Head of Economic Recovery for Northeast Syria

Position: Head of Economic Recovery for Northeast Syria
Period: 12 months with possible extension
Country Programme: Syria
Line Manager: Area Programs Director (APD) for Northeast Syria
Location: Raqqa, Northeast Syria, with travels within the region
Starting date: February 2023

About PIN

People in Need delivers assistance in Northern Syria addressing the needs of IDPs and hosting communities in several sectors such as food security, emergency, livelihoods, shelter, protection, education and WASH. PIN is well-established organization with several field offices, direct implementation and more than 400 employees. Main office sits in Erbil and provides support services to field teams inside Syria. PIN’s contribution to the Syria humanitarian response is amongst the largest, with an annual turnover of over $50 million across Syria and funding from humanitarian donors including ECHO, OFDA, FFP, SDC and the European Union.

PIN’s key programming sectors in NES include a combination of early recovery and immediate humanitarian response programs in order to:

• Improve food security and enabling access to life-saving assistance;
• Improve access to shelter;
• Support recovery through the rehabilitation of public institutional buildings.
• Improve economic recovery and livelihoods recovery;
• Securing safe learning spaces for children, with access to psychosocial support

I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE POSITION

With supervision from the APD and technical guidance from the technical support from PIN´s Knowledge & Learning department, the Head of Head of Economic Recovery will be responsible for:

1) The development of new livelihoods projects across NES continuing and building on PIN's current efforts to develop market-driven technical and vocational skills, support transition towards market recovery including in rural areas, and build the growing agricultural livelihoods portfolio

2) Providing supervision, technical support, quality assurance and line management to Livelihoods Programme Manager ensuring the existing livelihoods activities are implemented to a high technical and quality standard.

3) Maintaining synergies and integrated pathways with other sectors implemented by PIN

4) Act as a focal point for several multisectoral projects (under BHA, GIZ and other), leading on internal coordination amongst various thematic sectors (education, protection, Shelter, WASH, livelihoods) in regards to planning, activity coordination, budget forecasting, reporting and responding to unexpected challenges.

5) Represent PIN amongst relevant external parties; including but not limited to MENA region and coordination mechanisms (Working Groups) on Food Security and Livelihoods, Cash, Early Recovery (including its subgroups) and Durable Solutions Task Force.

II. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Programme Development:

• Work in close coordination with Programme Development Advisor on further development of the Economic recovery/livelihoods sectoral strategy, identifying potentially new geographical areas, ways of implementation, sub-sectors and potential partnerships;
• Working together with the APD on further development and allocation of sufficient resources for the agricultural livelihoods’ projects.
• Provide program technical guidance and focus on quality aspects within the programme implementation. Coordination with Program Managers to contribute to development of relevant tools, SOPs and technical standards;
• Close coordination with Food Security & Emergency department to elaborate the “graduation approach” transitioning the community to less dependency on humanitarian support,
• Working closely with MEAL team and their product to Identify lessons learned for further incorporation into programming, proposing relevant changes and ensuring PDM and evaluation findings are used to improve implementation;
• Updating feedback tracker and managing its use as program/project memory tool, facilitating the flow of information between the tracker and implementation (inclusive the follow up on the necessary actions identified through the feedback and relevant for the respective project/program and area of operations);
• Identify potential areas for studies, evaluations, and research to help develop further proposals based on evidence of impact.

Team Management:

• Management of the senior program staff within designated technical expertise and coordination with other senior program staff relevant for the projects;
• Develop the capacity of the programme team to meet the project and individual objectives and ensure quality programming.

Cooperation with grants department:

• Consolidating/reviewing program reports per project an/or sector to ensure accuracy of the inputs;
• Preparing the technical design for new project proposals within the areas of expertise and relevant donors’ portfolio.
• Responsible for the design, feedback and revisions to any relevant project evaluation. Taking further action to any relevant finding.

Project management:

• Leading regular monthly project review meetings (project kick off meeting inclusive) & coordination between programs and support departments to ensure program implementation links well to financial, procurement, HR, MEAL planning;
• Control over overall project spending, financial forecasting and updated work plans against project timeframe;
• Following up on project progress: indicators and project targets (to be) achieved;
• Internal project approval processes, oversight of archiving being done & project records being in place;
• Ensuring protection/accountability and gender is mainstreamed throughout the projects.

• Ensuring cross-sectorial engagement with other programmes such as WASH, Shelter, Education, Emergency when applicable

External representation:

• Coordination with relevant NES WGs, supporting Area Director/Area Programme Director on project specific activities and updates to donors.
• Coordination with relevant partners and implementing actors in NES, and leading the ERMS sector within a consortium

III. REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANTS

• At least 3 years of professional experience at a senior level (Project/Program management etc.) within a humanitarian and/or development organization;
• Proven field experience (at least 3 years) in complex Livelihoods and/or Agriculture, Early Recovery & Market Systems programme development and implementation;
• Experience in building the capacity of national teams;
• Experience in representing an organization in strategic meetings and coordination fora;
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills;
• Excellent command of English, knowledge of Arabic or Kurdish would be an asset;
• Strong grasp of all stages of programme cycle management and quality standards in humanitarian programming including safeguarding and accountability mechanisms;
• Strong organizational, critical analysis and problem-solving skills;
• Experience of working in complex and volatile contexts, including familiarity with the humanitarian context of Syria or the Middle East, would be an advantage.

IV. LIVING CONDITIONS / ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• This position is an unaccompanied position. The position is based in Raqqa. Location of the position may change, as the security situation in Syria is fluid.
• PIN has a new guesthouse to accommodate all the international staff with individual rooms being available.
• The position is expected to be able to travel to other PIN locations;
• Mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is available in all PIN’s offices and guesthouses. There are a number of health services available with medevac mechanism for INGO’s members. There is reasonable access to most consumer goods.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and PIN's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
• Head of Economic Recovery is expected to occasionally travel to Erbil for meetings.

V. PIN Offers

• Salary as per PIN salary scale (subsistence allowance of and hardship allowance already included): 3750-3850EUR;
• Accommodation in PIN’s guesthouse on PIN’s expenses;
• 25 days of paid leave annually;
• Reimbursement of travel expenses with travel to the country of residence once per every 6 months of completed work;
• R&R benefits according to PIN’s policy including extra paid days off, regional flights
• Reimbursement of the costs of visas and vaccinations; assistance with visa application procedure;
• Free 24/7 medical helpdesk and psychological consultation available online;
• Reimbursement of the medical check-up before and after the deployment;
• Travel health insurance;
• In addition, team of dedicated colleagues who foster friendly and fair work atmosphere.

How to apply:

Are you interested in this position? Send us your CV (no longer than 4 pages) and short cover letter via our application form. Please note only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled.

People in Need staff are expected to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need Code of conduct and key policies (available at: https://www.peopleinneed.net/key-policies-4142gp).