Requisition ID: req46345
Job Title: Field Manager
Sector: Operations
Employment Category: Regular
Employment Type: Full-Time
Open to Expatriates: No
Location: Armanz, Syria
Work Arrangement: In-person
Application Deadline: 1-Nov-2023
Job Description
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, womens 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:
The Field Manager is in charge of supporting the programs and operations in the field office of Armanaz Reporting to the Field Coordinator. The incumbent shall be representing IRC with local authorities, local communities, and clients as well as taking part and representing IRC in other forums, such as NGO coordination meetings.
Responsibilities:
Office and Operations Management
- Streamline the operational support of Armanaz field office and ensure that both operations and program staff meet expectations in performing their tasks.
- Work in collaboration with the Field Coordinator, Supply Chain, Humanitarian Access, HR, IT, and finance departments to ensure that the field office is adequately operating and provides the expected level of support to program implementation.
- Coordinate with Finance, Supply Chain, and program departments to ensure integrated internal controls, timely payment of vendors, and full, auditable support documentation.
- Continuously monitor security developments in Idlib governorate to ensure the security and safety of IRC staff, programs, and assets. Manage field-level security incidents in close cooperation with the Humanitarian Access focal point.
- Ensure the provision of timely and reliable procurement, warehousing (including assets), and transport services in full compliance with IRC supply chain policies and procedures in Syria.
- Ensure that IRC has adequate storage capacity for program supplies.
- Managing the operating budget in Armanaz office, in collaboration with the Field Coordinator.
- Ensure that all IRC premises meet standards and recommend improvements, where necessary.
- Routinely communicate, coordinate, and plan with the respective requesting staff/programs regarding the order and delivery of supplies.
- Coordinate with Syria and Turkey Supply Chain teams on cross-border shipments, related activities, and other collaborative tasks and projects.
- Oversee the Supply Chain departments staff and functions, including procurement, logistics, fleet, and facilities management.
- Work with the Field Coordinator (FC) and Supply Chain Coordinator (SCC) to identify issues with systems and tools, capacity constraints, training needs, etc., and lead efforts to make improvements as needed.
- Oversee vehicle operations and usage for the smooth and safe running of the programs.
- Lead on new facility identification and selection, when required. Manage the initial set-up, if applicable.
- In consultation with the IT focal point and IT manager, ensure that Armanaz office is up to IRC standards and recommend improvements, where necessary.
Program Support:
- Provide consistent operational support to all program departments in Armanaz.
- Follow up with the field office programs to ensure that quality programming is carried out and IRC and donor expectations are met.
- Perform regular program site visits to ensure required progress and quality in the implementation of activities.
- In coordination with the Field Coordinator, communicate and coordinate with the Turkey-based managers/coordinators to address any issues affecting the quality or timeline of program activities.
Coordination:
- Represent IRC at all field coordination meetings in Syria.
- Represent IRC in front of local authorities and local communities.
- Convey information on IRC program activities and criteria as well pass community needs and requests to program managers and coordinators.
- Coordinate and support, when needed, the work of the IRCs local partner(s).
Emergency Response Support:
- Closely monitors the context developments in the field to identify any significant movement of IDPs, the spread of epidemics or natural disasters in areas of IRC operations, and other ways for possible expansion based on need.
- Collaborates with program focal points to issue Situational Reports, when needed.
Compliance:
- Ensure adherence to IRC policies and procedures for all operations departments, including Supply chain, Humanitarian Access, HR, finance, and IT.
- Ensure health, safety, and security protocols are followed at all times and take timely corrective actions as required and in consultation with the Field Coordinator.
- Ensure that IRC SOPs and contingency plans are implemented in the field.
- Promptly inform the Field Coordinator of any areas of concern for potential or suspected violations of policies and procedures.
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 strengths 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 high-quality 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:
- University degree with At least four years of experience, with minimum two years of professional experience at a managerial level.
- Previous experience in an emergency or conflict-afflicted setting is required.
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:
- A commitment to IRCs 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:
- Excellent English, and fluent Arabic.
Key Working Relationships:
- Position Reports to: the Field Coordinator.
- Position directly supervises: the Procurement Officer, Sr. Logistics Officer, and IT Officer.
- Indirect Reporting (If applicable): Humanitarian Access Officer, Human Resources Officer, and Finance Officer.
- Key Internal Contacts: Program staff, Humanitarian Access Manager, and Human Resources Manager.
- Key External Contacts: local authorities, local communities, IRC clients, Nongovernmental organizations, and Civil Society Organizations.
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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