Program Coordinator – Damascus, Syria

Starting Date:15.03.2023

Duration: 12 months

Location: Damascus, Syria

Status: Unaccompanied

Terre des hommes does not set closing dates for this position; recruitment is on-going until the position is filled

Tdh:

Terre des hommes (Tdh) is the leading Swiss organisation for children’s aid. Since 1960, Tdh has helped build a better future for deprived children and their communities, making an impact with innovative and sustainable solutions. Active in around 40 countries, Tdh works with local and international partners to develop and implement field projects which improve the daily lives of over 4 million children and members of their communities, in the domains of health, protection and emergency relief. This engagement is financed by individual and institutional support, with administrative costs kept to a minimum.

Context:

Terre des hommes foundation is based in Damascus, Syria since 2021. Our activities focus on WaSH and Child Protection interventions, notably in areas with high needs but low response, like Damascus and Rural Damascus. Tdh will deliver lifesaving and resilience-building interventions targeting children in the sectors of WASH, health, nutrition, and protection, strengthening the capacities of local partners to achieve long-lasting change and following an area-based approach. Following the earthquake that struck Northern and Coastal governorates of Syria on February 6, 2023, Tdh will also provide immediate and long-term assistance to those who sought refuge in emergency shelters and/or are at risks or face protection risks in the aftermath of the earthquake.

The Program Coordinator is responsible for the overall programmatic strategy of Tdh Syria’s operations and for ensuring timely and adequate technical inputs, contributing to the quality assurance of program implementation across the project development and implementation cycle. The position ensures that Tdh projects bring a significant contribution to meeting immediate humanitarian needs and ensuring programmatic strategies are in place to ensure durable solutions affected individuals, with a focus on children and youth applying a gender sensitive lens. The Program Coordinator will ensure the delivery of donor contractual obligations and will work closely with the Country Representative (CR) and the Senior Management Team (SMT) on funding strategy, proposal development and financial management as well. The Program Coordinator is a key senior position in the Tdh Syria country set up, responsible for cross-cutting programmatic themes, sound program design and overseeing that information from assessments, monitoring and evaluation processes is consistently reflected upon to improve ongoing projects and is incorporated into high-quality grant proposals and reports.

Responsibilities:

• Under the supervision of the Delegation Deputy to Operations, he/she ensures the roll-out of the program strategy in his/her field of expertise at the national level, and as such he/she is the guarantor of the national impact of Terre des hommes in his/her field of expertise
• He/She is in charge of developing and consolidating the program in his/her field in his/her assignment country
• He/She contributes to securing the required resources (financial and human) in the delegation with the support services involved
• He/She contributes to steering the program by implementing and following up indicators, especially concerning the cross-cutting themes of his/her field
• He/She develops and fosters innovation in the program in the country
• He/She supports the implementation of the insurance system and quality control for the projects of the program in the country
• He/She ensures the implementation of the management and sharing of knowledge of his/her program in the country
• He/She is in charge of running and developing the program ‘s strategic partnerships in the Delegation
• He/She is responsible for and accountable to beneficiaries, collaborators, and donors
• He/She ensures that teams and partners have learned the security policies and the general Code of Conduct and comply with them at all times

Specific Responsibilities

• Strategy and steering: Makes recommendations for developing the program strategy as part of the country strategy and monitor its implementation in the Delegation
• Principles, standards, methodologies: Supports the roll-out/dissemination of Tdh principles, approaches, methodologies, and standards within the project portfolios in the Delegation
• Finance: In coordination with the Fundraising Department, he/she identifies the donors and financial apparatuses favorable to his/her program in the country and ensures a presence in the relevant networks
• Insurance and quality control: Monitors and supports the implementation of the quality insurance system for the program’s projects in the country
• Management and knowledge sharing: Coordinates the production, management and sharing of knowledge in his/her field (research, capitalization, assessment, etc.) at the national level, ensuring proper accessibility and dissemination of knowledge internally and externally
• Advocacy: Contributes to developing advocacy strategies and campaigns at the national level with his/her field of expertise
• Organizational structures: Contributes to structuring the trade steam of his/her field of expertise in the country
• Management: Guarantees the management framework of his/her field (draws up and follows the budget, human resources)

The detailed job description will be shared with the selected candidates.

Profile

Education: Master’s University Degree in relevant field

Experience:

• Minimum 6 years of progressively responsible experience in program management, design developing and leading integrated and complex program portfolios
• Proven experience in both humanitarian and/or conflict affected countries settings
• At least 4 years’ experience in people management with proven leadership experience in managing multi-disciplinary teams of diverse cultural backgrounds, fostering a positive working environment, and manage issues sensitively and diplomatically
• Experience in project development and management; including ability to lead on assessments, design, implementation, monitoring; with good skills in donor reporting, accountability, and compliance.
• Experience in drafting strategies and programmatic frameworks
• Strong capacity building, facilitation, and presentation skills with the ability to develop strong interpersonal relationships to facilitate communication and support partner and staff.
• Proven experience in effectively coordinating with National Governments, International and National NGO partners, UN and coordinating with donors.
• Strong understanding of localization agenda as well as partnership approaches and tools in strengthening programmatic and organisational capacities of civil society organisations.

Languages: Excellent oral and writing skills in English, knowledge of Arabic is an asset

IT Knowledge: Full proficiency with Microsoft Office Environment

Conditions

• Salary: Expatriate contract under Swiss regulations CHF5000 to CHF 5600 gross /month -according to experience – x13
• Annual Leaves: 25 days/year
• Living conditions: local accommodation and transportation
• Other: Health insurance, accident and medical repatriation insurance, flights from/to duty station

Position subject to finding

Tdh Global Code of Conduct and Risk Management Policies:

• Fully complies with Tdh’s Global Code of Conduct and systematically reports any breach to the Code through the whistleblowing procedure, raises awareness within the Foundation on abuse and violence and the rights deriving therefrom, respecting the rights and dignity of children, members of the communities and our own Staff
• Commits to respecting Risk Management Policies including Safeguarding Policies (Child Safeguarding Policy, Policy on the Protection against Sexual Exploitation, and the Directive on Staff Misconduct at the Workplace), Safety and Security Policy and Anti-Fraud/Corruption and Prevention of the Financing of Criminal Activities Policies
• Commits to reducing the risk of abuse and harm by developing a culture of open and informed leadership within the organization and in our work with children and the communities in which we intervene in.

We offer an exciting and varied work, useful and meaningful, in a team that wants to make a difference for vulnerable children.

Are you interested? Do you want to face this challenge?