Cash and Basic Needs Manager
Al-Hassaka
- Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
- Location: Al-Hassaka
- Grade: Mid level - Mid level
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Occupational Groups:
- Cash-Based Interventions
- Managerial positions
- Closing Date:
Background/IRC Summary:
The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.
Contextual background
The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Inside Syria, 7.6 million people are internally displaced and 12.2 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, with 4.8 million in hard- to-reach areas. There are 4 million Syrian refugees in neighboring countries. 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 is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis. With an annual budget in excess of $140 million and a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1,250 staff in the region, IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, education,
Women's protection and empowerment, NFI and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.
Job Overview/Summary:
The Basic Needs Manager will support the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of basic needs program activities. This includes cash and vouchers, cash for protection , and emergency food and NFI distributions. The Manager will play a key role in the oversight and quality implementation of the economic recovery and development portfolio.
Responsibilities:
- Manage the implementation of cash, voucher, and in-kind programming across multiple sites, ensuring programs achieve their objectives within the allotted time and budget and to quality.
- Provide technical and management support to cash and voucher distribution teams with a specific focus on voucher and market systems development.
- Assess the appropriateness of different programming options and ensure implementation modalities best respond to the needs and context.
- Support emergency preparedness and rapid response to onset displacement, through field teams and implementing partners.
- Work with beneficiaries, vendors, finance, and operations teams to identify optimal transfer amounts and payment mechanisms for cash and voucher assistance.
- Work alongside the Snr Basic Needs, Economic Recovery and Development Coordinator to develop the country sector strategic direction and plans including expanding economic programming based on needs of target populations in northeastern Syria.
Other:
- Other duties as assigned by the ERD coordinator to enable and develop IRC programs.
- All IRC staff are required to adhere to The IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies
Grant Planning, Program Implementation & Business Development
- Works alongside the Senior Basic Needs manager and ERD Coordinator to anticipate, plan and manage programmatic and structural transitions. The Basic Needs Manager will have significant operational budget oversight and develop spending plans, and procurement plans to ensure grants are spent accordingly.
- Ensure the IRC submits donor reports as per set schedules (monthly, quarterly and annually) on grant activities, indicators, and achievements are produced in quality.
- Assist with program development, including the writing and preparation of proposals, reports, or other outputs as needed in support of expanding cash and voucher programming in Syria.
Partner Identification & Management :
- Ensure regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set project’s objectives; provide technical support and guidance.
- Where possible identify new partners (including private sector) to support economic recovery and development program activities.
- Where relevant, support the Snr Basic Needs Manager and ERD Coordinator in external representation and technical coordination with other stakeholders, including INGOs, CBOs, clusters and working groups .
Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development
- Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and project management competencies, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing professional development guidance
- Assist with the recruitment of Child Protection Staff, in coordination with the Senior Child Protection Manager.
- Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths 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 successfully perform in their positions.
- Approve and manage time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
- Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, minimally on a monthly basis.
- Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing 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 successfully perform in their positions.
- 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 succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree.
- Minimum 4 years of work experience in basic needs (cash, food, NFI needs)
- Minimum Two years’ experience in a managerial role, preferably in a similar field of work.
- Strong team and people leadership, management, organizational and development skills.
- Strong program and budget management skills including planning and reporting across multiple grants.
- Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties.
- Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure effectively and productively.
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 is a must.
- Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.
Language/Travel:
- English is required, while Arabic is desired.
- Travel: 100% to field sites in NES.
Key Working Relationships:
- Position Reports to: ERD Coordinator
Position directly supervises: Distribution officers - Indirect Reporting (If applicable):
Key Internal Contacts: close collaboration with other ERD staff and ERD coordinator, other IRC programs - (Protection/Rule of Law), Health, Grants, Supply Chain, HR and Finance Departments
- Key External Contacts: close collaboration with other humanitarian actors, local implementing partners, UN agencies, government, and service providers
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.
Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.