Head of Progamme Support Unit – NRC Jordan Country Office

All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organisation’s core values: dedication, innovation, inclusivity and accountability. These attitudes shall guide our actions and relationships.

Background:

NRC currently has over 3,000 staff across the Middle East dedicated to assisting people affected by conflict in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestine. Its interventions are based upon its programming expertise in the Core Competencies of Shelter, Education, Water and Sanitation Hygiene, Livelihoods and Food Security, along with Information Counselling and legal Assistance (ICLA) to vulnerable displaced people that were forced to flee.

Jordan hosts nearly 670,000 registered Syrian refugees, on average they have lived in in Jordan for over seven years. Often cited as amongst the most welcoming environment for refugees in the region, Jordan has put in place over the years a myriad of progressive policies in support of refugee presence in the country. Despite tremendous efforts and goodwill from the Jordanian population, its government and the international community, over the past decade, effective progress has been limited. Since the border with Syria re-opened in October 2018, 7% of Syrian refugees have returned and no more than 1% resettle annually. In addition, there are nearly 90,000 refugees of other nationalities residing in Jordan and registered with UNHCR, who have quite a different set of needs than Syrian refugees.

NRC Jordan’s portfolio is becoming increasingly complex as a result of the shifts in programming and funding given the protracted displacement of Syrian refugees in Jordan. To maintain and improve quality programming across multiple projects, geographic regions, and thematic areas, NRC Jordan is introducing this senior position within the Programme Unit to oversee responsibilities including Grants, cross-cutting thematic functions, and NRC’s participation in and leadership of consortiums.

Job Purpose

With a strong focus on programme quality and support, as the Head of Programme Support Unit you will assume overall responsibility for the integration of cross-cutting themes, such as Safe and Inclusive Programming. You will also be responsible for leadership and engagement in consortiums, accountable for grant management and support to Project Cycle Management.

You will work works collaborative with Core Competency Specialists, Support Managers, Area Managers and Program Managers on ensuring program quality and development of capacity on cross-cutting and programme support themes.

What you will do;

• Support in the development of a multi-year funding strategy, programme forecasts and identify funding opportunities, taking particular account of changing donor priorities
• Be accountable for compliance in relation to grant management and project cycle management processes, as delegated from Head of Programme
• Manage the development of submissions to donors, including project proposals, coordinate input on the same while ensuring quality control for reporting to donor of donor applications and reports
• Responsible for the management of consortia of which NRC is the lead agency, and in development of any consortia applications and line management of the consortia managers
• Be accountable for cross-cutting thematic areas of work and integration into programming and routines E.g. Oversee the integration of Safe and Inclusive Programming minimum standards into Project Cycle Management (PCM) and other processes, ensure that all programme staff are trained in NRC’s PCM and drive roll-out of NRC Jordan’s Safe and Inclusive Programming action plan.
• Ensure coordination between NRC Jordan, Regional Office and Head Office on cross-cutting thematic areas of work, consortium management and PCM.
• Initiate the development and embedding of technical guidance documents/SOPs and tools relevant to the Programme Support Unit.
• Leading programmatic audits focussed on quality, compliance, timeliness, and relevance.
• Responsible for compliance and adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures
• Contribute to lessons learnt and evidence-based programming in a systematic manner.
• Line management and staff development of your team
• Deputise the Head of Programmes and oversee initiatives and responsibilities as delegated by the Head of Programme.

Professional competencies

These are skills, knowledge and experience that are important for effective performance.

• Minimum 4 years’ experience with responsibility for programmes and senior grant management experience in a humanitarian/recovery context
• Experience of working on, coordinating or leading consortia or other forms of partnership implementation with good knowledge of donor landscape, priorities and conditions
• Experience and knowledge of cross-cutting thematic areas of work, in particular protection and gender mainstreaming, Safe and Inclusive programming.
• Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts, experience with protracted crises
• Good communication and interpersonal skills as well as strong organisational and team working skills.
• Ability to work under pressure, independently and with limited supervision.
• Knowledge of the context in the Middle East and Jordan in particular is an asset
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Knowledge of Arabic language is an asset
• Valid driver’s licence.

Behavioural Competencies essential for this position

• Strategic thinking
• Initiating action and change
• Influencing
• Managing resources to optimise results
• Empowering and building trust

What We Offer

NRC is an equal opportunities employer and aims to have staffing diversity in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality and physical ability.

We offer an opportunity to match your career to a compelling cause and a chance to meet and work with people who are the best in their fields.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply and join our work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility: At NRC we think outside the box. We encourage ideas and give responsibility to all employees at all levels, to help solve the complex issues that we face. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take initiative.

We are also looking for people who share our values:

• To be dedicated in what we do;
• To be innovative with our solutions;
• To act as one unified and inclusive team;
• To be accountable to the donors that make our work possible; the people we exist to serve, and to each other… the members of our NRC family.

Additional Information:

Duty Station: Amman, Jordan

Duration of contract: Fixed term 12 months – renewable, full-time, in accordance with local labour laws.

Grade 10 in NRC’s grading structure

Travel: Upto 15% domestic

Reporting line: Head of Programme