Area Manager

Syria

Humanitarian/Disasters

Finished or Exempted (For male)

Working as a senior member of a diverse team who are committed to serve the world’s most-vulnerable with practical and compassionate care, the Area Manager oversees overall implementation and coordination of the designated field projects in the covered governorates (Rural Damascus, South Syria, Homs with possibility to extend to Hama). Providing leadership, management and evaluation in the field location, the Area Manager also plays a key role in liaison with local authorities and other relevant stakeholders, team leadership and security.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Field Coordination
- Lead the team to achieve delivery of the designated project(s) in the covered governorates in accordance with the project proposals and working closely with the sector officers to ensure objectives are met within the required time frame and budget. In consultation with the Project Coordinator –Syria, ensure preventative and corrective action is taken where necessary.
- Manage an integrated cross-sector activity plan for the designated project(s), including resource needs analysis, covering the time frame of the project deliverables.
- Support the sector officers in day-to-day decision making as requested
- Support the sector officers in the coordination of needs assessments as required.
- In conjunction with the Project Coordinator, ensure that regular monitoring is conducted against project objectives and reports made to the relevant in-country sector leads or HQ advisors.
- Maintain an overview of the local context in the covered governorates, with a view to the strategic development of new projects, advising the Project Coordinator and Country Director accordingly.
- Support the Project Coordinator in the development and production of new concepts and proposals as necessary.
- Ensure complete and timely reporting internally and to any other relevant bodies, with the approval of the Project Coordinator.

Representation
- Develop and maintain relationships with relevant stakeholders (e.g. beneficiaries, community leaders, local government officials, UN agencies and other NGOs) to facilitate the work of Medair.
- As the Area Manager, represent Medair at relevant meetings (e.g. state and local government, sector-coordination and security) in order to facilitate and ensure cooperation and partnerships in the covered governorates.
- Initiate, as appropriate, the approval processes (MOUs, projects, annual renewal of agreements, reports) required by the relevant Governor’s office at the organization and project levels.

Support and Financial Management
- Oversee local project support functions (covering low-level logistics and finance), managing day to day activities in accordance with Medair procedures, in liaison with support function leaders (i.e. Finance Manager, Project Support Manager) within the Country-Office in Damascus.
- Ensure all relevant documents related to the designated project(s) are produced and filed according to Medair and donor guidelines
- Work with the relevant Sector officers to ensure that budgets are spent according to donor proposals and within the appropriate timeframe, making recommendations to the Project Coordinator for any budget adjustments as necessary.
- Assist the Project Coordinator in constructing budgets for future projects, in collaboration with relevant Sector staff.
- Provide the cash needs

Staff Management
- Ensure all personnel related issues for the staff of the designated field location are carried out in accordance with Medair guidelines. This includes recruitment, appraisal, objective setting, development and training, disciplinary action, etc.
- Hold regular team meetings and, through a consultative leadership style and a transparent, honest and supportive communication structure, develop and build an effective team
- Promote the health and security of the staff of the designated project(s) by ensuring the application of security guidelines, health and safety in the workplace.

Security Management
- Monitor and review the security status of the area(s) of operation on a day-to-day basis, ensuring the safety of Office and Staff, liaising as applicable with local authorities, other NGOs, the UN or other relevant security bodies and provide regular updates to the Project Coordinator and Country Director
- In conjunction with the Project Coordinator, ensure all staff members working for the designated projects and all visitors receive appropriate briefings.
- Oversee and monitor staff adherence to security protocols, including security incident reports.
- In conjunction with the Project Coordinator, ensure security plans and protocols for the area(s) of operation are prepared, kept updated and implemented in response to changes in the security situation.
- Function as Security Liaison (internal and external) for the completion of movement permissions, to be submitted for final approval by Country Director, within the overall country procedures, and act as Area SFP (Security Focal Point) during field trips within the governorate, in liaison with the Project Coordinator.

Quality Management
- Promote and use the Medair e-library and other operating procedures, ensuring that all standardised formats are used and guidelines are followed

Interested? Then apply for this position

All applicants should send a cover letter and an updated CV no longer than four pages, both in the same language as the vacancy note. Your CV should also include contact details of three professional referees.

Professional references will be checked before offering this position to the successful candidate.

The successful candidate must be legally allowed to Work in Syria, need to be holder of fully valid passport for travel to Lebanon/Jordan for training.

This is a position based in Damascus, with field visits elsewhere within the covered governorates (subject to staff safety procedures and movement approvals).

Working week is usually 5 days per week, Sunday to Thursday 08:30 to 16:30.

This position requires flexibility at all times, responding to Medair programme needs, including emergency response, within the covered Governorates. The successful candidate may also be asked to assist in Medair programme activities elsewhere in Syria.

Travel is likely to be required to Lebanon/Jordan for training or meetings.

Planned start date: January 2019.

Application will close once suitable candidate is identified.

Medair is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organization with headquarters in Switzerland, founded in 1989 and currently working in 14 countries throughout the world.
We bring relief and recovery to people who are suffering in remote and devastated communities around the world. Medair helps communities to survive crisis, recover with dignity, and develop skills to build a better future in core areas Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene), Shelter/Infrastructure.

Jan 10, 2019

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