SME Technical Officer – Syria Idleb

General Description of the Programme:

GOAL has been working in Syria since 2013, responding to the acute needs of conflict-affected communities. GOAL is working in Idleb Governate, both through direct implementation and through partners, delivering food, non-food programming to highly vulnerable populations, and provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) through support to Water units, as well as emergency support to recently displaced households.

GOAL has been working in North Aleppo Governate since 2019, through direct implementation and through partners, delivering food, non-food programming to highly vulnerable populations, as well as emergency support for recently displaced household.

Job purpose:

GOAL will be introducing market support activities to help local shops develop their businesses. The SME technical officer will provide technical assistance to shops that are collaborating with GOAL on cash and voucher programming who self-select to receive assistance.

Duties, objectives, and competencies

Plan the project:

• Develop SOPs, MOUs and templates needed to assess and administer the activities.
• Develop curriculum on business topics appropriate for shops participating in RESTORE’s cash and voucher programming.
• Create a detailed work plan which identifies and sequences the activities needed to successfully complete the project.
• In collaboration with Deputy Field Managers, sensitize relevant stakeholders to the program.

Implement the project:

• Sensitize potential recipients (shops) on the grant process alongside other team members.
• Deliver lessons on one or more of the following topics (Marketing, Record-Keeping, Generating Business Ideas, Preparing Business Plans) to shops that participate in GOAL’s cash and voucher programming.
• Guide the management of shops in a self-assessment of their shops. Review applications received by shops for technical assistance and/or mentoring. Participate in review meetings to select which shops to provide technical assistance and/or mentoring.
• Develop joint action plans with shops selected to receive assistance and provide mentorship and guidance on key technical areas to the shop as they complete their action plan.
• Work to support other Officers to continue to develop and refine curriculum and approaches throughout the program period.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to GOAL and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements (essential)

• Bachelor’s degree in (social science, economics, information management or any related field)
• Bachelor’s degree in (social science, economics, information management) or any relevant field.
• Minimum 3 years working experience with an NGO including at least 2 years in either livelihoods, cash, food security, or markets-based programming.
• Minimum 1 year management experience or team leader with an NGO, private company, or government department.
• At least 6 months experience working in the livelihood’s economic activities, social and economic empowerment, business development.
• Good understanding of NGO programming and humanitarian assistance activities, including operations and logistics.
• Good negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Integrity, transparency, and strong work ethics.
• Understanding of cross-cutting issues, such as gender, protection, youth, and environment
• Ability to work under pressure and with limited supervision.
• Good analytical and reporting skills.
• Good command of spoken and written Arabic. In addition, English is an advantage.
• Strong computer skills with particular competencies with Microsoft Office applications (including MS Word and Excel).

Requirements (desired)

• Previous experience administering a grant program and/or selection process for beneficiaries.
• Experience working with small businesses or traders.
• Minimum of 1 year experience teaching and/or facilitating the provision of business support services to local businesses.