthening their technical and management capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing professional development guidance.
* Supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
* As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, ensure identification, training and capacity-development of national staff to successfully transition senior manager and coordinator role and responsibilities to national staff within a reasonable timeframe.
* Promote and monitor staff care and well-being; approve and manage all leave requests to ensure adequate coverage.
* Lead and model successful adherence to IRC’s Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures.

Emergency Response focal point
* Establish Emergency Preparedness Plan and serve as emergency team lead when an emergency situation arises; bring together emergency focal points from teams and ensure an emergency SMT is in place to be able to quickly respond, assess and fundraise.
* Ensure resources are brought in from the Emergency Unit in HQ when emergency or surge support needs are identified.
* Coordinate with communications and advocacy staff at Regional Office to ensure timely sit reps and information flow.

Coordination and Representation
* Represent the IRC in NGO Coordination mechanisms, with donors, and with ministries as needed at the national and Governorate levels as necessary with support of the DDXB.
* Ensure strong participation in and contribution to the Whole of Syria coordination framework.

Key Working Relationships:
* Position Reports to: Deputy Director Cross Border - Northeast Syria
Position directly supervises: ERD Coordinator, Integrated Protection Coordinator, Health Coordinator, MEAL Coordinator, Grants Coordinator
* Indirect Reporting: n/a

Other Internal and/or external contacts:
* Internal: Operations department, Humanitarian Access team, Human Resources, Communications and Advocacy, Finance team, Compliance team,
* External: Technical Units, Deputy Regional Director, Deputy counterparts with other regional country programs, including the Western Syria team.

REQUIREMENTS:
* Experience in ensuring timely and quality implementation of large projects in unstable environments.
* Successful experience writing and coordinating high-value proposals for major donors (USG, UN, DFID, EU, etc), including budgeting skills
* Program development experience mandatory, including development of key project documents such as logical frameworks and monitoring tools
* Experience directly managing and leading diverse teams and achieving positive results.
* Minimum of five years’ experience in an international NGO in similar role/with similar responsibilities.
* Previous experience as a member of senior management team preferred
* Excellent English writing and spoken skills are mandatory
* Arabic language skills a plus

Interpersonal specifications:
* Ability to work in unstable security environment and abide with the security policies.
* Ability to work under pressure and maintain professional poise while managing a large workload.
* Ability to independently organize work and prioritize tasks.
* Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual.
* Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Working Environment:
Based in Dohuk, Iraq, in shared housing with frequent travel to field locations in Syria.

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.

Attention Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a national 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.

Location: Iraq - - Duhok

About the Organization

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 27 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure.