Head of Projects: Education and Protection, North-East Syria

Starting date: June 2021 for 12 months
Country Program: Syrian Response – Derek, NE Syria and field travels within North-East Syria
Line manager: NES Area Programme Director

General position summary:

With supervision from the Area Programs Director and technical guidance from the Head of Programmes and PIN´s Knowledge & Learning department, the Head of Education and Protection Projects will be responsible for 1) The Project Management of PIN’s key Education, Protection and TVET projects (ENI, SDC, OFDA Bilateral) throughout the Project Cycle and 2) Ensuring projects are to a high technical and quality standard. This position will also be initially responsible for the TVET part of PIN’s portfolio however, if the livelihoods portfolio is further developed with additional donors this may be developed into a separate position.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Project management

• Leading regular monthly project review meetings & 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 workplans against project timeframe;
• Following upon 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
• Consolidating/reviewing program reports per project to ensure accuracy of the inputs;
• Preparing the technical design for new proposals in education and protection.
• Further development of the sectoral strategy identifying potentially new geographical areas, ways of implementation, sub-sectors and potential partnerships.
• Program technical guidance and focus on quality aspects;
• In coordination with Programme Managers and NWS Education/Protection team contribute to the development of relevant tools, SOPs and technical standards.
• Identifying lessons learnt for further incorporation into programming, proposing relevant changes and reviewing the level 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 and research to help develop further proposals based on evidence of impact
• Management of the senior program staff within designated technical expertise and coordination with other senior program staff relevant for the project;
• Assess training and development needs required for the programme team to meet the project and their individual objectives and ensure quality programming.
• Coordination with relevant WGs, supporting AD/APD on project specific activities updates to donors.

Cooperation with grants department

• Consolidating/reviewing program reports per project to ensure accuracy of the inputs;
• Preparing the technical design for new proposals in education and protection.

Programme Development

• Further development of the sectoral strategy identifying potentially new geographical areas, ways of implementation, sub-sectors and potential partnerships.
• Program technical guidance and focus on quality aspects;
• In coordination with Programme Managers and NWS Education/Protection team contribute to the development of relevant tools, SOPs and technical standards.
• Identifying lessons learnt for further incorporation into programming, proposing relevant changes and reviewing the level 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 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 project;
• Assess training and development needs required for the programme team to meet the project and their individual objectives and ensure quality programming.

External Representation

• Coordination with relevant WGs, supporting AD/APD on project specific activities updates to donors.

Suitable candidates for this position should possess:

• At least 5 years of professional experience within a humanitarian and/or development organization;
• Proven field experience in Education programming (at least 3 years);
• Experience in implementation of child protection within education activities and context
• Experience in designing, implementing and providing technical support for the integration of protection mainstreaming into humanitarian programming
• Experience in building the capacity of national teams;
• Experience in representing an organisation in strategic meetings and coordination fora;
• Strong Project Management Skills with significant experience of US and European Donors
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills;
• Excellent command of English, knowledge of Arabic would be an advantage;
• Strong grasp of programme quality management including safeguarding and accountability mechanisms;
• Strong organizational, critical analysis and problem solving skills;
• Desirable: Experience of working in complex and volatile contexts, including familiarity Syria or the Middle East.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

• There are offices and guest houses in Derik, Raqqa, Menbij and Kobane, the main contingent of PIN staff being in Derek. The town is perceived as less conservative, offering opportunities for a social life outside work hours. Each staff member is assigned an individual room.
• The main base is Derek. In the field bases – Raqqa and Menbij – living conditions are more basic with less opportunities and places to socialize.
• General security situation in Derik is good. It is close to the Iraq border. Use of mobile phones is widespread. All PIN’s offices and guesthouses have internet. Health services are available with a medevac mechanism.

People in Need offers:

• Working environment in a well-established and growing humanitarian organization;
• Salary and benefits according to PIN’s salary scale. Expected salary 3,200-3,400 EUR (including monthly per diems) based on experience;
• Accommodation in guesthouse on LEARN’s expenses.
• 25 days of paid leave annually;
• Reimbursement of travel expenses with travel to the country of residence (or other selected country) once every 6 months of completed work and Travel Health Insurance;
• Pre-departure expenses – reimbursement of costs of visas and vaccinations;
• Free medical helpdesk and psychological consultation available online;