Starting date: May/June 2022 or based on agreement
Contract duration: 12 months with possible extension
Country Program: Syrian Response
Base: Derik or Kobane with travel throughout North East Syria
Line Manager: Country Director, Syria
About the mission:
PIN has been working in Northern Syria since 2012, providing support to conflict-affected communities and IDPs. PIN’s contribution to the overall Syria humanitarian response is amongst the largest, with an annual turnover of over $50 million with 35% in NES. The major donors in NES are the EC, USAID/BHA and SDC.
General position summary:
The Area Director (AD) is part of Syria Country Management Team (together with Country Director, Head of Programmes, Head of Systems & Operations, Security Advisor and members of HQ Syria desk). The AD will be responsible for all program and support teams in NE Syria ensuring relevant, impactful and principled programming in line with PIN’s country strategy. Currently PIN has around 300 staff (200 national staff, 11 expatriates, 100 daily workers) working in four different offices. We are looking for a leader with multi-year experience in managing large teams and multi-sectorial programmes in insecure and challenging environments that can provide leadership to move the programme forward expanding into new geographical areas, building local partnerships and moving into early recovery/stabilisation programming specifically in education, shelter and livelihoods.
The AD reports to PIN Country Director for Syria Response. They directly manage Programmes and Systems/Operations Directors, as well as the Security Manager, MEAL Manager, and administratively oversee two staff working with consortia management and the NES forum. They have delegated responsibility for security. They work closely with regional staff in programme quality, finance, comms and security, as well as the Desk team in HQ.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
- Contribute to the development and scale up of NE Syria Strategy and programme ensuring it is appropriate and needs-based, ensuring cooperation across sectors and local teams.
- Provides support and guidance to Area Programmes Director to ensure the implementation of the programmes is in line with sectorial SoPs with particular attention to quality and efficiency.
- Ensure appropriate administrative, financial and logistical PIN systems/procedures are in place, maintained and adhered to so that all support functions are carried out effectively and efficiently.
- Ensure all operational departments are working in close collaboration with programs to facilitate smooth, efficient and effective implementation.
- Ensure financial oversight for overall NE Syria budget, report any concerns or deviations to the Head of Systems and Operations and Head of Programmes and support program and operations departments to develop plans to mitigate under or over expenditure.
- Provide overall support to team members ensuring professional development and improved wellbeing.
- Ensure clear communication flow between different departments internally and the coordination office in Erbil, including regular documented team meetings for planning and reporting purposes.
- Represents the organization at the regional level including meetings with donors, consortia in North East Syria, humanitarian actors, local authorities, protocol and security meetings. Maintain regular working relationships and ensure active cooperation between PIN and UN agencies, clusters, working groups.
- Ensure overall security and safety of staff in the area and that appropriate security guidelines are developed, communicated, adhered to, and regularly reviewed with the Security Team Lead and Security Advisor.
- Ensures adequate contingency plans are in place and regularly shared with all the staff. Monitors the political, economic, and social environment in the area, assesses and analyses the risks, monitors and reports the security situation.
- Line Manage 6 direct reports: Programmes Director, Systems Director, MEAL Manager, SNFI Working Group Coordinator, LEARN Shelter Specialist and Security Manager.
Suitable candidates for this position should possess:
- At least 5 years’ experience with a humanitarian and/or development organization in senior management.
- Strong leadership and staff management skills, with experience in managing (directly and remotely) large, diverse and multidisciplinary teams.
- Good understanding of the humanitarian environment (NGOs, NGO Forums, UN, main donors)
- Strong security management skills and experience in challenging and volatile security environments
- Good organizational, planning, diplomatic and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication skills, including fluent spoken and written English.
- Previous experience with managing large teams and budgets.
- Previous working experience from Middle East, particularly the Syrian crisis is advantage.
- Desirable: A working knowledge of Arabic
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
- This position is unaccompanied. It will be based in Kobane or Derik. Both provide relative security, a less conservative environment, and opportunities for socializing, eating out, and exercise.
- Most PIN expatriate staff are based in Kobane, closer to field offices in Raqqa and Menbij, but there are some NGO coordination functions in Derik/Hassake.
- PIN has offices and guesthouses in both Raqqa and Menbij. Many international NGOs staff are now based in Raqqa, which has stabilized over the last year, but moderate security restrictions apply in both locations.
- Internet is available in all PIN’s offices and guesthouses. There is limited access to international goods/supplies in NES.
- Basic medical provision is available locally, and a medevac procedure is in place for emergencies. Expat staff in NES should be in good health and be fully vaccinated against all relevant illnesses including Covid-19.
People in Need offers:
- Salary of 3 600 – 3 800 EUR (already including subsistence allowance of 1 200 EUR) per month
- Opportunities for learning, trainings and capacity development.
- Housing in PIN guesthouse covered by PIN
- 25 days of paid leave annually
- Reimbursement of travel expenses with travel to the country of residence once per every 6 months of completed work, plus R&R benefits in between (ie. home leave or R&R every 8 weeks in NES)
- Reimbursement of costs of visas and vaccinations; assistance with visa application procedure.
- Free medical helpdesk and psychological consultation available on line.
- Travel health insurance
- Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT)