SYRIA – WASH PROGRAM MANAGER (M/F) – AMUDA/HASSAKE

Desired start date: 15/09/2022

Duration of the mission: 6-9 months

Location: Amuda with frequent visit to Sub-base: Hassake

ABOUT THE MISSION

• Mission: There are 3 implementing offices in Syria (2 in North East, 1 in North West) with the coordination in Amman. The total financial volume of the mission is approximately $33,000,000, making it the largest portfolio of any SI mission. The mission has now reached a number of approximately 50 expatriates and 275 national.
• Type and content of program: Syria mission is dedicated to work on recently opened and challenging areas to provide lifesaving activities to the population affected by the conflict. In Hassakeh Governorate, main current activities are related to:
  • WASH (water distribution and rehabilitation, sanitation, waste management, hygiene promotion) in IDP settlements
  • Distribution of essential in kind NFI and cash (wash, shelter, winterization) for vulnerable populations.

The program includes as well more “durable” activities:

• Water stations and network rehabilitations,
• Institutional rehabilitations (hospitals, schools).

Additionally, SI has a contingency and capacity to respond to emergencies in all NES and has been responding to the COVID-19 crisis. For now, Covid-19 programming is streamlined within existing grants, with no stand-alone funding.

ABOUT THE JOB

General objective:

• Carry out the emergency WASH Program comprised of water supply, hygiene promotion sessions, sanitary infrastructure rehabilitation, as well as waste management.
• Additional activities under the job incumbent’s responsibilities could include WASH in school and WASH in health facilities

Specific stakes and challenges

• Complex environment with volatile security situation and with limited operational visibility
• Complex context of intervention, partially remote (but still within NES) due to the Covid 19 situation
• Serious water crisis due to the shutdown of the primary water source of Hassakeh, low levels of participation last winter leading to low aquifer recharge, as well as low water levels in the Euphrates River due to Turkish actions.
• Major depreciation in the value of the Syrian pound in the last year that has diminished purchasing power and exhausted savings

Potential partners

There is potential for closer collaboration with UPP/KRC on health activities under the LEARN consortium, as well as some collaboration on WaSH activities with different partners working in the same areas.

Priorities for the 2/3 first months:

• Clarify precise locations to be targeted under the new Phase III and coordinate with other humanitarian actors in the area through the NES WASH Working Group
• Start the implementation of the activities under the first 6 months of LEARN Phase III.
• Deal with the day to day emergency activities while managing to support the development of a long term solution to the water crisis with the NGO WaSH partners

RESPONSIBILITIES AND MAIN ACTIVITIES:

Implementation and operational monitoring

• Plan and oversee the implementation of program that he is responsible for, both on-time and within the set technical specifications
• Plan activities with the support Departments (administrative, logistics), according to objectives
• Use management, activity, results, and context monitoring tools
• Respect SI procedures
• Provide support and advice to the logistics for the purchase of materials specific to its program activities
• Assess the relevance of activities, the effectiveness of interventions, and their appropriateness in light of changing circumstances and the needs of populations
• Propose adjustments to programs if necessary
• Ensure the achievement of results of the programs he is responsible for
• Anticipate the difficulties associated with conducting WASH activities and help solve problems related to programs activities
• Propose program adaptations. According to the changing environment and indicators
• In collaboration with the administrative service, contribute to the development of program budgets, budget follow up and proposal budgets for the program parts
• Develop the state of needs and the treasury requests
• Report the state of decentralized inventory to the logistics department (“field” inventory)

Capitalization

• Write the capitalization documents in accordance with SI tools
• Prepare handover reports before the end of his employment contract and forward them to concerned parties in the mission and at headquarters
• Ensure diffusion of SI technical documentation

Human Resource Management

• Participate in validating recruitment for the national technical staff under its responsibility
• With the administrative department, define the prerequisites for the vacant positions and, if necessary, adapt the referent job profile.
• Welcome and brief new employees or volunteers working under his responsibility
• Implement training related to operational requirements and the identified training needs
• Manage and support the team under his responsibility
• Conduct workshops and regular or ad hoc meetings
• Evaluate the performances of his team members
• Identify potential changes in members of his team and provide feedback to the WASH coordinator
• Make sure his team follows the safety rules

Reporting / communications / representation

• Share with the humanitarian access officer any information on the security context and any event which may have consequences on SI activities and team safety
• Write reports and annexes concerning his program for donor reports and/or amendment
• Ensure compliance with reporting deadlines and guidelines
• Maintain a local operational communication network and positive relations with the local/governmental authorities, donor representatives, UN and other international agencies in cooperation with the coordination team
• Representation in the meetings or forums concerning the program in his place of employment
• Represent SI on request and/or delegation
• Respond to the requirements of Headquarters concerning specific needs
• Write the administrative documents to be signed (MOU, handover…) jointly with governmental authorities, communities, or partners

YOUR PROFILE

Specific skills and experience:

• Minimum 2 years of experience
• Formal training and qualifications in WaSH
• Successful previous experience in WASH programs
• Skilled management and ability to train, develop and support staffs
• Ability to operate safely and effectively in a security sensitive environment
• Capacity in conducting assessments and writing-up findings
• Strong management skills and Experience in managing emergency response activities
• Strong representation and coordination skills
• Experience of working in project implementation with or through partners
• Ability and willingness to build up the capacity of the team
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.

Soft skills:

• Good communication skills
• Excellent computer skills (Excel, Word, Google Earth)
• Reactive, Flexible, and resourceful
• Solution-oriented management
• Excellent organizational skills: the ability to multi-task, learn quickly, and work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: the ability to effectively liaise with a variety of people in a multi-cultural environment and across various time zones
• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work both independently and cooperatively with team members
• Good stress management

Language:

Excellent English skills (written, spoken, and read) is mandatory

To speak Levantine Arabic and/or French would be an asset

SI WILL OFFER YOU

A salaried post: According to experience, starting from 1980 euros gross per month (1800 base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem of 750 USD

SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate’s country of origin and the place of assignment.

Vacation: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of on 7 working days every three months. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a 7 working days break at 3/6 and 9 month (with 850 USD allocated by Solidarités).

To these break periods, it is necessary to add the granting of 1 additional rest day per month worked > i.e. 12 days in addition for a 1-year contract**.**

Social and medical cover: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.

Key information about living conditions

The perdiem rate for NES is 750 USD a month.

The field expatriate team is based in Amuda in Hasakeh Governorate where the main office is. The sub-base of Hassake is currently scaling up and temporary stay over may be considered in the future to ease transportation.

Amuda is a village located 2km away from the Turkish border. It is peaceful and expats are free to move around though activities aren’t plenty. A couple of restaurants (no bars) exists, and some other NGOs are present

Conditions in the Guesthouses (4 currently in Amuda, with capacity of taking 3-4 expats max each) are good: individual rooms all with ACs and satisfactory internet (streaming possible) and electricity (independent generator).

Specific constraints related to security

Security inside NES is volatile and justifies specific arrangements for accommodation and displacements in the areas of intervention. Adherence to strict security procedures is necessary, while the security levels can vary according to the different geographical locations and the changes of context.