Field Assistant – Istanbul

Job Purpose

IFRC’s Field Coordination team is responsible for regional representation and oversight of all field-level activities of the Earthquake Operation and Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) programme. These IFRC Field Coordinators and Field Officers are based in Istanbul, Gaziantep, and Ankara. IFRC is currently seeking a Field Assistant to join the Field Coordination team. Under the supervision and guidance of the Regional Coordinator based in Ankara, Gaziantep, or Istanbul, the Field Assistant will provide all-round support to Regional Coordinators and Field Officers in Turkiye. He/she is responsible for assisting the Field Coordination team with various administrative, financial and logistical tasks, as well as field level activities in accordance with IFRC policies and procedures. The main objective of the Field Assistant is to enhance the efficiency of the Field level activities by providing proactive and flexible support where required. He/she will also support the Field Coordination team with organizational tasks, including support during meetings and translation/interpretation (Turkish-English/Turkish-Arabic).

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Operations support

• Help organize meetings with partners and stakeholders, draft the agenda and prepare the attendance list.
• Contribute to planning field activities under the guidance of the Field Coordinator and in close coordination with TRC field teams.
• Work with TRC outreach, monitoring-evaluation field teams to prepare and implement regular visits to earthquake affected areas, stakeholders, households and institutions within the region.
• Support the organization of trainings for IFRC and TRC staff, as well as other programme stakeholders.
• Prepare Field Coordination meeting minutes in a concise manner, circulate for feedback and archive.
• File and archive important documents and correspondence.
• Perform any other ad-hoc duties to support the Field Coordination team.

Programme monitoring and evaluation

• Support TRC field teams in data collection, Focus Group Discussions, field assessments, Joint Monitoring Missions, High level missions, on site field visits including phone-call surveys.

Coordination, cooperation, networking, and partnership

• Maintain a good working relationship with TRC branches, field offices and Community Centres, SASF offices, including making available relevant information for SASFs, PDMM (Provincial Directorate of Migration Management) and Nüfus in a timely and professional manner.
• Identify sensitive issues relating to implementation of the response/programme and ensure immediate communication to IFRC management through the appropriate management line.

Administrative support

• Support the Regional Coordinators, Field Officers and other operations staff prepare all their administrative requests and supporting documents (Travel Requests; Working Advances; Per Diem Requests and Payment Requests), in adherence with IFRC Admin and Finance procedures.
• Support the IFRC Admin/Finance unit to ensure smooth handling of all requests from the Field Coordination team, including car rentals, hotel bookings and reimbursements. Help to ensure that payments are done in a timely manner.
• Assist with the preparation of Logistics Requisitions.
• Perform other admin duties as required.

Translation support

• Simultaneous or consecutive interpretation from Turkish- English and vice versa during presentations, meetings, Focus Group discussions, High level missions, joint monitoring missions etc.
• Translation of official letters, circulars, or documents (English-Turkish and vice versa, other languages, such as Arabic, are a plus)

Reporting

• Assist the Field Coordination team to prepare Field Reports, updates, and other outputs.
• Ensure effective tracking of field missions in the region.
• Revision/proofreading of texts translated (English-Turkish and vice versa, other languages such as Arabic, are a plus)

Education

Required:

• Relevant university degree or equivalent qualification
• Professional qualifications in Business Administration, Office Administration, social work or any other relevant field

Preferred:

• Relevant professional training courses (Red Cross/Red Crescent related, humanitarian and development sector, management, etc.)

Experience

Required:

• At least 1 – 2 years field experience in the humanitarian field.
• Work experience with other international organizations, large NGOs and/or governmental development agencies, in a multi-cultural environment
• Experience performing administrative tasks
• Practical experience in monitoring and assessments (including FGDs, HH surveys and interviews)
• Knowledge and understanding in the use of participatory tools in community planning approaches
• Ability to write reports

Preferred:

• Experience working with the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement
• Relevant work experience in translation and interpretation

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to handle sensitive information, discretion, solid judgment
• Well-organized, accuracy and fine attention to detail
• Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office, Word, Power Point, Excel, Outlook)
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
• Practical, flexible, and creative in challenging moments
• Ability to produce reports and archive them in a systemic way
• Excellent customer service, reliability
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a Team Player
• Ability to work well in a multi-cultural team
• Ability to travel to Gaziantep and other earthquake affected areas when needed
• Fluently spoken and written English and Turkish
• Fluently spoken of Arabic

Preferred:

• Knowledge of emergency response

Competencies, Values and Comments

Communications, Collaboration & Teamwork, Judgment & Decision Making, National Society & Customer Relations, Creativity & Innovation, Building Trust, Reporting

Please note that the position may be filled before the deadline for submission of the applications.

Due to limited resources, only short-listed candidates will be contacted