Turkey: Whole of Syria Consortium Program Manager

Job Title: Whole of Syria Consortium Program Manager
Duty Station: Gaziantep
Deadline to apply: 10 February 2017

I - Position Summary

CARE in Turkey together with local Syrian NGO implementing partners, is providing much needed humanitarian assistance to alleviate the impact of the crisis in Syria. The Whole of Syria Consortium Program Manager will have strong skills in the management of humanitarian projects in complex environments, including remote management experience and in working with/through partners. Due to access and security issues, CARE is working with partners to deliver aid in northern Syria and the Whole of Syria Consortium Program Manager will work closely with these implementing partners in the management of respective grants, ensuring that activities are carried out according to plan, in a timely manner and with a high level of quality. The Whole of Syria Consortium Program Manager will also play an important role in developing the capacity of the implementing partners, as well as directly supervising and mentoring CARE staff within his/her Program Team. The Whole of Syria Consortium Program Manager will ensure that all grants under this portfolio (European Union, Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and Norway Ministry of Foreign Affairs) are implemented with the highest accountability standards in relation to all of CARE’s internal and external stakeholders (intended beneficiaries, partners, donors and CI Member Partners (CIMP). The Whole of Syria Consortium Program Manager will also work very closely with the Country Office’s technical specialist staff, in particular the Program Quality Manager and the Gender & Protection Advisor, and in close collaboration with the Program Support team (Procurement, Finance, Administration & Logistics Manager) and the Safety and Security Manager, to ensure efficient, safe and high quality of implementation and outcomes

The Role

The Whole of Syria Consortium Program Manager role reports to the Area Director, who, in turn, reports to the CARE Syria Country Director based in Amman. The Whole of Syria Consortium Program Manager will work collaboratively with other relevant program team members and units for the Whole of Syria response, including close consultation with CARE’s technical advisors and other stakeholders responding to the needs in northern Syria. Recognising the extremely high levels of need in Syria and INGOs’ collective responsibility to address them, CARE has been increasing our efforts to ensure that we reach as many people as possible. This is done with a combination of programs, addressing urgent needs, as well as ensuring that resilience is built and livelihoods are protected. In our several projects CARE works with local and international partners to improve both the scale and quality of the response.

As Program Manager you will be responsible for the development and delivery of the CARE Whole of Syria Consortium northern programs, with a focus on improved livelihoods and inclusive women’s economic empowerment. You will provide high-level strategic programmatic oversite and support across a range of areas inside Syria throughout the program cycle. You will ensure consistently high program quality, help measure impact and foster learning across CARE and with our external partners. The post holder will be expected to ensure a coordinated collaboration which allows CARE to leverage greater impact and learning through different concurrent projects and synthesize best practice in north operations. The Whole of Syria Consortium Program Manager will also work very closely with the other five international agencies engaged in the Consortium including IRC, DRC, Mercy Corps, Handicap International, and NRC.

The position will be based in Gaziantep, Turkey and involve signification coordination with operating hubs involved in the Syria response including those in Beirut and Amman. Syria is an extremely complex operating environment, the current security rating for Syria is Extreme, and our programs are currently operated through local partners (although we aim to establish physical presence as/when feasible). Thus, the Whole of Syria Consortium Program Manager will be required to follow the Safety and Security procedures at all times.

II - Specific Areas of Responsibility – Expected Outcomes/Outputs of Role

Program management and accountability

•Manage the successful and timely completion of this multi donor, multi sector program including advising partners to ensure effective and accountable management.
•Ensure partners and CARE staff are implementing the grant in a manner that meets contractual obligations including all donor and CARE policy, procedures, rules and regulations.
•Supervise overall project implementation, including co-signing responsibility in line with CARE authorization limits and regular review of ongoing projects.
•Ensure all reporting internally from the partner and externally to the donor are within agreed timeframes and high quality.
•Maintain financial overview of assigned grant and monitor project expenditure statements to ensure full compliance with CARE and donor compliances.
•Ensure risks are appropriately managed, including financial, safety and security, programmatic and reputational.
•Liaise with CARE country team and other CARE global support to ensure all necessary support is provided to ensure the effective implementation of the program.
•Coordinate and collaborate with technical specialists to ensure the managed program meets desired outcomes

