Requisition ID: req59462 Job Title: Cash Specialist (Senior Manager) Sector: Economic Recovery & Livelihood Employment Category: Regular Employment Type: Full-Time Open to Expatriates: No Location: Homs, Syria Work Arrangement:In-person Job Description Background/Context: The IRC has operated in Syria since 2012, providing protection, health, economic recovery, and early childhood development programs in Idleb, Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa, Hassakeh, and Deir ez-Zor, with new programs expanding into Hama, rural Damascus, and Homs. With a team of over 700 members, the IRC has established trust and strong community relationships, ensuring access and effective service delivery. It plays a significant role in Syria’s NGO, donor, and coordination forums, holding key positions and adapting to the evolving context. With the new realities under the new government, as of December 2024, the IRC has deployed a team to Damascus to set up operations and engage in coordination structures for newly accessible areas across Syria—including parts of NES, NWS, and other previously unreachable locations in South and Central Syria, adjusting operations to maximize coverage and efficiency. Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) IRC has over 10 years of experience in Syria implementing cash, agriculture, and livelihoods programming, and was one of the first organizations to use cash transfers, supporting vulnerable communities with MPCT since 2014 in the northwest, and 2015 in the northeast. Job Overview/Summary: The Cash Specialist will lead the development and implementation of the Country Program’s Cash Strategy, with a focus on scaling up cash activities and improving the quality of cash and voucher assistance (CVA) programming. This role will be central to ensuring that cash-based approaches are strategic, evidence-driven, and integrated across sectors. In addition, the Cash Specialist will be responsible for the overall technical support of cash and voucher assistance programming activities both in the Economic Recovery and Development sector and across various sectors, including the Health, Protection, Education, and other outcome areas. As a technical role, the Cash Specialist will support and train staff in carrying out the implementation of the cash and voucher assistance (CVA) programs in accordance with the technical and donor guidelines Responsibilities: Technical Support + P rovide technical support to the sectoral technical coordinators and/ or deputies on the design and delivery of cash and voucher assistance (CVA) interventions. + Lead the Cash feasibility assessments for the use of cash and/ or vouchers for all technical teams + Provide systematic training and build the capacity of staff from different departments conducting CVA interventions at the national office and in project offices, including program, finance, supply chain, and MEAL teams (will require travel). + Lead identification and tendering (from the program side) of all financial service providers (FSPs) and voucher vendors + Update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for cash as well as voucher assistance (depending on context) + Conducting regular check-ins with the project teams and project stakeholders to document challenges and lessons learned + Provide technical assistance to the key tools development and contextualization in cash, including the Cash Relief Operating Procedures (CROPs), Program Controls Checklist (PCC), and Program Implementation Note (PIN); as well as other key guidance, as needed, in collaboration with the Technical Advisors and the relevant sectoral technical coordinators + Provide technical assistance to local partners’ staff and project oversight + Engage in regular check-ins with the cash focal points of each team to understand and support sectoral cash assistance programing priorities + Ensure key lessons learned from the PDMs are considered in improving our quality of intervention implementation, as well as future project designs + Ensure links are made across sector teams for sharing tools, resources, and lessons learned + Whenever possible, conduct information-sharing meetings on CVA with key findings from research in-country and at the regional level Area 2: Proposal Development and Business Development support + Provide technical inputs on CVA to concept notes, proposals, and budget development in collaboration with the business development team. + Work with Regional Cash TA in the development and implementation of the Strategic Action Plan (SAP) for CVA outputs. + Contribute to the overall development of the SAP and achievement of the strategic objectives and global initiatives. Area 3: Representation + Develop a network of contacts (local and INGOs, CWG, Food Security Cluster, Social Protection Cluster, government/social safety nets, etc.) to allow a smooth implementation of the CVA projects. + Represent the team at the various Cash working group meetings. + Explain project activities and objectives to donors, partners, and communities/ community leaders as needed. + Implement other duties and responsibilities assigned by the supervisor in line with the job description and plan of action Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting + Ensure that post-distribution monitoring (PDM) activities are planned, conducted using appropriate tools, and analyzed in line with quality standards + Ensure that post-distribution monitoring (PDM) activities are planned, conducted using appropriate tools, and analyzed in line with quality standards + Provide technical recommendations to improve program quality based on evidence from monitoring, evaluations, and research. + Support teams in planning and conducting market assessments and cash feasibility studies in targeted communities. + Provide technical oversight and inputs to research and assessments (e.g., Climate Risk Management or similar initiatives) in collaboration with relevant program and research leads. Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development + Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures, and communicate through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations. + Conduct regular reflection or program review meetings with field-based staff to assess the level of achievement and draw on learning and data trends (including client feedback) to further inform + Program design and management decisions + Provide technical coaching, training, and mentorship to team members, ensuring clear communication of technical expectations and standards. Assess proficiencies and develop and lead a targeted learning and training strategy. + Develop and implement remote technical capacity-building approaches to strengthen the skills and competencies of teams in Syria. + Support the creation and delivery of measurable technical development plans, including on-the-job learning, knowledge exchange, and guidance on technical career growth. + Identify technical capacity gaps within the team and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to address them effectively. + Lead technical training and support to mainstream CASH standards across IRC and partner operations in Syria Job Requirements: Education: + Bachelor’s degree in economics, social sciences, international development, or another relevant field (Master’s degree preferred). + Equivalent professional experience in cash and voucher assistance (CVA) programming will be considered in lieu of formal education. Experience: + Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible experience managing or advising on CVA in crisis, recovery, or development settings of which 2 in a similar managerial role. + Proven experience in at least one of the following: multipurpose cash assistance (MPCA), livelihoods/economic recovery, or social protection systems. + Demonstrated experience developing and implementing CVA strategies, including scaling up and improving program quality. + Strong background in designing or overseeing market assessments, feasibility studies, and risk analyses for cash and voucher interventions. + Experience providing technical support and capacity building to remote, cross-cultural, and multidisciplinary teams. + Familiarity with humanitarian CVA standards (e.g., CaLP, Sphere) and evidence of applying them in practice. Demonstrated Skills and Competencies: + A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values, and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct. + Credible written, presentation, and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively, and solid experience providing training and staff development + Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to achieve effective resolution. + Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context. + Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities, and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience. + Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior-level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity. + Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop. + Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies. Language/Travel: + Language Skills: Excellent English and Arabic skills + Travel: 50% to field sites in Syria, as well as attending workshops and meetings. Key Working Relationships: + Position Reports to: ERD Coordinator + Position directly supervises: Indirect line management of Cash focal persons across different IRC outcome areas and the ERD + Indirect Reporting: + Key Internal Contacts:Supply Chain, MEAL, Finance, HAS, Protection, Field Management, Partnerships. Deputy Director of Programs, Technical Advisors + Key External Contacts:Local authorities, NGOs, UN agencies, community leaders, vocational centers, and beneficiaries. The position will also work with partners and relevant institutions associated with CVA. Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation. Returning National Candidates:We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the country where this position is based and are currently residing outside of your home country, you may be eligible for an attractive relocation package. Eligibility is determined based on IRC's operational needs and specific role requirements. IRC strives to attract, motivate, and retain qualified national staff in our programs. Accountability to Clients:IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.