The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Protection Department: 

The IRC has been delivering protection programs in the northwest since 2013 and in the northeast of Syria since 2014, focusing on Protection/Rule of Law (PRoL), Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE), and Child Protection (CP). These efforts include specialized case management, PSS, protection monitoring, service mapping, and advocacy. Collaborating with partners, IRC improves access to protection services, raises community awareness, and strengthens referral pathways. Protection capacity building, community outreach, and rapid response through mobile protection teams have also been provided since 2017.

Job overview:

IRC Syria is seeking Service Mapping Officer for the Signpost project that aims at providing contextualized timely, accurate and reliable information to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees in Syria and empowering them to make informed decisions on issues that matter most to them. Signpost is an innovative digital initiative providing a platform to reach crisis-affected populations with accessible information. Under the direct supervision of the Editorial Manager, the Service Mapping Officer will work closely with the protection team, and a diverse set of stakeholders, to oversee efforts to map existing essential service providers for internally displaced persons and returnees. S/he is tasked with ensuring humanitarian services are documented, reviewing the content for accuracy and relevance, and designing the service information on an ongoing basis in Syria. The Service Mapping Officer will:

Ensure service mapping tools (Provider Data Entry Form, Provider Agreements, Mapping Matrix) are developed, implemented, and maintained. Develop relationships with service providers and coordinate with existing service mapping initiatives to extensively map available services and resources for crisis-affected populations in Syria. Gather important information about service accessibility and ensure consistency.Design and keep a mapping of services up to date, reviewing the content and design of the service maps on an ongoing basis.Share relevant information as may be required to support quality information provision related to referrals to services for IDPs and returnees.

Responsibilities:

Develop/follow clear service mapping standards and tools to ensure collection of consistent information from service providers. In collaboration with the Signpost team, identify service providers through field visits, information from field staff, coordination meetings, working groups, desk research, social media, referral pathways and user surveys/FGDs, and other sources. Obtain consent for publishing service providers information publicly. Maintain a comprehensive list of resources and referral options that support the complex needs of crisis-affected people.Facilitate consultative forums with service providers to review draft service mapping and confirm information or ask for clarification where necessary. Communicate with service providers on a continuous basis to ensure accuracy and consistency of information on the service maps and avoid duplication of efforts.Conduct regular field visits when feasible to verify services offered and capture any access barriers. Work closely with Frontline Communicators who are in direct contact with users to verify service information, and support quality referrals, ensuring regular follow up on referrals in collaboration with protection staff.Regularly update online and offline service maps and referral directory, and share with Frontline Communicators, and other organizations.Proactively review the content and design of the service map on an ongoing basis and solicit feedback from users or staff to support in trouble shooting any issues.Maintain ongoing communication with Signpost team on communication strategy, features, and issues.Conduct training for service providers on how to use the service map and solicit feedback from providers.

Team Collaboration:

Reports directly to Signpost Editorial Manager Collaborate with Community Liaison Assistants and Frontline Communicators to share information about available services across all Signpost platforms in Syria. Use online tools and other modes of communication to consistently share information with other members of the Signpost team, and protection/other humanitarian sector staff.Participate in all team meetings, workshops, strategy sessions, regular communications as established by the Editorial Manager.

Job Requirements:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, social work, human rights, or equivalent combination of background or experience. Approximately 2-4 years of relevant experience, ideally including two years implementing humanitarian protection programs.

Work Experience:

Experience working with displaced people in a voluntary or professional capacity. Strong computer proficiency and well acquainted with basic software tools - can navigate autonomously in Windows, Android, Skype, Microsoft Suite and Google docs.Knowledge of social media platforms and cultural use of these platforms. Good judgment in the selection and presentation of published information. Excellent partner engagement skills.Excellent communication and writing skills.An excellent level of oral and written English and Arabic skills required.An understanding of the subtlety of language and an ability to apply communication guidelines in written responses.Ability to work under difficult working conditions, and with a diverse team in a sensitive environment. Ability and willingness to work and travel in remote areas. Ability to work independently with remote management.Proven organizational skills

Desired:

Experience in protection work, especially referral pathways and partner networking. Experience in a humanitarian organization. Experience producing useful lifesaving information for crisis-affected people. Knowledge of IDP and returnee issues and available services in Syria.

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 is required

Travel: to field sites as well as attending workshops and meetings.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Signpost Editorial Manager Position directly supervises: Community Liaison Assistants

Indirect Reporting: N/A Key

Internal Contacts: IRC’s Protection, Health, Economic & Recovery, & Development, Supply Chain, Humanitarian Access Focal Points

Key External Contacts: Coordination with Protection Cluster & Sectors, local stakeholders, community leaders, local NGOs and INGOs, legal organizations.

 

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.