Director, Programs

JOB SUMMARY:

The Programs Director oversees programming strategy development, daily program operations, coordination, and representation for a multi-sectoral program in Norther Syria delivering relief items, providing shelter support, WASH, protection programming and food security activities and supporting community protection and resilience. The Program Director is responsible for the management of staff and programs in Syria and Turkey through a team consisting of program, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and humanitarian cross-border cluster support staff. The Program Director ensures accountable and compliant implementation, and revises the implementation and program approach standard operating procedures as needed.

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Management

· In collaboration with the Country Representative, oversee the development and updating and implementation of the Global Communities -Turkey program strategy.

· Manage a team of technical and M&E Managers, and reporting and cluster coordinators), and a number of indirect reports.

· Maintain comprehensive implementation records and ensure implementation is systematized and follows existing standard operating procedures that are specifically tailored for remote cross-border management.

· Revise standard operating procedures as needed based on accountability and humanitarian principles, good practices and lessons learned.

· Ensure reporting deliverables are high quality and thorough.

· Provide rapid response to requests for information from donors, government authorities, or other relevant entities.

· Work with Program and M&E Managers to identify and respond to any acute programming challenges or shifts in programming.

· Work with the Program Managers and the DFA to track program budgets and expenditures, ensuring that programs are being implemented on-budget.

· Work with the Program Managers to review program work plans and ensure work plan related deliverables adhere to donor requirements.

· Work with the Operations Director and other senior staff to identify operational support needs to ensure the quality and efficiency of programming.

· Review and/or support the drafting of bi-weekly/monthly/quarterly program reports, and success stories as required.

· Support and strengthen country office procedures and policies as necessary for effective program implementation.

· Direct supervision of and responsibility for NWS program, M&E, cluster representatives and reporting activities.

Representation

· Represent Global Communities at relevant cluster/sector working group meetings as appropriate.

· Represent Global Communities at donor meetings and maintain close relationships with donors through dependability and quick response to donor requests and questions.

Whole of Syria (WoS) Support

· Provide technical support and oversight to all Syria programs and M&E functions.

· Ensure quality and consistency in scheduled and ad-hoc donor reporting and success stories.

· Facilitate and ensure regular sectoral coordination meetings, information sharing and learning between relevant departments.

· Responsible for harmonization of and consistency in program management tracking and implementation tools and systems.

· Ensure consistency across Syria programs in program design and implementation methods.

· Provide solid mentoring support to program and M&E Managers and partner organizations where required.

· Ensure that each program department conducts monthly grant review meetings.

· Encourage and supports program innovation and business development ideas and opportunities.

POSITION SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Up to 30% travel to Syria, Iraq and possible other locations ranging from one to six weeks.

· Supervision responsibilities.

· Will be required to attend meetings outside of normal business hours, i.e. evenings and weekends.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

· Undergraduate degree in a related discipline and a minimum of 6 years of international humanitarian response experience or a minimum of 10 years of related work experience.

· At least 4 of which are specifically focused on program management.

· A minimum of 4 years’ prior supervisory experience.

· A minimum of 3 years’ prior experience working in emergency, conflict, post-conflict, or post-disaster settings.

· Proficient in USAID rules and regulations; prior experience working on USAID (incl BHA) funded programs preferred and other donors such as UN, ECHO, etc.

· Prior experience in the MENA region desirable.

· Experience in capacity building of host country staff in programmatic, leadership and management skills.

· Experience managing large teams required.

· Leadership and management skills to organize and enable team-based, collaborative work approaches across global locations and teams.

· Strong analytical skills, including ability to gather and analyze a variety of information and to develop appropriate recommendations for action.

· Ability to work effectively in an atmosphere of multiple projects, shifting priorities, and deadline pressure.

· Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, including ability to effectively communicate across cultures and demonstrated ability to write required documents in a clear, concise, well-organized manner.

· Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills in diverse settings, including with donors, partners, direct reports, supervisor and colleagues.

· Ability to communicate, negotiate, advise, persuade, or resolve complex and sensitive issues with internal / external stakeholders at all levels and cultural backgrounds.

· Demonstrated ability to make decisions that require substantial interpretation of established policies and procedures, clear objectives, and business/professional standards.

· Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with donors, project stakeholders, in-country collaborators, and staff at all levels of the organization.

· Exemplary time management and multi-tasking skills necessary to meet deadlines and coordinate multiple projects.

· Demonstrated ability to think strategically as well as create and implement effective processes, tools, systems and policies.

· Strong attention to detail and ability to prioritize in a fast-paced environment.

· Computer literacy, familiarity with word processing, excel and Salesforce is required.

· Ability and willingness to travel (up to 30%) to difficult and challenging environments for trips ranging from one to six weeks.

· Fluency in English, working knowledge of Arabic and/or Turkish highly desirable.

· A passion for the mission and values of Global Communities, and a commitment to equity and justice.