Humanitarian Access and Security 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 offers a robust humanitarian response to the Syrian crisis, a rapidly expanding portfolio supported by more than 1000+ staff in the 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 raises some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including Access, Security, funding and coordination questions.

Job Overview/Summary:

As part of its regional effort, the IRC is now expanding its operations inside Northeast Syria to encompass Hassakeh, Raqqa and potentially Deir Ez Zor.

Responsibilities:

Liaison and humanitarian Access:

• The HAS Officer will be working with the HAS manager and senior officer to manage relationships with community relief structures as well as help identify possible beneficiary population populations.
• Liaise with Local Relief Committee members in all areas of operations.
• Makes contacts with other local authorities to gain new entry points for beneficiary identification, such as religious leaders, mukhtars, school administrators, or other relevant officials.
• Responsible for managing the feedback from the community about potential new beneficiary families and locations.
• Facilitate and Attend community meetings.
• Plans and carries out community acceptance events.
• Plans and facilitates focus group discussions and other information-gathering sessions with connectors and dividers in the community.
• Work with the Humanitarian Access Manager to identify local partners,
• Update the partner tracking & mapping in the area of operation,
• Support the compliance team with the compliance mechanism.
• Identify a passable location for the hotline for compliance
• Support the programs by engaging with authorities
• Identify programmatic challenges and work with the HASM to find relevant solutions.
• Conduct training for local partners about the humanitarian principle and further trainings
• Engage with the HAO to facilitate the activities for Programs and work on permissions for the Program activities.
• Liaise with the other NGO’s
• Administrative activities
• Other duties as assigned,

Safety, Security, and movement:

• Ensure the implementation of Sop, SMP and other related regulation.
• Conduct weekly or need-based visits to all IRC sites in Raqqa and Deir Ez Zour governorates.
• Provide security briefings for newly arrived staff.
• Facilitate border crossing movement.
• Support in conducting security Risk assessment.
• Provide support for HAS team in Hassakeh when needed.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in both Raqqa and Deir Ez Zour in relevant technical and management competencies.
• 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 perform successfully.
• Approve and manage time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and conduct probationary reviews.
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, minimally monthly.
• Provide a measurable development plan, including on-the-job learning to strengthen technical capacity, exchange knowledge within the team and provide 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 perform successfully.
• 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 the succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop the capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition roles and responsibilities by the end of the assignment.

Required Experience/qualification/Skills:

• A college degree
• 2-4 years of progressively responsible professional experience in Security and Humanitarian Access
• Previous experience in 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 are a must.
• Analytical ability to create effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language/Travel:

• English and Arabic are required .
• Ability to travel. 70% of work is field visits.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Humanitarian Access Assistant

Directly supervises: Humanitarian Access & Security Manager

Indirect Reporting (If applicable): Humanitarian Access & Security Director
Key Internal Contacts: Operations- Programs

Key External Contacts: Local aouthotires

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.