NWS Protection Program Manager

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Title: Protection Program Manager Department: Programs

Location: Gaziantep

Reporting to: Deputy Hub Team Leader

Technical reports: WoS Protection Advisor

Budget responsibility: Yes

About RI: Relief International (RI) is a leading nonprofit organization working in 16 countries to relieve poverty, ensure well-being and advance dignity. We specialize in fragile settings, responding to natural disasters, humanitarian crises and chronic poverty.

Relief International 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.

Relief International 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.

Position Summary.

The protection program manager will be responsible for overall management of North-West Syria funded multi-donor, integrated protection programs. The PM will be responsible for the direct implementation of the program, working under the supervision of the deputy hub team leader to ensure objectives are on track, work plans in place and program progress is on track. This will require him/her to work constructively with colleagues across his/her country team, within the country office team. The position is also expected to ensure complementary technical support to the team in coordination with RI’s WOS protection technical advisor.

This position requires an individual who is accustomed to the pace of emergency response programming, has experience in successfully leading a diverse team, does not require close supervision or direction, is flexible and highly responsive, and can work well under pressure. This position will closely coordinate and collaborate with other RI programs to ensure the integration of activities where applicable, and that protection is mainstreamed across RI activities.

This position reports directly to the Deputy Hub Team Leader, and technically to the WOS Protection Advisor.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Program Management:

• Overall supervision and successful implementation of the NW Syria protection program
• Work in strict coordination with health program colleagues, to ensure meaningful integration of sectors and complementarity of services
• Lead program and implementation under the overall guidance from the Deputy Hub team Leader and in coordination with the Hub team leader (based in Türkiye) and Area manager (based in Syria) as needed.
• In coordination with the deputy hub team leader and WoS Protection Adviser, ensure that there are necessary and appropriate operating procedures in place for the projects to implement their activities that fall under one program.
• Hold regular meetings with the other departments to ensure that synergies are in place, and the required support is provided; ensure that the deputy hub team leader is kept informed/participate as needed.
• Under the guidance of the WOS Protection Advisor, provide needed support to ensure that the technical support is streamlined to the service delivery.
• Evaluate activity progress (implementation plans, action plans, on track/off track assessments etc.) and determine necessary actions to address potential delays and issues.
• Participate in monthly BVA meetings to review program spending, update spend down plan accordingly and mitigate any potential under/overspending.
• Design and follow up the projects’ procurement plans in close coordination with the operations and logistics department.
• Ensure all positions are filled, any vacancies are posted, and HR procedures are followed for new hires
• Draft and finalize relevant reports in collaboration with the Grants Unit and WoS Protection Technical unit; provide program reports that are timely and meet institutional and donor requirements. The PM is ultimately responsible for all relevant donor reporting for the Programs.
• Represent RI at relevant stakeholder or coordination meetings, as needed, and maintain a positive, continuous, and visible presence for RI
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with local partners and local authorities.
• In collaboration with the Grants Unit, organize and lead program kick-off meetings, grant review meetings and grant closeout meetings and lead in the development and oversight of the RI Project Implementation Tool.
• Ensure compliance to Donor and RI policies and procedures relevant to the program implementation.

Program Development:

• Keep her/himself informed about the humanitarian needs of populations affected by Syria, regularly share information within the hub and with the Amman office to ensure that the program design is in line with current humanitarian needs; regularly hold meetings with the WoS Protection adviser to discuss present situation, gaps, areas for improvement, and to identify innovative, cost-efficient interventions.
• Stay up to date with all regional and country-specific response plans by the U.N., donors active in the relevant clusters, and other key actors
• In coordination with the Amman office and the hub management, lead the proposal development/budget modification process, in consultation with the Grants Unit, technical leads and MEAL. Provide needed support to Amman office to address questions and comments coming from GSO/RSO or donors These activities are to be undertaken in consultation with the Grants Unit to ensure adherence to donor guidelines and compliance.
• In coordination with the MEAL team, ensure a high-quality implementation and documentation of results and impact, including lessons learned, for protection programming.
• Contribute to the development of SOPs (program and operational), and ensure they are implemented in line with RI and donor procedures
• Identify gaps and make adjustments to programming to ensure RI is meeting targets and being responsive to new protection needs in the area.

Partnership:

• Act as RI’s program focal point for the coordination with the implementing partners.
• Follow up the partners’ workplans and ensure a successful implementation towards achieving the projects’ objectives and targets.
• Provide a continuous review of the partners performance and implementation.
• Review and provide structured feedback on the partners submitted reports.
• Ensure meaningful linkages between the Amman protection technical unit and relevant

Staff management:

• Overall supervision of protection program staff in NWS and Türkiye offices and regularly review work plans and implementation plans to ensure successful implementation of the project’s activities.
• Supervise, train, and coach direct reports by developing clear and time-bound goals and objectives, following up on progress, providing regular and constructive feedback, and conducting performance appraisals, and ensure the direct reports are applying the same for their own direct reports.
• Ensure that capacity plan is in place for all the programs unit in line with the career development objectives for the program staff, and work closely with the HR to ensure training opportunities are identified and utilized (both internal and external) based on the needs. Ensure meaningful coordination between the hub protection team and the Amman technical unit, to guarantee comprehensive capacity building and supervision of protection staff
• Create a positive work environment that ensures smooth cross-functional coordination that can contribute to achieve the program objectives

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 come into contact with Relief international are as safe as possible.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS REQUIREMENTS

This position will require a demonstrated ability to achieve results in a demanding and fast paced environment.

• Master’s degree or equivalent years of experience in development studies, social sciences or related field;
• Minimum of five years of professional experience leading, managing, and implementing emergency response programs in protection programming in a conflict setting;
• Demonstrated experience in management of protection programming is highly desirable;
• Good experience in the implementation of GBV response and risk mitigation activities, women empowerment, PSS, and Child Protection.
• Program development experience with a focus on integrated programming.
• Demonstrated background and knowledge of major humanitarian donors particularly BHA, ECHO, UNOCHA, UNFPA.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, public speaking, and strategic planning skills required;
• Fluent English and Arabic speaking, writing, and comprehension skills required. Turkish language skills preferred;
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and tasks efficiently;
• Strong budgeting and budget monitoring skills including a high level of proficiency with MS Excel.
• Demonstrated experience in successfully managing a multicultural team, and a commitment to capacity building.
• Excellent time management skills and resourcefulness with strong attention to detail;
• Demonstrated experience of upholding humanitarian principles and actively engaging the most vulnerable communities. Committed to promoting RI’s focus on accountability, innovation and partnership building.

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

Relief International is committed to protecting our staff and the communities we work with from abuse and harm including sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and sexual harassment.

All staff are expected to abide by our Code of Conduct.

RI Has a zero-tolerance policy towards any behavior that violates its code of conduct, including sexual harassment, exploitation, abuse, as well as lack of integrity, corruption, and fraud. RI also adheres to strict safeguarding principles.