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Senior WPE Manager

Al-Hassaka | northeast syria

  • Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
  • Location: Al-Hassaka | northeast syria
  • Grade: Mid level - Mid level
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Women's Empowerment and Gender Mainstreaming
    • Gender-based violence
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Background/IRC Summary:

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria - more than half of the country's population - are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. 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 a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, 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:

Under the direct management of the Integrated Protection Coordinator and with technical support from WPE Technical Advisor, the Sr. Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, strategic vision, coordination and technical support to maintain and expand IRC’s WPE programming in Northeast Syria (NES). The Senior WPE Manager will lead the design, implementation, and oversight of WPE programming aimed at addressing violence against women and girls (VAWG) through full cycle of GBV response, risk mitigation, and prevention initiatives. This includes managing interventions in Women and Girls’ Safe Spaces (WGSS), mobile teams, community-based activities, and capacity building for local partners. The role also supports program integration and collaboration with other sectors and ensures alignment with IRC’s Northeast Syria Strategic Action Plan (SAP) and global best practices.

Responsibilities:

Program Quality and Implementation

  • Lead WPE strategy development and implementation aligned with the NES Strategic Action Plan.
  • Technical oversight and support field-level implementation of IRC’s and partners WPE direct implementation programming in NES. Namely the establishment and running of Mobile WPE teams; Women and Girls Safe Spaces; capacity building of local Syrian organizations on specialized GBV service provision.
  • Ensure that WPE staff and services adhere to GBV best practice, WPE technical guidelines, professional standards and principles.
  • Strengthen community engagement and outreach for GBV risk mitigation.
  • Support the development and maintenance of a coherent WPE strategy across IRC’s interventions in NES in collaboration with the other IRC programs. 
  • Provide technical advice including supportive supervision to IRC’s staff working on all WPE projects. 
  • In collaboration with the MEAL team, ensure robust monitoring systems are in place and that reviews are undertaken periodically. 
  • Coordinate the development of proposals and budgets for new projects and extensions of projects in conjunction with IP coordinator and other technical Sr. managers and coordinators.
  • Overall responsibility for effective and efficient management of project implementation consistent with the project management cycle, program objectives, activities, and indicators. 
  • Ensure that WPE interventions adhere to donor agreements and IRC’s core policy documents, the IRC Strategy, and IRC’s Safety ToCs 
  • Ensure progress reports are completed by deadlines/compliance requirements and lessons learned are documented for internal use by IRC technical and program staff. 
  • Promote integration with other IRC programs such as Child Protection (CP) and Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL).
  • Promote integration with other IRC programs such as Child Protection (CP) and Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL).
  • Ensure that the WPE team is fully oriented on the project design, activities, budget, and other pertinent details.
  • Design innovative approaches to build the capacity of partners including operational and technical support on ongoing GBV case management services.
  • Lead GBV emergency response in areas where new displacement occurs in NES including the contingency planning and preparedness
  • Work closely with IRC’s health programs to strengthen the health sector response to GBV including clinical care for sexual assault survivors

Representation, Coordination and Partnership

  • Represent IRC in internal and external forums as needed, including the GBV sub-Cluster and actively contribute to advocacy efforts on identified priorities.
  • Ensure key field concerns are brought to relevant stakeholders to advocate for standards that systematize how GBV is implemented and promote the delivery of inclusive and high quality GBV services.
  • Coordinate and support the organization of advocacy activities and campaign events, trainings, workshops, and knowledge products.
  • Develop strategic partnerships with local and national organizations in line with sector partnership strategic priorities.
  • Ensure, in close collaboration with the IRC Partnership Unit, regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set project’s objectives and provide technical support and guidance.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

  • Provide technical inputs to the monitoring and reporting system as well as evaluation of the Programme/ project in coordination with M&E teams.
  • Conduct frequent field visits to supervise, coordinate, and monitor field-level activities of the Programme
  • Work with IRC MEAL team, IPC, technical advisor, and partner organizations to ensure a safe and confidential mechanism for collecting information on project activities is implemented.
  • Provide substantive inputs to the preparation of donor and IRC reports and support in the development of reports, proposals, case studies, and other relevant documentation.

Human resources Management

  • Coach, train, and mentor staff with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team, and providing professional development guidance.
  • Develop and implement staff capacity strengthening plans to ensure quality WPE programming across programming teams and other IRC programming.
  • Conduct timely and quality performance evaluations and give regular and constructive feedback to staff through the year to ensure a culture of accountability.
  • Maintain open and professional relations with team members, championing 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.

Safeguarding Responsibilities

  • Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion, and cohesion in IRC [team/office]
  • Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s degree or postgraduate degree in Gender and development studies or social sciences, international studies, or relevant field
  • A minimum of 5 years of professional experience, including at least 3 years managing GBV prevention and response programs, as well as women’s empowerment initiatives, in emergency and development settings.
  • Previous experience in an emergency or conflict-afflicted setting is required and experience in INGO is preferred.
  • Proven experience in supervising and providing case management services and support.
  • Thorough understanding of gender-based violence response protocols and service provision.
  • Proven experience in building and managing partnerships, including collaboration with local organizations, stakeholders, and community groups.
  • Previous experience managing programs financed institutional bilateral and multilateral donors, including budget holder responsibilities.
  • Strong proposal writing skills, along with excellent written and oral communication abilities, enabling effective representation and liaison with external stakeholders.
  • Must be capable of applying their skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct implementation, advisory functions, training, and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others
  • Interpersonal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, is comfortable in a multicultural environment, flexible, and able to handle pressure with professional grace 

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

  • Deep understanding of the impact and dynamics of GBV, and solid grounding in survivor center approach practice.
  • Strong ability to respect differences of culture, opinion and lived experiences while upholding rights-based principles and women’s protection and empowerment.

Language/Travel:

  • Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties.
  • English is required, while Arabic and kurdish are desired.
  • Travel: This position will be roving with 30% visits to field sites in Northeast Syria as well as attending regional and global workshops and meetings.

Key Working Relationships:

  • Position Reports to:  Integrated Protection Coordinator
    Position directly supervises: WPE Manager and WPE Capacity Building Officer 
  • Indirect Reporting (If applicable): WPE Technical Advisor
    Key Internal Contacts:     Senior Child Protection Manager, Senior Protection and Rule of Law Manager
  • Key External Contacts:  GBV Sub Working Group, Protection Cluster Working Groups

Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

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.
We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.