The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world's leading crisis response agencies, providing life-saving assistance and supporting recovery and reconstruction for people hit by war and natural disasters globally. Active in public health, education, livelihoods, women's empowerment, youth development, and protection and promotion of legal rights for the vulnerable and displaced, IRC aims to accompany people on their journey from harm to home.
IRC is prominent and active in responding to the crisis in Syria. We work with refugee populations in neighboring countries and with internally displaced and war-affected Syrians. Our focus is on delivering vital humanitarian assistance to Syrians affected by the war, and in particular in assuring that the rights and needs of women and children are recognized and met. At time of writing, IRC is responding to humanitarian needs in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and inside Syria itself.
SCOPE OF WORK:
This position leads our humanitarian assistance programs in Turkey and northern Syria. The Country Director acts as IRC’s senior representative and manager in the field. S/he will head up a growing program that balances assistance to Syrian refugees in southern Turkey with provision of life-saving aid in the northern Syrian governorates. The Country Director is responsible for the human, financial and operational health of IRC’s programs and has oversight of program quality. S/he will also represent IRC to funding partners, government authorities, media and others. This position is based in Antakya, Hatay province, in southern Turkey with travel expected to Ankara and Istanbul. As is necessary and feasible, travel to visit programs inside Syria may also be expected. The Country Director will report to the Regional Director, and work closely with the Deputy Regional Directors for Programs and Operations, the Regional HR Director, regional support teams in IRC’s New York and London headquarters offices, and other key internal and external stakeholders.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead the country program: Act as IRC's senior in-country manager, leading the country program's programmatic, operational and financial components
- Ensure structures, staffing and systems are geared for quality and efficiency: Ensure that all IRC Turkey structures, systems, policies and staff meet IRC global standards and requirements and are compliant with the requirements of Turkish law and international funding partners, while being as cost-efficient as possible.
- Lead the Senior Management Team: Establish and lead a core management team for all country program functions, inclusive of program, operations and financial management.
- Represent IRC Turkey to key donors and internal stakeholders: Act as IRC's principal representative to key international donors for our work out of Turkey, including institutional (e.g. USAID/OFDA, State Department/PRM, ECHO, DFID etc.) and private, and work with internal grants development and administration partners in New York, London and Brussels.
- Manage our relations with Syrian-led partners. With the support of specialist program staff, provide management oversight of our relations with Syrian-led partner organizations working cross-border into northern Syria, manage communication with senior partner staff, and head up monitoring efforts inside Syria.
- Represent IRC with Turkish governmental and non-governmental authorities: Act as IRC's lead representative with the Turkish government (including the Ministries of the Interior and Foreign Affairs, and the diaster response agency AFAD) in order to ensure IRC is compliant with Turkish law and requirements, and liaise with the Turkish Red Crescent and other groups on relief coordination.
- Provide financial and budget oversight: With the support of the Finance Controller, ensure that IRC Turkey has an up-to-date Operating Budget, maintains a real-time grip on-budget versus actual expenditure, and that all financial control systems are rigorously managed.
- Lead on program development: working with field staff and the Grants Coordinator, ensure IRC can grow its programs in and out of Turkey, including exploration of humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees in Turkey (in camps and in urban areas).
- Assure IRC Turkey human resources policies are compliant and effective: Working with the Regional HR Director and DRDO, ensure that IRC Turkey offers a competitive recruitment and retention package, and that all IRC HR policies are compliant with organizational requirements and Turkish labor law.
- Supervise key country program staff: provide supervision and support to key country program staff, including the Field Coordinator for border operations.
- Ensure that safety and security protocols are in place: working with the Senior Regional Safety & Security Advisor and in-country staff, ensure that IRC Turkey operates an appropriate security protocol and has oversight of operations inside Syria.
- Work closely with other members of the regional team and HQ functions: ensure that IRC Turkey operations get full and active support from the CASAMENA DRDs for Operations and Programs, as well as acting as the focal point for interfacing with other IRC functions and networks at HQ level.
REQUIREMENTS:
- At least eight years of senior management experience in humanitarian/emergency conflict operations.
- Demonstrable experience of leading both program and operational functions in a humanitarian response.
- Strong operations experience (finance, supply chain, HR, IT and security functions) for a scale up program.
- Proven experience with U.S., European, U.N., multi-lateral, and other international donors.
- Proven ability to work in a highly pressured, volatile environment, with a focus on delivery of results.
- Previous and successful budget and fiscal oversight responsibilities.
- Strong management experience and ability to lead large and motivate diverse teams; including capacity building and mentoring.
- Proven ability to work in insecure environments.
- Turkish or Arabic language skills or regional experience highly preferred.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
This position is based in Antakya, southern Turkey, with travel to Ankara and Istanbul, as well as into northern Syria. Although there have been indicators of increased instability, Turkey remains a permissive operating and living environment, with few significant security issues.
The operating environment in northern Syria remains highly volatile and violent. Any field travel will be subject to security advice and contingent on adherence to security protocols.
|
IRC leading the way from harm to home.
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.
|
