Economic Recovery Team Leader

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunities for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home. 

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

DRC Syria

DRC has been actively operating in Syria since 2008 mainly supporting refugees. In June 2012, DRC was authorized by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to expand its humanitarian efforts and provide assistance to IDPs and the vulnerable resident population countrywide. Since then, DRC activities have been focused on NFI distributions, Shelter, WASH, Protection, Education, Livelihoods, and Mine Risk Education in six Governorates (Damascus, Rural Damascus, Dara'a, Aleppo, Hama, and Homs). While Protection/community service activities are provided to beneficiaries throughout our Community Centers.

About the job

The Team Leader for Economic Recovery leads the implementation of DRC Syria’s Economic Recovery South Area Programme in Rural Damascus and Dara’a. This includes working across its three sub-sectors, i.e. food security, decent livelihoods and financial inclusion. The Team Leader ensures the timely and qualitative implementation of activities related for example (but not limited to): Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance, Vocational Training, Internships, Business start-up/Activation Grants and Business Scale-up Grants. The Team Leader also leads the coordination at field level  with the DRC teams, partners, other organisations, local authorities, etc.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategy:

Economic Recovery Strategy

• Contribute with field knowledge and experience to strategy development process
• Follow the strategy, communicate to field staff and implement accordingly

Donors:

Proposal development: narrative, budget, log frame

• Contribute inputs to proposal development process
• Contribute to Economic Recovery Need-Based Assessments
• Contribute to propose draft budget preparation for Economic Recovery interventions

Grant management

• Contribute to preparation for regular grant review meetings
• Contribute to budget realignments when required

Programme management:

Donors

• Understand donor requirements and apply within activity implementation, including communication to field staff.

Work plans

• Lead in developing and updating work/implementation plans for each projects according allocated targets, locations, and budgets
• Implement work plans in close liaison with field team members and reports to the Economic Recovery Coordinator
• Organize the workload of the field teams in line with the work plans and objectives of the projects

Reporting

• Consolidate reporting inputs; communicate systematic reporting schedule to field staff

Planning expenditure and procurement

• Consolidate, adhere to, and regularly update spending plans/ forecasts, and procurement plans; alert Area Manager and Economic Recovery Coordinator when deviating from plan.
• Follow up closely and manage the budgets of each projects located in the areas of supervision

Delivery of targets

• Understand targets and communicate to field staff; timely communication with Area Manager and Economic Recovery Coordinator  when deviating from agreed targets (+/-)

Compliance with DRC’s administrative, logistics & procurement & financial SOPs

• Familiarize with, understand and apply SOPs across all the projects and for all the teams
• Ensure the qualitative implementation of projects as per DRC’s standards
• Disseminate to/ advise field staff on compliance
• Raise feedback/ issues to Economic Recovery coordinator when SOPs are not working, with proposed solution/s

Monitoring

• Conduct and feedback on field visits on timely and regular basis
• Implement monitoring system and tools, including regular update of Results Trackers and information management system
• Amend implementation based on feedback elicited through monitoring and agreed changes with Area Manager and Economic Recovery Coordinator

Selection/targeting

• Advise and supervise field staff on use of beneficiary assessment and selection tools
• Adhere to selection criteria in implementation of activities, support selection processes e.g. panels.
• Ensure completed paper beneficiary assessment and selection tools are consolidated electronically, including on information management system

Evaluation, learning and research

• Participate in evaluation exercises and research exercises
• Understand evaluation objectives and communicate to field staff/ activities/ beneficiaries which/who may be evaluated
• Ensure documentation is up to date and systematically organized to enable access by evaluators
• Document lessons learned at project junctures
• Ensure that the learnings are applied in activity implementations and designs

Team Management

• Manage field staff, coach, partners and other contractors, and provide feedback on regular basis
• In coordination with Area Manager and Economic Recovery Coordinator , plan recruitment in timely manner; cooperate with and follow up on shortlisting, testing, interviewing, offering, contracting
• Keep ongoing record of performance evaluation and development material, raise capacity building needs, actively take part in/ facilitate training opportunities

Collaboration

Internal coordination

• Day to day coordination with Ops departments and Programme colleagues
• Raise challenges to Line manager when support is not provided appropriately/timely manner
• Coordinate technically with the Economic Recovery coordinator to raise technical challenges or seek technical advices/solutions

External representation and coordination

• Deputies for, as required, cooperation/liaison with: coordination with donors; INGOs and LNGOs; Ministry partners

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum three years of experience with an NGO in related activities/projects in Syria.
• Minimum two years’ experience in coordinating Livelihoods activities responsibility.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, development, or similar relevant education.
• Excellent computer skills, including Excel.

Languages:

•  English and Arabic (fluent)

 In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:  

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

We offer:

Contract length: till the end of December 2025 (subject to funding availability)

Level: Management – G1

Location: Rural Damascus – Syria (includes regular work in Damascus and field visits to Daraa)

Expected Start date: As soon as possible

Application process:

Interested? Then apply for this position here: Economic Recovery Team Leader - Application Form

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV-only applications will not be considered.

Applications close: 07 May 2025

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. DRC reserves the right to conduct tests and interviews before the closing date and can close the advertisement earlier in case of finding a suitable candidate.

Need further information?

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.org