Team management
•Closely observe staff performance, conduct performance appraisals of program staff, ensure regular feedback and mentoring on individual performance.
•Take or recommend appropriate action on staff performance and behavior, if necessary, in coordination with the CO HR Manager.
•Oversee human resource recruitment, development and standards pertaining to the program.
•Work to maintain team spirit and morale among staff by encouraging personal and professional development and positive stress management.

Capacity Building of partners

•Work closely with partners to implement and report on agreed remote monitoring procedures.
•Identify priority areas for capacity building and work with the CARE Area Director and relevant support units to provide additional training and support.
•Keep track of implementing partner performance, identify capacity building priorities, engage relevant CO staff to ensure targeted capacity development support is provided to partners and ensure timely identification and resolution of serious concerns in relation to partners’ performance and accountability.
•Coach and mentor partner senior management team to ensure best practice in fiscal management and management of programs according to CARE Program Quality and Management Standards and the Humanitarian Accountability Principals (HAP).
•Identify technically deficient areas with partners and together with the Area Director, resource and mobilise the required technical support.
•Ensure all disputes that may arise with partners are resolved in amicable manner.

Networking, Coordination and Representation
•Represent CARE at appropriate in-country donor meetings, NGO/UN forums and cluster group coordination mechanisms.
•Represent the northern Syria hub in relevant CARE global and/or regional fora.

III. Qualification and skills
Essential
•MA in development or related subject, or MBA, or equivalent expertise
•Minimum 5 years’ experience in and demonstrated expertise in economic development projects in high profile international donor-funded aid and development programs (EU, SIDA, NoMOFA, USG etc)
•Outstanding ability to support and advise non-specialist colleagues, communicates complex ideas clearly, and facilitates learning and reflection activities
•Experience with Gender and economic development methodology in context of fragile settings
•Excellent project management experience in complex emergency contexts.
•Strong financial and contract management skills.
•Demonstrated ability to manage contracts in compliance with major donor requirements including the EU
•Able to manage competing priorities and multiple deadlines.
•Strong coaching, training and mentoring skills.
•Strong awareness of safety, security and risk management best practices.
•Excellent oral and written communication skills
•Strong negotiation, influencing and networking and Problem Solving
•Understanding of principles of participation, gender equity and women’s empowerment
•Skills in budget and financial management
•Fluent in English

Desired
•Ability to speak Arabic
•Experience of remote management methodologies
•Experience of working with local partners
•Experience in multi sector programming including Livelihoods, Protection and Humanitarian programs

IV – Work conditions
Duty station: Based in Gaziantep with occasional travel to regional meetings with other Whole of Syria hubs (Amman, Beirut)
The security situation in southern Turkey is currently unpredictable. The situation is closely monitored by the country office Safety and Security team and staff are required to closely follow security protocols.

Contract length: 12 months (1 March 2017- 2018)

REPORTING LINES: Post holder reports to: Area Director

Works with: Country Director, ACD/PS, Program team members for cross border programs; relevant Program Support unit team members, Finance Staff, Regional Program Management Unit, CARE member partners (CMPs) partner organisations.

Interested candidates please send a Curriculum Vitae in English and a Cover letter (in a separate file of no more than one A4 page) describing how your skills and experience match the requirements of this post, to the following e-mail address: TURCAREHR@care.org

Applications in languages other than English will not be reviewed.

Make sure to include [210117-2 Whole of Syria Consortium Program Manager ] in the subject line of your application. Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

Our diversity is our strength; we encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences, particularly women, to apply.

NOTE: All candidates must be eligible to work in Turkey or have Residency/valid passport/diploma …etc.

* *CARE International is an Equal Opportunity Employer **