Country Director

About Action For Humanity:

We are one of the leading Syria-focused charities in the world. We provide lifesaving and life-changing Support to millions of Syrians annually through emergency interventions, providing medical facilities, food, clean water, shelter, orphan support, protection, and education. Through our parent charity, Action For Humanity, we also work further afield.

Syria Relief/ Action For Humanity was established in Manchester, UK, at the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011. Dismayed at the rapidly unfolding crisis in Syria, a group of friends of Syrian heritage came together to provide emergency humanitarian aid in the region for what has initially assumed to be a short-term project. Since then, we have grown to become the largest Syria-focused charity in the UK and have touched the lives of 10.3 million people in need.

We are focused on providing medical care, food aid, education, protection, and access to water and shelter to the millions of Syrians displaced across the region. As well as establishing long-term projects such as schools, healthcare clinics, and livelihood.

Vacancy: Country Director (CD)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ROLE (BRIEF):

The Country Director (CD) is responsible for directing and mentoring the Senior Management Team and liaising productively and positively with other departments, staff, donors and all stakeholders to facilitate the achievement of AFH’s vision, mission and values.

The CD for Syria Response operations in Turkey and North Syria (NS) will build on the strengths and opportunities of the programmes to define strategic direction, creatively manage the team, and build excellent relationships with partners, donors and local authorities.

The successful candidate should have experience of working and leading teams in fragile and insecure environments, excellent knowledge of regional politics and development trends, and a strong track record in both resource mobilization and improving programme quality. CD is expected to demonstrate experience of building programmes on a daily commute and/or remotely (cross-border) with a focus on accountability, and evidence of connecting programmes to wider advocacy agenda. S/he will be able to build effective working relationships across organizational boundaries and should have the technical skills to appraise and oversee complex development projects to oversee AFH’s entire operation in Turkey and North Syria. S/he will directly manage on daily commute and /or remotely the operations and programmes teams.

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

• Master’s degree in one of the following subjects: Business Management / International Relations / Development / Environmental / Conservation Management or other related fields.
• Proven track record in successfully developing, leading, and managing small to large-scale programmes in various humanitarian sectors.

REQUIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Maintaining relationships at a senior level with relevant organisations
• M.E.A.L. Setting up monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning systems, including the use of logical frameworks.
• High-level negotiation and influencing skills, and the capacity to develop and maintain strong relationships at all levels with NGOs and donors’ representatives and government officials.
• Track record of building organizational talent by promoting performance culture and encouraging empowerment and delegation.
• Ability to work outside normal office hours and attend meetings at weekends or evenings
• Willing to travel locally & internationally
• Excellent leadership abilities to manage human and financial resources, with experience in leading change and driving the vision of the organization.
• Excellent team management and interpersonal skills.
• Decision making skills with the ability to think and manage strategically.
• Sound knowledge of participatory approaches.
• Security and risk management
• Demonstrated successful track record in securing funding from institutional donors and grant reporting.
• Grant management and reporting
• Demonstrated fundraising skills, and experience working with donors
• Must be committed to equal opportunity employment policies and AFH’s code of ethics
• Adhere to humanitarian principles and international humanitarian laws

General Work Experience: A minimum of ten years experience of managing including at least five years in the humanitarian field.

Languages:

• Fluent written and spoken English essential
• Fluency in Arabic and/or Turkish (Preferred)
• Computing: Excellent IT skills

Duties and Main Responsibilities:

Programme Development and Management

• Undertake programmes planning and development in line with AFH’s organizational strategy, inside and outside of Syria.
• Develop and implement programmes in consultation with all staff and stakeholders, inside and outside of Syria.
• Ensure stakeholders participate meaningfully in the planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of projects.
• Conduct participatory research to identify and develop new projects, aligned with AFH’s organizational strategy.
• Plan time frames and budgets as well as development of new concept papers and liaison with in-country donors.
• Implement programmes as per grants requirements and compliance, delivering and reporting of projects on time, on budget and to the required standard.
• Mobilize the support of government, NGO and community stakeholders, including development of fundraising strategies in country with submission of proposals that have to be signed-off by the International Programs Director and International Office.
• Develop coordination and capacity building initiatives for all staff to ensure learning and best practice is shared and developed. This will evolve to include partnership management and transferred learning.
• Develop national advocacy strategy to draw grass-roots participation in projects with national and international lobbying coordinated in the UK, Turkey and other Strategic locations.
• Produces monthly reports on a timely basis to the International Programs Director and International Office as required.
• Organize and facilitate internal and external evaluations of the project, using these as opportunities to elicit and document achievements, challenges, learning and opportunities.
• Facilitate visits to project sites by donor representatives and other AFH representatives
• Is responsible for the management and coordination of the Turkey and Northern Syria Offices.

Fundraising

• Work in line with the institutional fundraising strategy and with support from the UK Programmes/Operations team to raise funds through relationship building and proposal development.
• Develop and submit concept notes/ proposals with support from Head of Programmes Implementation and Head of Programmes Support, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and synergy with strategic outputs.
• Negotiate grants and partnership agreements with in-country donors.
• Identify in-country funding opportunities, aligned to AFH’s organizational strategy.
• Work with the in-country and UK Finance teams to develop accurate and realistic donor budgets.

