COOPI is looking for a Program Manager in Syria

COOPI has been active with its humanitarian action in Syria (Damascus) since 2016. The protracted crisis in Syria has intensified needs over the past year through a complex and deepening socio-economic crisis, knock-on effects of Covid-19, cholera outbreaks and natural disaster. In 2023 COOPI has been providing Education FSL, Early Recovery and Protection support in Aleppo, Raqqa, Homs, Hama, Rural Damascus and Dara’a implementing programs funded by different donors (UNHCR, OCHA, ILO and AICS). COOPI main office is based in Damascus and COOPI teams are present in two field offices: one in Hama and one in Aleppo.

Description of the role

Program Manager (PM) provides leadership and strategic direction to COOPI’s program in Syria, under the supervision and in close collaboration with the Head of Mission and Head of Programs. The Program Manager is responsible for the implementation and development of the country programme and, in consultation with the HoM and HoP, formulates the protection strategy and ensures its implementation in accordance with COOPI policies, donor expectation, local and international legislation. PM is responsible and direct manages projects, and s/he supervises implementation of other projects, as well as provides technical supervision on sector component of multisector projects.

Main responsibilities

• Leading the design, development and update of the program strategy under supervision of the HoM and HoP and in coordination with the project managers;
• Ensuring COOPI’s interventions in Syria are in compliance with COOPI and Sector principles, standards and global guidelines;
• Developing and maintaining relationships with relevant stakeholders and representing COOPI at relevant meetings in order to facilitate and ensure cooperation and partnerships;
• Ensuring information-sharing with donors, Sectors and Local partner;
• Contributing to the identification of potential funding opportunities, being responsible of proposals writing and supporting the project team for proposals writing to address the identified needs;
• Leading and coordinating program assessments;
• Coordinates the overall implementation and development of the program;
• Ensuring objectives and results are met within the required time frame and budget and according to COOPI and donors’ procedures;
• Ensuring and supervising the overall planning and follow-up of technical reporting for donors, authorities and internal requirements in coordination with the support departments;
• Ensuring synergy between Program and Support Office;
• Ensuring the implementation of recommendations resulting from internal audit, experts’ field visits, HQ advisors, etc.;
• Piloting the internal quality control, by promoting monitoring mechanisms, facilitating internal control and external evaluations.

Implementing Program

• Directly manage project and technically supervise the implementation of sector component in other multi sartorial projects;
• Activity planning and management in compliance with the contracts signed with the donors and with COOPI and the donor’s procedures;
• Administrative and financial management and regularly monitoring of expenditures: supervises accounting and the project cash safe/bank account management;ensures the organization and donor’s procedures respect when purchasing goods and services;
• Ensure the preparation, in compliance with the deadlines, of all financial and narrative reports. S/he is responsible for the preparation of all formal communication and contract modifications requestsof the projects; Responsible for the initial and continuous training of the local staff under his/her responsibility;
• Responsible of the correct management of all goods purchased for the projects, both directly and purchased by other offices/field offices. For all goods purchased by the project,update the inventory, in cooperation with the Administrative staff;
• Write and prepare all necessary documents to present new projects, in accordance with the organization’s processes and procedures, to new and current donors.

Requirements

Essentials

• Advanced degree in Social subjects or related field or equivalent work;
• Five years' experience in the humanitarian field as project or programme manager or in a similar position;
• Demonstrated experience in Protection or FSL or Education or related field in fragile context, including assistance to IDPs, refugees and returnee's;
• Experience of working within an insecure environment with responsibility for security planning, monitoring and management;
• Strong analytical and practical problem-solving skills;
• Strong supervisory abilities, and demonstrated capacity of teamwork and of coordination with the relevant actors;
• Experience in remote management of team;
• Very good inter-personal and writing communication skills;
• Problem-solving ability and ability to organize work efficiently and deliver assignments in a timely manner often under time constraints;
• Proficiency in written and spoken English;
• Computer literacy, with high proficiency in the use of standard office software applications (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint).

Plus

• Previous experience in similar contexts is an asset;
• Previous experience in ECHO, AICS, UN projects management is a plus;
• Arabic would be an advantage.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the application closing date, once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
Please note that only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled, thanks for understanding.

COOPI Cooperazione Internazionale is an Italian secular and independent humanitarian organisation fighting against all forms of poverty to improve the world. Founded in 1965, today COOPI is present in 33 countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Middle East, with both emergency and development projects carried out by expatriate staff – an average of over 240 people per year – and national staff. The main institutional funders are the European Union – ECHO and INTPA – USAID, UN agencies, the Italian Government, local authorities and other European Governments.