Chief of Party (COP) – Protection and Health Assistance to Syria Together (PHAST) project

Position: Chief of Party (COP) – Protection and Health Assistance to Syria Together (PHAST) project

Location: Turkey – Gaziantep (with travel to Jordan)

Duration: 12 Months

Reports to: WoS Deputy Country Director – Program Implementation

Direct Reports: Deputy Chief of Party, Health Advisor, Data Analyst.

Critical interface : RI WOS Senior Management, RI Northwest Syria Hub, and Partners.

About Relief International:

Relief International (RI) is a leading nonprofit organization working in 15 countries to relieve poverty, ensure well-being and advance dignity. We specialize in fragile settings, responding to natural disasters, humanitarian crises and chronic poverty.

Ri combines humanitarian and development approaches to provide immediate services while laying the groundwork for long-term impact. Our signature approach — which we call the RI Way—emphasizes local participation, an integration of services, strategic partnerships, and a focus on civic skills. In this way, we empower communities to find, design and implement the solutions that work best for them.

RI includes the four members of the RI Alliance in the USA, UK, France, and Belgium. Under our alliance agreement, we operate under a single, shared management structure with one CEO and one Board of Directors.

About our Programs:

RI is active in 15 countries around the world, including some of the most fragile: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen. Often, RI is the only organization providing assistance to highly vulnerable communities.

• RI employs 7,000+ staff and auxiliary workers
• 97% of staff are in-country nationals
• We only have some 90 ex-pat staff out of 7,000+

RI invests in four broad program sectors: Economic Opportunity, Education, Health, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). We design our programs to incorporate The RI Way: local participation, integrated programming, the development of civic skills, and partnerships including with local NGOs, governments, and the private sector.

RI supports solutions that reinforce and improve upon existing in-country systems. Where such systems do not exist or are chronically underperforming, RI’s crisis response lays the foundation for long-term, sustainable change.

Program Summary:

RI is the prime organization for a $24m BHA project “Protection and Health for Syria Together” implemented in collaboration with four implementing partners: SAMS, NSPPL, UOSSM and IDA in North West Syria. Leveraging on a robust presence and experience in northwest Syria, the program aims to strengthen the overall health system in northwest Syria by supporting health facilities to provide lifesaving protection and health services to vulnerable communities focusing on primary health care, secondary health care, specialized services for Mental Health and physical rehabilitation, and nutrition. As part of the program’s approach, PHAST includes the provision of specialized protection services, including gender-based violence (GBV) case management, psychosocial support, life skills, and outreach activities.

Position Summary:

The Chief of Party (CoP), will lead and supervise all activities under the PHAST program and have overall responsibilities for the successful performance of the consortium management unit (CMU), and partners. The CoP will provide strategic leadership and bear responsibility on all administrative requirements of the program ensuring that the program’s objectives are met. This include accurate financial management of the award, risk management and compliance. The CoP will be the main focal point with the donor in the field and will ensure maintain appropriate communication with all relevant stakeholders including RI Whole of Syria (WoS) Management Team, partners (RI, SAMS, NSPPL, UOSSM and IDA).

The overall structure of the CMU consist of CoP, DCoP, Health Advisor, Data Analyst, Finance Manager and Finance Officer. The CoP reports to the RI WOS Deputy Country Director for Program Implementation and have management responsibility over the Deputy CoP, the Health Advisor, and the Data Analyst. The DCoP supervises the Finance Manager, who in turn manages the Finance Officer. XKey RI internal stakeholders the position will interface with are RI WoS key functions (M&E, Safety and Security, HR, Management, Supply Chain and Operations, Health and Protection, etc.).

The CoP and the CMU are hosted by RI and fit within the RI structure. In terms of the consortium management from the programmatic perspective, similar to the consortium partners, the CoP and the CMU will be engaging with RI Northwest Syria Hub to ensure smooth implementation of the project.

Position Responsibilities and Duties:

CoP Key functions are:

• Overall responsibility for assuring that all services provided under the program are technically sound, in line with BHA rules and regulations, and appropriate for addressing the objectives of the activity.
• Provide strategic guidance, leadership, management and general technical oversight of the entire project, with a strong focus on achieving PHAST defined results.
• Overall management of the award and its contractual aspects – this include appropriate financial management, progress monitoring, reporting (monthly, semi-annual, final), compliance and risk management, etc.
• Overall responsible for the sound management of implementing partners – including development and management of sub-awards and partners’ monitoring (reporting, review meetings, monitoring, spot-checks and verifications, etc.).
• Ensure appropriate management of the PHAST CMU and Technical Working Groups (comprised of key members from RI and its implementing partners) established for the successful and impactful implementation of the project.
• Directly supervise the work of the PHAST Project Staff (DCoP, Health Advisor, and Data Analyst) and ensure collaboration/coordination linkages with existing non-CMU structures are maintained.
• Facilitate development of inter-partner cohesive monitoring and verification framework to ensure compliance-based delivery of project activities and mutual learning.
• Oversee the implementation of M&E systems approved by the RI and its implementing partner management, including the design of baseline, mid-term and final evaluation approaches.
• Develop and regularly review the PHAST Strategy, addressing quality of programming, programmatic integration, strategic programming and operational approaches, in line with evolving needs and operational context.
• Develop and regularly review CMU Manual to provide PHAST partners with understanding of the CMU’s role and responsibilities, incl. information on structure, communication, working groups, systems and procedures, as well as the support available to partners from the CMU.
• Ensure constructive and structured communication between Key focal points between RI and its implementing partners and Technical Working Groups about PHAST strategy and implementation.
• Through the established Technical Working Groups, facilitate harmonization of programmatic, operational, and compliance tools (e.g. M&E tools, Procurement/Logistics, HR tools, Compliance checklists, etc.).
• Represent the PHAST program in coordination forums with donors and funding agencies, academic and research partners, and other national and international stakeholders at the national, regional and international level.
• Oversee the development of new proposals and develop funding opportunities in line with the PHAST members Strategy.
• Establish a strong base for data interpretation and analysis, which will feed into the Consortium advocacy efforts in coordination with WOS Advocacy and Communication Manager.

Safeguarding:

• Uphold and promote RI’s commitment to ensuring the safeguarding and safety of the vulnerable communities we serve.
• Consistent with RI’s safeguarding and protection policies, ensure all people who meet Relief International are as safe as possible.

Qualifications and Requirements:

This position demands a dynamic individual with a demonstrated ability to achieve results in a demanding and fast paced environment.

• Master’s degree in social sciences, public health, management, business administration, or a related field with at least 10 years’ work experience.
• Previous experience in Chief of Party/Deputy Chief of Party positions in similar size programs – USAID/BHA donor preferred.
• Demonstrated professional experience in lead management implementing health and Protection response programs in a conflict setting (Syrian context advantageous).
• Experience in remote management.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills .
• Excellent diplomacy, interpersonal, communication, public speaking, analytical, organizational, time management skills required;
• Strong English skills, speaking, reading, writing is required;.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, stressful environment.
• Must be flexible, willing to perform other duties and work irregular hours.
• Demonstrated ability to work and manage across multi-functional units .
• Organized and able to independently manage multiple tasks under strict deadlines .
• Proven ability to understand, streamline and automate complex processes .
• Cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Must be capable of working both individually and as part of a team .

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Relief International is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics:

Relief International (RI) is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to RI’s Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

RI Values:

We uphold the Humanitarian Principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality and operational independence. We affirmatively engage the most vulnerable communities.

We value:

• Inclusiveness
• Transparency and accountability
• Agility and innovation
• Collaboration
• Sustainability