Desired start date: 02/12/2019

Duration of the mission: 6 months

Location: Erbil

ABOUT THE MISSION

SI has been working in Syria since 2012 and currently has strong coverage for WASH, FSL and NFI programs across North West (NWS) and North East Syria (NES). The NES programs provide an integrated assistance in the WASH, NFI, Shelter and Livelihoods sectors to displaced populations and host communities affected by the conflict. NWS programs are remotely managed and provide WASH and NFI/Winterization support to affected populations. Since 2016, SI has been partnering with a local health partner to develop and strengthen a WASH-and-Health integrated approach, and is currently developing the streamlining of Protection within its existing programs.

The mission is expanding through a major consortium with 4 partners led by SI, which started in October 2018. The LEARN consortium funded by OFDA ( Linking Assistance and Relief in Northeast Syria ) will support equitable and safe access to essential basic services including WASH, Shelter and Health, for the most vulnerable populations affected by conflict and displacement in Northeast Syria.

The Syria mission counts about 340 national staff, more than 60 expatriates, and has a 20 million USD budget forecasted for 2019.

ABOUT THE JOB

SI is looking for an Area Coordinator, overseeing its operations in Northeast Syria.

Holding the role of delegated Country Director in NES, the Area Coordinator is overall responsible for operational aspects of SI in the region and provides direction development and leadership.

SI’s activities in NES represent the vast majority of its operational volume in the country, with a sharp over the past year. They have been delivered in a context locally marked by important security volatility, with a climax over the past few weeks. This has led SI to currently manage these activities remotely from Erbil, where this position is based.

Placed under the line management of the Country Director and with close links (though neither line nor functional) with the Deputy CDs (DCD-Support and DCD-Program) based in Amman, the Area Coordinator manages two Field Coordinators and their respective teams, as well as a Logistician-Administrator.

MAIN ACTIVITIES:

• Represent Solidarités International in the region (local authorities, NGO Forum, NGO Working Groups, etc.).
• Coordinate the teams in place and be the prime focal point for the Coordination Office (CO) based in Amman and the LEARN CMU (Consortium Management Unit)
• Analyze the context to support Solidarités International’s NES strategy according to the geopolitical and humanitarian context.
• Ensure a security context analysis and follow-up to mitigate security risks, and maintain and secure better humanitarian access.

SPECIFIC STAKES AND CHALLENGES:

• Very limited context visibility, rendering operational planning and security management particularly challenging
• Remote management context
• Handling of large teams, within a complex overall structure ranging across 3 contexts (NES, Erbil and Amman) with heavy communication channels.

PRIORITIES FOR THE 2/3 FIRST MONTHS :

• Ensure continued support to the Field Coordinators and their respective teams in maintaining the provision of basic services to affected populations in NES, relaying their financial, HR and strategic needs to the Country Office.
• Maintain regular and formalized communications between the Country Office and the field teams, to ensure smooth internal coordination and informed decision-making.

YOUR PROFILE

Education:

• Post-graduate degree in humanitarian and/or development studies, social sciences, political sciences or similar field

Experience:

• Essential: Previous experience in team management (including expatriates in support functions) and strategic orientation
• Essential: Experience in security management in unstable environments, the applicant needs to be willing to work in an ongoing and escalating violence environment
• Essential: Experience in conflict/post-conflict contexts, preferably with experience in supporting emergency response
• Essential: Stakeholder management
• Essential: Experience in data analysis (quantitative and qualitative information from primary and secondary sources) and report writing
• Desirable: Previous experience with SI
• Desirable: Knowledge and experience working with OFDA projects
• Desirable: Previous work experience in response to the Syrian Crisis
• Desirable: Previous work experience in response in the Middle East

Soft skills:

• Outstanding communication skills, including excellent diplomacy skills with the ability to influence and negotiate
• Problem solving skills
• Analytical skills and proven organization and methodical skills
• Strong interest in context and security analysis
• Strong commitment to humanitarian work and principles
• Ability to work under pressure, with peaks of heavy workload
• Adaptability to changing work environment and possible volatile security situation
• Capacity to provide leadership and be a unifying force
• Knowledge of Solidarités rules, tools and procedures;
• Strong stress management skills:

Languages:

• English : fluent with excellent writing capacities
• Arabic/Kurdish: fluent will be a strong asset

SI WILL OFFER YOU…

A salaried position: starting from 3080 euros gross per month (including 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly per diem of 700 USD a month. Please note that salary is not negotiable with SI.

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 SI).

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.

For further information about Solidarités International, please consult our website: http://www.solidarites.org/en/

[LIVING CONDITIONS : ]

Accommodation will be in SI guesthouses, which are spacious and very comfortable.

In Erbil, security situation is stable (no curfew), with possibilities to socialize due to the presence of other INGOS and places to socialize (bars, restaurants, etc).