Turkey: Protection Manager (219740-927)

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

As Mercy Corps seeks to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression around the world we recognize that instances of sudden change within a country or region, are rare moments of opportunity. Mercy Corps is interested in strengthening presence for early as well as longer term programming for Syrians, including those who have been displaced, and will be present initially in the north, with expansion of programming to other regions over time. It is imperative that Mercy Corps present itself as a key and reliable partner with various donors, INGOs, government authorities and civil society actors, to be part of the process of positive change. Mercy Corps, with its global experience in working in countries undergoing major transitions, will be a key contributor in the process, bringing knowledge, expertise and strong management skills to position the agency as a partner of choice for progressive change in Syria, as well as in response to refugee and vulnerable populations in Turkey. Syria is currently in the midst a major humanitarian crisis impacting the entire country as well as a number of the neighboring countries. The main thrust of the work of Mercy Corps along with its national and international partners for the foreseeable future will be primarily focused on meeting urgent war-related humanitarian needs across the country. The heightened insecurity and continuous acts of violence and war make the humanitarian response not only more challenging, but increasingly complicated.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY

The Protection Manager will be responsible for the development and implementation of protection and gender mainstreaming into the Mercy Corps North Syria program portfolio. She/he will assist in strengthening the organizational capacity to addressing protection risks in the context of North Syria. The Protection Manager will have responsibilities for the design, implementation and technical quality of strategies and activities to address and mitigate protection risks; The Protection Manager will work extensively with other sectors to ensure that protection principles are being incorporated into the North Syria programs, in particular with the Food Security team, NFI/Shelter team, WASH team, and the refugee response team to strengthen the integrated nature of Mercy Corps' programming.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Technical Oversight

• Lead strategy development and vision for protection within the North Syria program.
• Provide technical inputs and oversight to the design of protection interventions.
• Take ownership of integration and mainstreaming of protection, with an emphasis on enhancing program quality.
• Conduct workshops and trainings for Mercy Corps staff to promote and institutionalize protection principles.
• Participate in cross-departmental collaboration and coordination in order to ensure that protection is mainstreamed into all program activities.
• Support the roll out of protection best practices based on the operational context of North Syria.
• Contribute to the development of assessments, monitoring and analyses that better understand and analyze protection risks.
• Ensure the effective design and integration of gender sensitive monitoring and evaluation systems and protection monitoring methodologies into all stages of the project; that output and impact data are captured, and data is used to optimize program quality.

Capacity Development:

• Identify gaps in current protection capacity within the Mercy Corps team.
• Lead the development of protection capacity within the Mercy Corps team in Turkey and North Syria, particularly focusing on Do No Harm principles and other relevant industry standards.
• Work with Partnership Manager to identify suitable methods for supporting protection capacity building among partners working in North Syria.
• Recommend and implement a capacity building/development plan for staff; provide continuous support to ensure the targeted capacity building of staff.
• In collaboration with the Regional Protection Advisor, support capacity building initiatives across the region for Mercy Corps staff.

Program Development and Quality:

• Collaborate with the Director of Programs, Grants Manager, Sector Managers and to provide protection input on proposals for other sectors to ensure protection is mainstreamed across Mercy Corps programming.
• Work with North Syria Programs team and Monitoring & Evaluation Manager to support proper beneficiary needs identification through improved vulnerability assessments and targeting.
• Lead discussions on vulnerability assessments and targeting to ensure inclusiveness of basic protection standards.
• Develop Protection SOPs; ensure staff follow and understand procedures and policies.
• Stay abreast of and analyze protection trends and develop/adjust program strategies to meet needs.
• Identify opportunities for the design and development concept notes and proposals for further protection programming.
• In collaboration with the Programs Team, Security and Access Team, and the Information and Analysis Unit, design and conduct protection needs assessments.

Program Management:

• Oversee the design, planning and implementation of protection activities to ensure that protection activity objectives are met.
• Supervise protection staff directly, providing ongoing leadership to the project team and overseeing the implementation and coordination of activity plans to ensure targets are met.
• Prepare internal and external reports on protection activities within agreed deadlines as required.
• Assure appropriate and timely spending of allocated funds for protection activities to achieve program goals, grant reporting contributions, use and distribution of supplies and resources.

Representation:

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders - including NGOs, clusters, UN agencies, community based organizations, the Mercy Corps Regional Protection Advisor and other Mercy Corps sectors to enhance cooperation and coordination.
• Attend protection coordination meetings and/or represent Mercy Corps in other relevant forums.
• Ensure that information from coordination meetings is shared internally and with other sectors, as appropriate.
• Serve as the focal point for regional and agency wide protection and gender policies.

Team Management

• Act as the focal point for female field staff to relay protection concerns
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Gender and Community Mobilization Officer, Senior Project Officers- Protection/ Outreach.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Director of Programs

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Sector Managers, Grants Management Advisor, and North Syria Programs Coordination Manager.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor degree or equivalent in relevant field is required. Master's degree is a plus
• 3-5 years of professional experience in protection programming, mainstreaming or equivalent combination of education and experiences
• Strong understanding of protection principles and likely protection concerns arising in the Syria context as well as conflict sensitivity; commitment to renewing and maintaining currency with best practices
• Experience in staff management in a cross-cultural environment and budget management
• Demonstrated training and facilitation experience
• Ability to work under pressure
• Demonstrated strengths in analytical skills, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing required
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills
• Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills.
• Fluency in English required; fluency in Arabic is highly desired

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful candidate will combine strong technical skills, management experience, and a can-do attitude. S/he will have previous experience in working in large-scale emergency programs in insecure and conflict context, including remote management and capacity development. S/he will have an outstanding ability to design and oversee innovative programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the area. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills.

LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The position will be based in Ankara with frequent traveling to the field office. Personnel in this location are expected to follow all security protocols. Good medical services are available. City electricity is available in Ankara and running water is reliable also. Internet connectivity and communication is reliable in most locations. In general, road conditions in Turkey are good. Some travel to Gaziantep will be required.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=c3NhbGxvdW0uNDI2MjYuMzgzMEBtZXJjeWNvcnBzLmFwbGl0cmFrLmNvbQ