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.
Job Overview/Summary
As part of IRC’s MEAL unit, the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer will be responsible for supporting the NWS hub programme teams with the proper roll-out and implementation of the Syria Country Programme (CP) Data handling and guidelines and other data and information related best practices. Reporting to the NWS Snr. MEAL Manager and in coordination with the Amman based IM & T4P Manager, the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer will support Data and Digital Literacy initiatives in NWS and support the scale-up of innovative and digital data management solutions, as well as lead the IM officers for organization of digital and data literacy per sector.
Major Responsibilities
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E):
Lead the M&E officer ensuring the implementation of MEAL activities, data collection plans in alignment with project activities, timeline and proposals.
Support the reporting of project-specific MEAL plans, including indicator tracking, data collection tools, and reporting templates and coordination with the Senior MEAL managerContribute to donor reports by providing timely and accurate data analysis and narrative inputs.Support the Senior M&E Manager, and Senior Client Responsiveness (CR) Officer with data analysis requests.Information Management (IM):
Lead for the IM Officer (Protection, Economic Wellbeing/ERD, Education/ECD, and Health) as needed and in coordination with the Snr. MEAL Manager.Support the testing of Digital/Mobile Data Capture (MDC) surveys and provide feedback to the strategy IM team.Support sectors with designing surveys and forwarding MDC surveys building requests to the IM strategy team.Supporting the testing and development of new or modified data management solutions/systems (E.g. Health Information Management System, GBVIMS, CPIMS, etc.) and provide feedback to the IM team for improvement.Provide feedback to the IM team on the development of MEAL/IM SOPs and guidelines.Support the program data management staff, programs’ staff and partners in the use of the new technology systems and tools.Reporting and Coordination:
Systematically review datasets for deficiencies or errors based on data quality SOPs and advising on correcting any incompatibilities where possible.In coordination with the strategy IM team, follow-up with sector IMs to ensure timely reporting into the Syria CPs Aggregated Data Management System.Leadership:
Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of IM and M&E team members in relevant technical and (remote) management competencies.Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures, and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.Capacity Building:
Provide mentorship to the program and partners’ staff in relevant technical and management competencies.Support the IM strategy team with the organization of digital and data literacy sessions for all IRC and partner staff based on a pre-set capacity building plan.Staff Performance Management, Learning and Development:
Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths the teams in Syria.Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.Approve and manage time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, minimally on a monthly basis.Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.As required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.Job Requirements:
Bachelor degree in a relevant field (such as: statistics & data management, social science, public health, development economics, or a related subject area) – a technical degree together with additional relevant work experience may substitute for education.Approximately 3-6 years of working experience in Information Management or related functions.Proficiency and experience with mobile data collection tools as well as proficiency with Microsoft Excel.Demonstrated analytical, systematic-thinking, and problem-solving skills.Self-motivated with good organization and planning skills.Strong computer literacy with Microsoft Office (in particular, Excel).Experience using Arc/QGIS is desired.Experience with Mobile Data Capture (MDC) tools and implementing MDC surveys.Confirmed ability to lead, mentor and empower a small to medium professional team.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 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 is a must.Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.Language/Travel:
English profession is required.
Travel: 30% to field sites in Aleppo, Homs, Idlib and Damascus as well as attending regional and global workshops and meetings.
Key Working Relationships
Position Reports to: Senior MEAL Manager
Position directly Supervises: Information Management Officers (Protection, Economic Wellbeing/ERD, Education/ECD, and Health), M&E officers.
Position Technically Supervises: None
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.
Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.