Integrated Protection Coordinator

Background/IRC Summary:  

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria - more than half of the country's population - are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Integrated Protection Coordinator (IPC) will provide overall strategic direction and management for the protection program and any arising emergency response in Northwest Syria (NWS) and Turkey. The Coordinator will work with the Senior Integrated Protection Coordinator, the Program Implementation and Quality Director and sector leads to implement integrated protection programming inclusive of Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Child Protection and Protection and Rule of Law, directly and with partners.  

Responsibilities:

Program Management, Technical Quality and Strategy

• Provide leadership and overall technical and management oversight to the protection portfolio in NWS and Turkey in line with the country and sector strategy.
• Develop/adapt and implement protection strategies that enhance capacity and deliver needs-based protection services.
• Lead in the management of the protection team, including senior managers who are responsible for delivery of their respective pillars.
• Working closely with other sector leads, ensure IRC’s protection program reflects standards for good practices, quality, and innovation, and are responsive and adapted based on monitoring data to ensure implementation modalities remain context- and need-appropriate.
• Ensure effective, collaborative protection partnerships that result in more effective, responsive and durable assistance that reaches more people.
• Ensure that technical capacity strengthening support to partners effectively addresses their priority needs.
• Coordinate with program sector leads, supply chain and finance staff to ensure timely payments, distributions and compliance for activities.
• Ensure smooth management and integration of project work plans and budgets (budget forecasting, development of spending plans and budget follow-up), timely recruitment, partner support plans, and accurate reporting in line with IRC and donor regulations.
• Collaborate with Technical Unit advisors to ensure relevant support, tools and resources are being provided and integrated into programming.
• Actively participate in all grant management meeting processes.
• Work closely with IRC’s advocacy and media teams, and the relevant Technical Units for the dissemination of monitoring findings and key messaging.

Program Development

• Identify, monitor and report unmet needs. Explore the potential of the IRC to address those needs within the parameters of country strategy and sector priorities.
• Expand IRC’s Northwest Syria and Turkey integrated protection portfolio through development of concept notes and proposals.
• Support identification of opportunities for integrated programming initiatives in support of service delivery and/or thought leadership with country program senior management, business development staff and technical advisors. Collaborate with Syrian partners on the identification of proposal development opportunities, and the design of new interventions.
• Anticipate, plan and manage programmatic and structural transitions.
• In collaboration with the MEAL team, support integrated protection staff to develop and use relevant monitoring tools and adapt them to context.
• Support the development of business development skills and responsibility among the protection team.

Coordination and Representation

• As needed and in coordination with other protection sector leads and country program management, represent IRC in inter-agency forums and discussions.
• Regularly coordinate with internal program and operational stakeholders, and relevant Technical Advisors.
• Participate in relevant working groups both within and outside of the UN cluster system.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

• 
  Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
• Lead collaborative partner relationships focused on mutual learning and capacity building as well as technical guidance in areas of IRC expertise, including through recruitment, training/mentoring support and performance management.
• Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths of the teams in Syria. 
• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Approve and manage time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, minimally on a monthly basis.
• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths. 
• As required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices.
• Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.