Producer Liaison Officer

We are looking for a highly qualified Producer Liaison Officer for our program in Antakya- Hatay, Turkey.

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental and non-profit organization, founded in 1956, that works in more than 35 countries around the world. DRC has been operating in Turkey since early 2013, working with by and large with non-camp Syrian refugees and affected host communities. DRC is committed to basic humanitarian principles; including impartiality and neutrality and offers the highest standards of accountability to the people it serves. The overall objective for DRC in Turkey is the protection and promotion of durable solutions to displacement affected populations on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights with more immediate objectives focusing both on the immediate subsistence needs, protection and self-reliance support as well as a more long-term focus on capacity building. In Turkey, DRC works partially through partners, also providing intensive capacity building support, while also conducting direct implementation.

About the job

DRC’s livelihoods programming aims to build the capacities and assets of vulnerable Syrian and host community individuals to enhance their social and economic self-reliance. Programme activities include; counseling, provision of transferable skills, vocational skills training, job referrals and/or provision of home-based small business grants.

The Producer Liaison Officer is a member of the technical unit at the national level, and primarily supports small entrepreneurs who face challenges in integrating markets and selling their product. The position requires the development of extensive networks, a knowledge of key suppliers and buyers and a capacity to engage with producers to help them overcome barriers to entry and respond to their needs.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Producer Liaison Officer will have the following duties and responsibilities:

Networking and external relations

• In close coordination with the Market Mapping and Analysis Officers, develop and maintain a mapping and up-to-date analysis of sectors and value chains target beneficiaries engage in (at local and national levels)
• Maintain a network with private and public sector actors, including Chambers of Commerce and Industry, business institutions, etc., to identify market integration opportunities for small entrepreneurs
• Engage with entrepreneurs and other actors (financial services, etc.) to develop new partnerships

  Direct support to producers

• Provide oversight of the productive asset and small business development support to ensure training, coaching and follow-up activities are informed by relevant and up-to-date market information
• Support the Productive Asset Assistant in identifying appropriate suppliers for the productive asset support; if necessary, link suppliers at local level to suppliers at national level
• Lead the organization of product fairs and showcases
• Maintain and monitor the Buy4Impact Platform
• Identify and develop new approaches and mechanisms to link beneficiaries to end markets
• In close coordination with livelihoods assistants at base level, identify training needs for small entrepreneurs and refer beneficiaries to the livelihoods centers and service providers accordingly

  Engagement with implementing partner

• Provide remote technical support to Productive Asset Assistants in all field bases
• Visit all field bases monthly to be able to develop and implement an integrated approach to market integration, linking the local level actors to the national actors.
• Organise tailored training with the implementing partners’ staff

  Monitoring & Evaluation

• Field visits to monitor and evaluate the relevance of livelihoods activities to market demand, along with the M&E team
• Participate in the internal evaluation of the program

  Other

• Complete any additional tasks identified by Supervisor

About you

To be successful in this role you must have Bachelor’s degree or higher business administration, economics, supply chains, entrepreneurship, and/or other relevant fields or equivalent experience in market/business development value and supply chain etc.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

Essential Qualifications:

• At least 2 years of relevant professional experience with a humanitarian aid organization
• Strong knowledge and understanding of market dynamics
• Good understanding of procurement practices and procedures.

  Essential Experiences:

• Experience in implementing market-based approaches
• Experience working in the field (preferably experience from southern Turkey)

  Preferred Qualification:

• High-level of knowledge and practice with Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.

  Preferred Experience:

• Experience with the Private sector
• An understanding of humanitarian/civil society issues in Turkey and the region
• Experience working with Syrian refugees

  Required Skills and Competencies

• Strong networking and communications skills
• Capacity to work independently
• Ability to engage with a wide range of actors operating in different sectors and environments
• Ability to create linkages between different departments including between programmes and support functions
• Capacity to create linkages and positive exchanges between different geographic areas
• Strong initiative and self-motivation, with a commitment to teamwork and humanitarian principles
• Flexibility, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn from others

  Language Skills:

• Fluency in Arabic, Turkish and English, both written and verbal.

Characteristics:

• Direct interactions with beneficiaries of different backgrounds
• Strong link to market systems
• Strong focus on market research and analysis
• Extensive exchanges with external actors from the private and public sectors
• Strong collaboration with Livelihood Officers, Assistants and trainers/facilitators in all field locations

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

We offer

DRC will offer the successful applicant a 1-year contract, renewable dependent on both funding and performance. You must be available to start work 02.01.2018 and be willing and able to work in Antakya-Hatay.

We offer a fair compensation package depending on your qualification and experiences as well as additional allowances such as relocation allowance and living allowances, if applicable. DRC Turkey is income tax exempted.

Application process

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button. 

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV only applications will not be considered.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact recruitment@drc-turkey.org  

Applications close  30 November 2017. The interviews are expected to take place within 2 weeks after the application close date.

Need further information?

For more details on this position please contact HR Team at recruitment@drc-turkey.org.

Please note that applications sent directly to HR Team will not be considered.

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.ngo