Back Chief of Party (COP) - Protection and Health Assistance to Syria Together (PHAST) program

Position: Chief of Party (COP) - Protection and Health Assistance to Syria Together (PHAST) program**

Location: Turkey – Gaziantep (with travel to Jordan)

Duration: 12 months

Reports to: WoS Country Director

About Relief International.

Relief International (RI) is a leading nonprofit organization working in 16 countries to relieve poverty, ensure well-being and advance dignity. We specialize in fragile settings, responding to natural disasters, humanitarian crises and chronic poverty.

Relief International combines humanitarian and development approaches to provide immediate services while laying the groundwork for long-term impact. Our signature approach — which we call the RI Way—emphasizes local participation, an integration of services, strategic partnerships and a focus on civic skills. In this way, we empower communities to find, design and implement the solutions that work best for them.

Relief International includes the four members of the RI Alliance in the USA, UK, France, and Belgium. Under our alliance agreement, we operate under a single, shared management structure with one CEO and one Board of Directors.

About our Programs.

RI is active in 16 countries around the world, including some of the most fragile: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen. Often, RI is the only organization providing assistance to highly vulnerable communities.

· RI employs 7,000+ staff and auxiliary workers

· 97% of staff are in-country nationals

· We only have some 90 ex-pat staff out of 7,000+

· RI spent $125 million in 2019 on our programs.

RI invests in four broad program sectors: Economic Opportunity, Education, Health, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). We design our programs to incorporate The RI Way: local participation, integrated programming, the development of civic skills, and partnerships including with local NGOs, governments, and the private sector.

RI supports solutions that reinforce and improve upon existing in-country systems. Where such systems do not exist or are chronically underperforming, RI’s crisis response lays the foundation for long-term, sustainable change.

Position Summary:

Relief International (RI) and its implementing partner aim to strengthen the overall health system in northwest Syria by supporting health facilities to provide lifesaving health and nutrition services to vulnerable communities. The interventions will be guided by a robust monitoring framework built on RI and its implementing partner experience operating in the Syrian context, leveraging each organization’s operational presence and networks to deliver essential services to conflict-affected communities through a coordinated and integrated approach. In addition to specialized protection services by RI that will be offered through 4 women and girls’ safe spaces (WGSS), including gender-based violence (GBV) case management, psychosocial support, life skills, and outreach activities. The Chief of Party will lead the PHAST Project Management team (PMT) for the overall management of the program in close coordination with the WOS senior management team and will closely collaborate with RI Hub Team Lead and RI’s implementing partner senior management. Supported by the Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP), the CoP position will drive the implementation of the program ensuring integration of different project’s components. COP will also directly oversee the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) functions, financial management, risk and compliance, and grants management functions of the PHAST

The COP will be recruited and contracted by RI. The COP, will take over the finalization of recruitment of the remaining PHAST Project Management Team once hired. The COP shall act in the interest of the PHAST and promote the objectives of the project to all stakeholders. The COP reports directly to RI WoS Country Director and will liaise with RI’s implementing partner CD.

The PHAST Project Management Team (PMT) shall be recruited and hosted by RI with primary focus on PHAST project Implementation. The PMT shall be composed of:

1. Chief of Party (CoP)
2. Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP), who will also be responsible of RI and its implementing partner rapid response mechanism.
3. Compliance Manager.
4. Finance Manager.
5. Partnership Coordinator.

PHAST PMT maintains collaborative/coordination linkages with RI and its implementing partner focal points in Turkey and RI WoS for the functions of (M&E, Safety and Security, HR, operations, Management, Protection, etc.) defined in the organogram.

Position Responsibilities and Duties

CoP Key functions are:

· Provide strategic guidance, leadership, management and general technical oversight of the entire project, with a strong focus on achieving PHAST defined results

· Facilitate, support the role of the PHAST Project Management Team (PMT) and Health Technical Group (comprises of key members from RI and its implementing partner);

· Directly supervise the work of the PHAST Project Staff- (DCoP, Partnership Coordinator, Finance manager and closely coordinates with the Risks and Compliance Manager), and ensures collaboration/coordination linkages with existing non-PMT structures are maintained;

· Support the hub level management in the decision-making process/support needed towards the implementation and leadership of PHAST to ensure that the team members are equally contributing to and are working towards the strategic focus of the program in a satisfactory manner.

· Monitor, review, report and address risks identified and/or emerging.

· Develop and regularly review the PHAST Strategy in line with evolving needs, operational context and technical practices and submit for approval by RI and its implementing partner senior management;

· Ensure constructive and structured communication between Key focal points between RI and its implementing partner, and Health Technical Group about PHAST strategy and implementation;

· Provide oversight and direction to the implementation of the PHAST activities, strategy and propose corrective action plans to resolve implementation bottlenecks;

· Represent the PHAST program in coordination forums with donors and funding agencies, academic and research partners, and other national and international stakeholders.

· Directly manage the grant and contractual aspects of the program with the funding agency and partners (RI and its implementing partner), including:

• Financial projections, monitoring expenditure, evaluating impact and reporting;

• On-Granting to PHAST members;

• Narrative reporting;

• Report against indicators and logical frameworks;

• Risk management;

• Other compliance regulations, as prescribed in the Funding Agreement in close coordination with RI WoS and RI’s implementing partner CDs;

· Support the DCoP in overseeing the implementation of M&E systems approved by the RI and its implementing partner management, including the design of baseline, mid-term and final evaluation approaches.

· Organize and facilitate review meetings for PHAST Members, including government counterparts and other key stakeholders as identified.

· Liaise with relevant coordination bodies at regional and domestic level relevant to the NWS coordination mechanism.

· Oversee the development of new proposals and develop funding opportunities in line with the PHAST members Strategy;

· Oversee the development of and management of local/sub-agreements.

· Support the development of influencing products in coordination with the PHAST members to ensure clear influencing messages are delivered (i.e. advocacy messages).

Qualifications & requirements:

This position demands a dynamic individual with a demonstrated ability to achieve results in a demanding and fast paced environment.

• Master’s degree in social sciences, public health, management, business administration, or a related field with at least 10 years' work experience;
• Demonstrated professional experience in lead management implementing health and Protection response programs in a conflict setting (Syrian context)

· Good analytical and problem-solving skills

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, public speaking, and strategic planning skills required;
• Strong English skills, speaking, reading, writing is required;
• Excellent time management skills;

· Excellent analytical and organizational skills. Ability to think critically and creatively;

· Excellent interpersonal skills, including patience, diplomacy, willingness to listen and respect for colleagues.

· Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, stressful environment.

· Must be flexible, willing to perform other duties and work irregular hours.

· Demonstrated ability to work and manage across multi-functional units

· Organized and able to independently manage multiple tasks under strict deadlines

· Proven ability to understand, streamline and automate complex processes

· Cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

· Ability to think critically and creatively;

· Must be capable of working both individually and as part of a team;

Relief International's Values:

We uphold the Humanitarian Principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality and operational independence. We affirmatively engage the most vulnerable communities.

We value:

· Inclusiveness

· Transparency and accountability

· Agility and innovation

· Collaboration

· Sustainability