Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.
About The NES NGO Forum
The Northeast Syria (NES) NGO Forum is an independent and neutral coordination body, representative of its members, and is hosted by Mercy Corps. The NES NGO Forum was established in July 2016 as the primary coordination body for NGOs operating cross-border into, and from within, Northeast Syria โ as part of formalized coordination arrangements under the Whole of Syria (WoS) architecture. The Forum is currently comprised of 40 members, and continues to grow, with responsibility for several core functions, including operational response coordination, representation with external stakeholders, engagement with authorities including access negotiations, information management and policy development and advocacy. The NES Forum coordinates the inter-sector working group, consisting of sectoral working group coordinators, which are hosted by various NGOs in Northeast Syria. The NES Forum is an independent and neutral coordination body which is governed by its Steering Committee (SC) and accountable to both the SC and its NGO membership. The NES Forum is hosted by Mercy Corps.
Summary of the position
The Deputy Director will lead on high level workstreams, support coordinators, and stand in for the Director as required to ensure continuity of operations.The position also has oversight NES Forum operations, including activities which require interaction with the Host Agency e.g. HR, Logistics, reporting, while taking the lead on internal systems strengthening.
Detailed Explanation of the Position
Representation and leading key workstreams
The NES Forum under the leadership of the NES Forum Director acts as the key operational coordination body for NGOs operating in Northeast Syria. The Deputy Director position will support oversight of the coordination structure for NGOs in Northeast Syria and interact as a secondary focal point with the NES Forum Steering Committee, an elected body.
The Deputy Director will stand in for the Director as required in their mandate to lead and represent the operational response of the NES Forum membership to relevant internal and external stakeholders and in a variety of fora. The Deputy Director will be expected to support, as required, key high-level strategic workstreams relevant to the NGO response in Northeast Syria, held whether by Coordinators or the Director. These workstreams are evolving, responsive to the needs of the context, and can be of longer-term strategic or short-term emergency nature, as identified by the Director.
Operational leadership
Operational responsibilities will include oversight of key areas of interaction with the Host Agency (Mercy Corps) including but not limited to logistics, and human-resource, internal system strengthening, and accountability of the Forum. This includes line management of the Operations Officer who represents the Forum within the Host Agencyโs operations team. The Deputy Director will be responsible for reporting deliverables and engaging in the operational systems.
Further to this, the Deputy-Director will be expected to support with NES Forum Operations (independent of Host Agency), leading on internal systems strengthening including knowledge management, data protection and informational security, IT systems, organizational capacity building and overall business continuity for the Forum, as well as any other area of operational oversight identified by the Director as integral to NES Forum independence, neutrality and continuity.
It is imperative that the Deputy Director understands the importance of neutrality and independence of NES Forum.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Lead on High-Level Strategic Workstreams
Responsible for current high-level key workstreams such as development and implementation of localization strategy in Northeast Syria, advise on strategic donor engagement, design and lead on stabilization actor engagement strategy, coordination of joint positions on key humanitarian issues across the membership, training on humanitarian norms for local stakeholders, etc. Ensure that existing and forthcoming emergency and resilience response mechanisms and sectoral/partner planning are harmonized with The Northeast Syria Strategy. Responsible for the identification and realization of new key workstreams as required, in response to the evolving humanitarian situation, and as identified of relevance to the NES Forum membership.Support to key Thematic Workstreams
Support as necessary any key thematic workstreams carried out under the leadership of the Forumโs coordinators, including but not limited to principled negotiations with relevant local authorities in the interest of unimpeded humanitarian access, delivering of principled advocacy messages to relevant stakeholders, improve the accountability and effectiveness of the NES coordination structures through engagement with host agencies and the ISWG, identify and support enhancements to the current operational response, etc. Support ISWG Coordinator and AAWG Coordinator as OIC for Director as necessary.Support to NES Forum Operations Line Management of NES Forum Operations OfficerAuthorize purchases on behalf of NES Forum Represent NES Forum in procurement committees Responsible for all NES Forum inputs into Host Agency Procurement PlanningAccountable for tracking all NES Forum assets in Host Agency Stock as per donor budgetsResponsible for Human Resource (Host Agency compliance)
Responsible for all national NES Forum staff hiring, contract extension and resignation, in coordination with direct line-management and with Director approvalResponsible for ensuring NES Forum staff adherence to Host Agency guidelines as per NES Forum/Host Agency MoU
Responsible for Host Agency Reporting Requirements (Financial and Donor)
Supervisory Responsibility
NES Forum Operations Officer, and as OIC for Director
Accountability
Reports Directly to: NES Forum Director and the NES Forum Steering Committee Accountable to: NES Forum membership and NES Forum Steering Committee (comprised of 7 representatives from NGOs)
Works Directly with: NES Forum Team, Northeast Syria Team Leaders; Northeast Syria Country Directors; Whole of Syria Coordination counterparts; United Nations; NES Local Authorities; KRIbased stakeholders.
ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Minimum Qualifications and Transferrable Skills
MA or equivalent in international human rights law, humanitarian studies, or similar qualification required.
Significant INGO-specific experience is essential for this role. Can be combined 5-7 years of programmatic /operational field experience in INGOs and/or UN (OCHA),
Preference for previous NES experience. Familiarity with WoS structure preferred.
Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country government, INGO, NGO partners, UN, Civ-Mil, and other stakeholders in complex, ongoing, chronic and acute conflict environments.
Operational experience preferred, with IT systems, budget and reporting experience Positive management experience in fast-paced, high-stress environments is essential.
Proven understanding of the international humanitarian response architecture, including cluster/coordination mechanisms, humanitarian reform and action, and funding mechanisms
Dedication to the core humanitarian standard and clear understanding of the application of humanitarian principles in conflict settings.
Understanding of International Humanitarian Law is essential. With experience interpreting/explaining international humanitarian law to non-humanitarian partners.
Experience with remote program management/coordination contexts is important.
Demonstrated experience in coordination and/or lead advocacy roles, preferably within formal coordination structures and/or advocacy consortia.
Successful and proven negotiation, communication and organizational skills.
Successful track record of leading medium-sized teams to success, effective budget management, and success working with dual supervisory groups.
Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse stakeholder base in a sensitive environment.
HEAT training or similar is an advantage.
Advanced speaking and writing in English; knowledge of Kurdish an asset, knowledge of Arabic an advantage.
Success Factors
The successful candidate will have the ability to network effectively, influence, and inspire others.
They will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, will be highly motivated and possess the ability to work independently. They will have the ability to undertake strategic analysis and translate thinking into practice. They will be an excellent advocate and influencer of principled humanitarian action in complex environments. The candidate should have strong negotiation skills to liaise with authorities and support in maintaining humanitarian space for partners, advocating for principled humanitarian action, and ensuring the rights of program participants and beneficiaries. They will work with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and with virtual or/and dispersed teams and will have the ability to build confidence and to find creative and constructive solutions to difficult issues. The successful candidate will build trust and alliances and will empower others. They should like traveling, possess a good sense of humor, must be fond of coordination and understand its critical role for efficient and effective principled humanitarian response. Preferably, you are intensely passionate about advocating for those who have been displaced by conflict and have a solid grasp of IHL.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
This is based in Hassakeh, with a second office in Raqqa and will require travel to other areas of NES as required by the membership. This position is unaccompanied and eligible for hardship, R&R, and home leave allowances as well as regular employment benefits. Living conditions are in group housing: water, electricity and internet are present with occasional cuts.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the worldโs most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.