Senior Women Protection and Empowerment Manager

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, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, 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:

With direct management support from the Integrated Protection Coordinator and support from WPE Technical Advisor, the Sr. Women’s Protection and Empowerment Manager plays a key role in leading project development and implementation, providing technical support and mentorship to the IRC’s WPE component consists of gender-based violence prevention and response through safe spaces and other modalities, integrated services with health and economic recovery and development including remote management of staff and capacity sharing with implementing partners inside Northwest Syria (NWS), and ensuring the delivery of quality programming. The Sr. WPE Manager will be primarily responsible for the establishment or strengthening of existing direct and partner-led service provision. They will be responsible to supervise and coordinate the direct implementation and projects with implementing partners in the different locations in Northwest Syria. Moreover, the Sr. WPE Manager will also support the integrated protection coordinator in strategic decisions for programs as well as integration/collaboration with other sectors.

Responsibilities:

Technical oversight and support to field-level implementation of IRC’s and partners WPE direct implementation programming in Northwest Syria. Namely the establishment and running of Mobile WPE teams; Women and Girls Safe Spaces; capacity building of local Syrian organizations on specialized service provision including, but not limited to, management of procurement, community engagement, staff recruitment, and capacity building, activity development, and scheduling, development of GBV case management and PSS components

Design innovative approaches to build the capacity of partners including operational and technical support on ongoing GBV case management services including but not limited to strengthening care for child survivors

Explore new areas of programming in Northwest Syria to ensure that women and girls are safe in their homes and communities and receive through direct or partner implementation

Support the identification of new partners to expand the WPE program portfolio in Northwest Syria Development and implementation of training and technical support to mainstream WPE standards across Northwest Syria response

Supply to any business development required for the program, including drafting concept notes, proposals as required by the Integrated Protection Coordinator

Lead GBV emergency response in areas where new displacement occurs in Northwest Syria including the contingency planning and preparedness

Lead the integration of other sectors in existing WPE programs

Work closely with IRC’s health programs to strengthen the health sector response to GBV including clinical care for sexual assault survivors

Support program design including the development of project narratives and budget, and development of qualitative and quantitative reporting from inside Syria.

Support the Integrated Protection Coordinator to enhance collaboration and harmony across the WPE, Child Protection (CP) and Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL) program components to promote integration

Lead inclusion (gender and people with disability) mainstreaming in IRC’s Health and Early Recovery and Development (ERD) programs

Work with IRC Monitoring team, IPC, technical advisor, and partner organizations to ensure a safe, survivor- centered, and confidential mechanism for collecting information on project activities is implemented.

Support the design of monitoring and evaluation tools that are contextually appropriate and will allow the IRC to measure the impact of programming.

Ensure that all internal and external reporting requirements are met and that reports are of high quality and submitted on time.

Support the timely information-sharing regarding challenges and needs at the field level.

Represent IRC in internal and external forums as needed, including the GBV sub-Cluster.

Assist in chipping into the development of referral mechanisms in collaboration with IRC coordinators, other NGOs, and the Protection cluster.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.

Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the teams in Syria.

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.

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.

Approve and manage time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.

Hold meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, minimally on a monthly basis.

Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.

As required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.

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. Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices.

Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.

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.

Qualifications

Required Experience/qualification/Skills:

Bachelor’s degree in social science and law; political science, social work, or related field. Advanced degree preferred.

Proven experience of which a minimum of 5 years of experience in the Protection field in with at least 3 years is in a managerial level in a GBV/women’s protection program

Experience in NGOs is preferred

Ideally, experience with GBV prevention and response programming in remote management settings

Demonstrated experience with GBV case management

Demonstrated understanding of gender-sensitive & progressive programming and protection mainstreaming demonstrated understanding of standard methodologies for integration of gender-based violence interventions in humanitarian action

Report writing skills

Excellent relationship-building, communication skills, and the ability to collaborate closely

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

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 is a must.

Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language/Travel:

English is required, while Arabic and/or Turkish are desired.

Travel: 15% to field sites in as well as attending regional and global workshops and meetings.

Cross to NWS approximately 30% to conduct regular filed visits, include monitor program implementation, provide technical support, engage with local partners and communities, facilitate capacity-building sessions and contextual analyses to ensure project objectives and organizational standards are met

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Integrated Protection Coordinator

Position directly supervises: WPE Manager, WPE Senior Officer, WPE Senior Capacity Building Officer Indirect Reporting (If applicable): WPE Technical Advisor

Key Internal Contacts: Senior Child Protection Manager, Senior Protection and Rule of Law Manager

Key External Contacts: GBV Working Group, Protection Cluster Working Groups

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.

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