Financial Management

• Comply fully with AFH’s finance policies and procedures and provide the finance department (HQ) with financial requests and expenditure information reports in an accurate manner on a monthly basis.
• Comply fully with the donors’ requirements and conditions.
• Compile donor reports in a timely manner with feedback and support from the Programmes and Operations Team and sign-off from the CEO.
• Comply fully with the Turkey Government’s regulations and requirements.
• Ensure all expenditure is authorized and in line with the programme and project budgets.
• Ensure receipts and supporting documents are compiled and achieved properly.

Security Management

• Responsible for ensuring compliance of security protocols within the team, imparting and training partners in security planning, and maintaining oversight of the country-security context at the tactical level
• Ensure reporting and recording incidents for the Security coordination in Turkey, MEA Region and the UK.
• Update at least annually and/or whenever appropriate, security and evacuation plans with relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure all national staff and visiting staff comply fully with AFH’s security policy and procedures. Security is non-negotiable and overrides programme consideration

Communication and Representation

• Represent the organization to key donors, diplomats, multilateral organizations, journalists and visitors in Turkey.
• Ensure effective networking, profile and representation with local, national and international authorities, donors and peer agencies.
• Ensure quality of communication material including case studies for UK based communications team.
• Interface with Fundraising Team in production of blogs, photos, videos and case-studies.
• Circulate and inform staff of AFH’s communications strategy and external messaging.

Human Resources

• Be overall responsible for the implementation of HR policies and procedures in Turkey and Syria, and ensure they comply with AFH’s HR policies and practices and Turkey labour laws.
• Line management of team of diverse local staff and expatriate staff conducting regular supervision and support. This will include local and distance management of geographically separate teams and overseeing the management of relationships with local partner organizations.
• Lead the recruitment and orientation of new local and international staff members.
• Conduct or oversee at least annual appraisals of all staff working under the Turkey programme.
• Ensure compliance with security and child protection protocols and procedures
• Arrange for field visits to address local staff needs and ensure compliance with AFH policies and procedures.
• Maintain learning and competency development amongst staff and partners through identification of individual learning objectives, institution of regular training programmes and competencies assessments.

Other

• Liaison with local government authorities to ensure representation, good relations and full compliance with local Laws and/or customs as far as possible.
• Follow up with changes in Border, Registration, Residency and other policies that impact employees and organization in the country of operation.
• Ensure legitimacy of staff and operations, and clear legal standing for all office operations.

Leadership Skills:

• To promote AFH’s vision and mission and to uphold the Charity’s values in all day-to-day activities and delivery of services.
• Take business accountability for the delivery of shared business responsibilities e.g. relevant contribution to the Charity’s Objectives, Risk Register and Assurance Framework.
• To ensure that AFH develops a culture that promotes equality and values diversity and that the service you provide meets the needs of all stakeholders. This may involve the development and monitoring of policies and procedures to ensure the services you provide are inclusive to all.
• To participate in AFH related events as and when required.
• In accordance with legislation, the post holder is required to undertake a proactive role in the management of risks in all their actions. This includes:
• Undertaking risk assessments in line with the AFH risk assessment process
• Reporting all incidents, near misses and hazards in line with the AFH’s reporting arrangements/system
• Undertaking a statutory duty of care for your own personal safety and that of others
• Attending all statutory and mandatory health and safety training, appropriate to the role.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS (IF ANY):

• 70% indoors / office based
• 30% outdoors / travel / events / work trips etc.

Child Safeguarding Policy

Child abuse in all forms is unacceptable to Action For Humanity which recognizes its responsibility to protect children from harm in all areas of its work. Action For Humanity is committed to ensuring a child-safe environment and is applying a zero-tolerance approach towards any kind of child abuse and exploitation. We understand the diverse needs of every individual, and we’re proud to announce our unwavering dedication to creating an inclusive environment for persons with disabilities.

PSEAH -Discrimination, Abuse and Harassment Policy

Action For Humanity unwavering dedication extends to creating a workplace that fosters respect, equality, and dignity. Introducing our Discrimination, Abuse, and Harassment Policy, we affirm our stance against any discrimination, abuse, or harassment based on race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship status, disability, or military status. We declare zero tolerance for any form of mistreatment, whether physical, sexual, or verbal. Our employees and associated personnel are integral to upholding these values, ensuring a work environment where everyone’s rights are respected, both within and beyond the Action For Humanity community. Join us in building a future where protection, safety, and respect prevail for all

and It is forbidden for Action For Humanity employees inflict harm on children or vulnerable groups or carry out acts of harassment or sexual exploitation of children and adults, directly or indirectly, inside or outside the organization, during or after working hours.”

How to apply

How to Apply:

Interested candidates, please send a Curriculum Vitae and a Cover letter describing how your skills and experience match the requirements of this post, following to provided email of the HR department of Suriye Yardım Derneği ([email protected]) with the job code “SYD-TR-GAZ-063“ in the subject line.

Deadline: August 19th, 2024

AFH is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted