Agriculture Officer

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 IRC is seeking a highly motivated Agriculture officer to play a pivotal role in the successful implementation of our agriculture projects. The ideal candidate will be responsible for a diverse range of tasks, including field assessments, beneficiary selection, input distribution, training facilitation, and project monitoring. This role requires strong organizational, communication, and agriculture expertise to ensure the project’s success.

The agriculture officer will be an integral part of the Syria response team. This position supports the delivery of agricultural assistance to those affected by the conflict in the target areas of Al-Hasakeh, and Der Ez Zor.

Responsibilities:

Project Planning and Preparation:

• Organize project planning, kick-off and start-up meetings and workshops with the project team and partners.
• Facilitate stakeholder and community sensitization and mobilization sessions, meetings, and events.
• Conduct field assessments and surveys to design project approaches, target groups, beneficiary selection criteria and collect baseline data.
• Support to design monitoring and evaluation plan for the assigned project components.
• Coordinate with local authorities and stakeholders to ensure FS, Livelihood and resilience program is well coordinated with local actors and necessary approval in place to implement the program.

Monitoring and Supervision:

• Monitor the work of field staff, partners, and service contractors through periodic field visits, progress reviews, and monitoring & progress reports from field teams.
• supervise field assessments and surveys to design project approaches, target groups, and beneficiary selection criteria.
• Lead the verification and registration processes for farmers in targeted project locations.
• Lead the distribution of agricultural inputs to beneficiaries.
• Generate weekly and monthly project progress reports.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of all agricultural activities using approved tools.
• Maintain organized files for procurement and program distribution records.
• Provide data and information for assigned projects in line with the MEAL plans designed jointly with the MEAL department.
• Contribute and participate in project monitoring and evaluation processes by documenting best practices, lessons learned, beneficiary interviews, case studies and capturing field photos/videos.
• Coordinate and assist the early recovery Manager in the collection of data to measure indicators and ensure the reliability of the information.

Project Implementation:

• Ensure that work procedures and relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs) are understood and being carried out throughout the implementation by staff and partners.
• Provide technical support and coaching to field staff, partners, and service contractors to ensure field implementation is in line with agreed work plans, SOPs, and implementation guidelines.
• Review project work plans on a regular basis to ensure implementation is on track with agreed work plans.
• Work closely with safety and security focal points to ensure field implementation is in line with safety and security protocols. This includes preparing timely movement requests for field trips, reporting safety and security incidents from the field, and regular communication with safety and security focal points on-field movements.
• Work closely with the Early recovery manager, Livelihoods manager Senior ERD program manager and other departments to ensure timely support from finance, logistics and procurement throughout the implementation of assigned projects. This includes preparing cash advance requests, procurement requests, warehousing support, etc.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
• Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths 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.

Required Experience/qualification/Skills:

• 2-4 years of progressively responsible professional experience working with INGOs or local NGOs.
• University degree in agricultural studies, or master`s would be an asset.
• Previous experience in agriculture projects, and an emergency or conflict-afflicted setting is required.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values, and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Credible written, presentation and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training and staff development
• Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution.
• Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context.
• Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.
• Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
• Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop and a sense of humor is a must.
• Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language/Travel:

• English and Arabic are required Kurdish is desired.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Early recovery manager.
Position directly supervises: Agriculture assistant and Agriculture training facilitators.

Indirect Reporting (If applicable): Sr. seed security officer.
Key Internal Contacts: ERD team (livelihood, CFW and VSLA staff).

Key External Contacts: Community leaders, agriculture council and HAO.

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.