Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) Project Manager Syria Response

NRC currently has more than 2,000 staff in the Middle East region assisting people displaced by conflict in Syria. As a leading humanitarian organization, we support displaced persons by implementing programmes across the Shelter, Education, Food Security, Information Counseling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sectors with strong protection and resilience focus integrated into our programmes.

The Syrian crisis is almost into its 9th year, but the level and intensity of the conflict in the country remains high. Humanitarian and protection needs inside Syria are overwhelming. Ongoing conflict and continued displacement compound a complex emergency situation. According to UN OCHA, 13.6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Syria and millions have been forced to flee. More than 1.4 million displacements were recorded in 2019. More than 6.5 million are internally displaced and many have fled the war-torn country, including 5.5 million refugees across the region.

All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organisation’s core values: dedication, innovation, inclusivity and accountability. These attitudes and believes shall guide our actions and relationships.

Duties and responsibilities

The purpose of the Information, Counseling, Legal Assistance (ICLA) Project Manager is to implement delegated ICLA project portfolio in Syria Response areas of operation. The position is responsible for technical development, strategic direction, and quality assurance as well as for monitoring ICLA activities and mentoring and capacity development of staff. The ICLA Project Manager is expected to follow NRC’s standards, procedures, and guidelines for project governance applicable for the particular projects. S/he is responsible for the overall planning and coordination of all ICLA interventions, either directly within the ICLA CC or as an integrated approach across other CCs and across the Area Office.

Generic responsibilities:

• Line management of ICLA project staff.
• Adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures.
• Contribute to the development of Syria, Area and ICLA strategies, initiate and participate in the development of relevant ICLA projects.
• Coordinate and manage ICLA project implementation (activities, budget and project documentation) in line with proposals, strategies and donor requirements.
• Implement technical direction and ensure high technical quality of projects.
• Provide regular progress reports to the Area Programme Manager and the ICLA CC Specialist
• Ensure that projects target beneficiaries most in need of protection, explore and assess new and better ways to assist.
• Develop and manage project budget and coordinate across all CCs.
• Ensure capacity building of project staff and transfer key skills.
• Liaise and collaborate with relevant local authorities and other key stakeholders.
• Promote the rights of IDPs/returnees in line with the Country advocacy strategy.

Specific responsibilities:

Programme Development

• Design and develop program approaches and activities together with ICLA Specialist that can be piloted and expanded to other project areas.
• Lead on assessments and contribute to evidence based programming and advocacy efforts.
• Ensure all relevant stakeholders are included in the planning and implementation of projects as appropriate.
• Drawing up plans, proposals, and budgets for new projects/extensions of projects in conjunction with the relevant team, both programme and support staff.
• Support multi-sectoral emergency preparedness and response as required by the context and management.
• Closely coordinate with all CCs in the Area Office to maximise on integrated programming.

Programme Management

• Overall responsibility for effective and efficient management of the ICLA projects across Syria Response areas of operation consistent with the project management cycle (including reporting to the desired quality and standard).
• Coordinate with Area Office management to ensure the provision of ICLA Programming as described in country strategy.
• Overall budget management for all the ICLA projects/portfolio implemented in the Area and ensure appropriate burn-rates are maintained and that solutions to over/under expenditure are applied.
• Responsible for providing technical and implementation support and guidance to field-based ICLA staff in implementing NRC project(s), including but not limited to providing instructions on work plans, approving expenses/procurement, recruitments, reporting, etc., in close coordination and collaboration with the sub-office teams.
• Responsible for providing timely and methodical updates regarding needs and trends specific to the responsible CC to the Area Programme Manager and CC Specialist.
• Ensure CC-specific M&E roles and responsibilities are adhered to.

Logistics, Finance, and Human Resource Management

• Ensure appropriate Financial and Logistical NRC systems/ procedures are adhered to within the ICLA team (including supply chain management).
• Ensure timely and accurate development of procurement plans, recruitment plans, and spending plans per project and ensure the same is shared with relevant support colleagues.
• Responsible for ensuring timely submission of monthly CC-specific cash forecast to Finance and relevant Procurement Requests to Logistics.
• In line with project needs and funding availability, continuously and proactively plan CC-specific staff requirements and liaise with HR and Admin to ensure the same.
• Performance management of all direct reports, including regular 1:1 meetings and completion of work and development plans.
• Ensure all new team members are adequately briefed on arrival, and departing team members are debriefed.
• Responsible for ensuring capacity development and training of all ICLA personnel.

Coordination and Representation

• Responsible for attending relevant CC-specific meetings and coordination fora, representing NRC strictly within the limit set out by the Country Office.
• Responsible for representing NRC in ICLA and RCCE related meetings at area level
• Conduct senior representation and promote strong working relationships with local authority counterparts.
• In line with NRC’s standards, ensure communication plans are implemented, stakeholders are informed on NRC’s activities, and the organisation is well accepted by communities.
• In charge of producing weekly and monthly CC-specific situation reports, flash reports and any other reports as requested by the Area Programme Manager and CC Specialist.

Critical interfaces:

By interfaces, NRC means processes and projects that are interlinked with other departments/units or persons. Relevant interfaces for this position are:

• Strategy and project planning: CC Specialists, Area Manager
• Area operations: Area Manager
• Staff capacity building: CC Specialist
• Implementation: CC Specialists and Area Programme Manager, Area Support Manager

Competencies:

Competencies are important in order for the employee and the organisation to deliver desired results. They are relevant for all staff and are divided into the following two categories:

Required Professional Competencies:

• Minimum 3 years of experience from a senior level project implementation position in a humanitarian/recovery context
• Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
• Experience implementing ICLA programs for IDPs and host communities
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of Project Cycle Management and team leadership

Required Behavioural Competencies:

These are personal qualities that influence how successful people are in their job. NRC’s Competency Framework states 12 behavioural competencies and the following are essential for this position:

• Managing resources to optimize results
• Managing performance and development
• Empowering and building trust
• Handling insecure environments
• Communicating with impact and respect
• Planning and delivering results

Preferred context/specific skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of the Syria context
• Fluency in Arabic and English is highly preferred, both written and verbal
• Experience in needs assessment, project monitoring and evaluation, and programme development;
• Experience of geographical access negotiation and representation, including with local authorities, I/NGOs, and communities.
• Good communication skills, with capacity to directly influence and negotiate with a wide range of stakeholders;
• Strong leadership skills and a supportive management style;
• Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritizing a high and diverse workload.

We Can Offer:

• Contract period: 12 months
• Salary/benefits: According to NRC’s salary scale and terms and conditions
• Duty station: Erbil, Iraq