Programme Manager – Syria

The context in Syria is changing and we are looking for a strong Programme Manager who can manage and further develop our ECHO funded Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement Consortium and refine the current health portfolio. The ideal candidate has experience managing EU-funded programmes and strong public health background.

Danish Red Cross has been present in Syria since 2006 and our primary partnership is with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). SARC bears a central role in supporting the most vulnerable people affected by conflict, across the frontlines and in hard-to-reach areas. Danish Red Cross is supporting SARC in becoming an effective and efficient organisation in the delivery of healthcare, psychosocial support, and relief services to the Syrian population and in becoming more generally a strong humanitarian actor in a post-war setting.

DRC leads an ECHO consortium consisting of DRC and Red Cross components, to implement a humanitarian programme that is titled: “Primary and Emergency Health, Psychosocial and Operation Support in Syria (ECHO-11)”. The programme is funded by DG-ECHO with co-funding from Red Cross Partners, and it supports SARC operations in the areas of emergency health, psychosocial support (PSS), logistics, and humanitarian response capacity building. In addition, DRC has a strong portfolio of health, PSS, disaster management, youth/livelihoods, and National Society Development initiatives in Syria with support from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and other donors.

The purpose of the Programme Manager position is to manage the ECHO programme, provide strong, technical guidance in the area of health, and lead a Red Cross and Red Crescent EU funded consortium in Syria. Key focus areas include ensuring effectiveness, quality assurance (QA) and the compliance with regulations of DRC and adherence to recognised international quality standards. In addition, the Programme Manager will manage the DRC components of the ECHO 11 project as well as coordinate the consortium and ensure the overall implementation of the programme, as. The Programme Manager should facilitate the coordination with SARC and the other consortium partners as well as other relevant stakeholders. In addition, ensure a strategic and dynamic dialogue and planning towards / with the donor, as well as towards SARC, consortium partners and any other EU Partner National Societies (EUPNS), as DRC is the lead in the dialogue with ECHO for the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) in Syria. The Programme Manager is the budget holder for the DRC components of the ECHO programme.

Responsibilities

The Programme Manager reports directly to the Country Manager (CM) for Syria and works in close coordination with the DRC Programme Coordinator in Syria. The main areas of responsibility are:

• Project development and implementation
• Project monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and learning
• Communication, coordination, partnership, and capacity development
• Specialised technical support to the DRC in Syria

Expected key results:

• The project has been implemented effectively and efficiently and has been reported on in accordance with donor requirements and the contracts between Consortium Partners.
• Effective dialogue with ECHO has been maintained ensuring a shared understanding of strategic priorities for the project
• The ECHO consortium continues to be effective and reflective of partners core competencies
• The quality of project outputs has been assured through cooperation and coordination with SARC, the consortium, and other relevant stakeholders.
• The partnership with SARC has been enhanced, alongside its capacity to implement and coordinate similar health-focused activities.
• The reputation of DRC and SARC in particular, and the wider RCRC Movement in general, to manage and implement such projects, is reinforced.
• Technical experience and lessons are learned from the project, and shared with stakeholders in Syria, within DRC in the region and at HQ level
• (ECHO) funding for a new phase of the project is ensured.

The main tasks include:

• Manage the ECHO-11 programme and provide strong, technical guidance and lead the Red Cross and Red Crescent EU funded consortium in Syria.
• Ensure progress on implementation by providing project management support to SARC, including project planning and development and budget revisions for the ECHO project.
• Provide technical support and advice to the SARC local programme team implementing the activities of the ECHO project and advising on the DRC Syria health portfolio.
• Track overall implementation of the project in coordination with all consortium partners and facilitate adjustments to the project, for example through Modification Requests submitted to ECHO if needed.
• Monitor resource allocation and budget utilization of the ECHO project, in coordination with the DRC Finance Manager and consortium partners.
• Lead the drafting of the proposal for a possible successor programme in collaboration with SARC, consortium partners and DRC colleagues, in response to the ECHO Humanitarian Implementation Plan (HIP).
• Support evaluations or reviews, etc., including leading and overseeing the upcoming internal evaluation (e.g., prepare ToR, support the selection of review team, facilitate interviews/meetings, and participate in field trips if the security situation allows)

Required experience and qualifications

• Strong and proven programme management experience is a prerequisite and preferably extensive experience implementing EU (ECHO) programmes.
• A relevant education within health and/or public health is required.
• A minimum of 6 years of relevant work experience from the humanitarian sector.
• Solid analytical skills and strong project cycle and financial management capacity.
• Ability to manage a consortium and able to steer processes in a challenging operational environment.
• Excellent communication, diplomatic and networking skills.
• Ability to work independently and structured and your solid planning and organisational skills make you autonomous and effective on a daily basis.
• Firm diplomacy and negotiation skills and an understanding that solid processes and ownership are key to achieving results in a culturally and politically sensitive environment.
• Good cultural understanding and the ability to work in a challenging multicultural environment is essential.
• Excellent English speaking and writing capabilities. Arabic will be a strong advantage.
  Proven ability to live and work for long periods under restricted conditions within a conflict-affected environment, and you can handle stressful situations.
• Proven experience in the capacity-building of local partners, ideally of Red Cross/Red Crescent National Societies and local branches, and in the Middle East, will be an advantage.
• Full proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Possession of a valid international driving license