Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Hiring for Syria Response Office CO Whole of Syria Grants Manager at Amman, Jordan Full Time

Background:

In the Middle East, NRC has over 3,000 staff dedicated to assisting people affected by conflict in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestine. Its humanitarian interventions are based upon its programming expertise in the Core Competencies (CCs) of Shelter, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Education, Livelihoods and Food Security, and Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA), with a strong focus on safe and inclusive programming, to aid people affected by conflict.  The Syrian Crisis continues into it its twelfth year, and humanitarian and protection needs continue to grow inside Syria because of the ongoing complex emergency situation in which displacement is both massive and widespread. 

NRC’s programming in Syria has a strong humanitarian, protection and resilience focus that looks to meet vital needs through sustainable solutions to increase early recovery outcomes through integrated programme responses. In this complex, challenging operating environment in Syria, NRC is working to strengthen the quality, responsiveness, integration, and sustainability of our programmes. This requires high-quality monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning systems in place in order to ensure the oversight and effectiveness of our programmes for the people we serve.

Job Purpose

The role of the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager (M&E) is to provide strategic direction and quality assurance of monitoring and evaluation in the country office. The M&E Manager will not only design and implement the strategy, Standard Operating procedures (SOPs), and budget for Monitoring and Evaluation but also Accountability and Learning, which ensures the Country Office (CO) is meeting and exceeding M&E minimum standards. Through this, the role will plan for and generate the evidence and learning required to feed into programme and strategic decision-making. 

What you will do:

• Develop the CO monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning strategy, responding to contextual challenges but also ensuring alignment with the regional strategy and global M&E framework, policy, and strategy. 
• Develop CO-specific M&E SOPs responding to contextual challenges, according to NRC’s M&E minimum standards.
• Technical input to programme monitoring and evaluation plans, including methodological guidance and resource planning.
•  Ensuring learning moments are institutionalised in the CO, with systems in place for analysing and using M&E data and supporting programme and Country Management Group (CMG) to interpret and use learning for strategic and programme decision-making. This includes contributing to the development, learning and adaptation of multi-year programme strategies.
• Lead the processes of designing the country office and programme level monitoring and evaluation and accountability systems, ensuring learning is integrated, accurate and relevant. 
• Ensuring systems/processes are in place to ensure high-quality reporting either in NRC’s Global Output and Outcome Reporting System (GORS), or equivalent system.
• Work with the Programme Unit and Advocacy team to support their design of theories of change, M&E tools, and indicator profiles. Work with the Area Offices to develop their M&E plans.  
• Develop and/or participate in the development of guidance and frameworks for CO procedures, policies and processes that assist in institutionalizing and supporting M+E in the country mission.
• Participate in the Country Strategy to ensure M&E remains a high priority in the country programme; with support to Specialists with the use of monitoring and evaluation results in the programme workshops.
• Oversee and guide output/outcome planning sessions twice a year with all programme teams.
• Support programme teams to develop data collection methodologies and tools, and systems for ongoing data analysis.
• Review outcome monitoring reports produced by programme teams to improve quality, and mentor CC teams and file/report the finalized results.
• Ensure organisational learning through supporting agreed evaluations, after-action reviews, specific analysis, and lessons learned reports; and further institutionalise learning in the PCM cycle.
• Undertake the global M&E Compliance Check for the country program.
• Oversee the Complaints and Feedback Mechanism (CFM), ensuring it is functioning and effective in all office locations, and that the learning is systematically fed into program development.
• Ensure engagement in the budget development process and that adequate resources have been allocated toward Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability processes at the AO and CO level.
• Ensure minimum monitoring standards are met or exceeded in SRO Programmes, with strong technical oversight and support to our teams providing remote management and working in hard-to-reach areas, including facilitating H2R reviews.
• Provide technical support and advice to programme staff on methods and tools for needs assessments and other types of research.
• Accountable for the maintenance, development, and performance of the PowerBI dashboards.
• Management of the M&E and accountability team, through daily supervision, WDPs, capacity building and mentorship.
• Regularly and strategically engage with M&E Units at RO and HO to ensure SRO benefits from the M&E practices within the organization, and that SRO’s experience influences, and is reflected in NRC M&E policies and approaches.
• Manage any needed M&E coordination on the NRC Syria Shared grants.
• Work with the Head of Programmes to facilitate the monthly Dashboard Meetings or equivalent.
• Work with the Programme Unit team members to develop information products.
• Provide other M&E and information management support as requested by the Head of Programme.

Professional Competencies and Qualifications Required

These are skills, knowledge and experience that are important for effective performance.

• Advanced degree in economics, research methods, social sciences, or a related field
• 5-7 years of demonstrated management experience in design, implementation, and oversight of monitoring, evaluation, and research for large to mid-scale international projects or programmes
• Technical competency and prior experience implementing various programme evaluation methodologies and approaches
• Excellent analytic, communication, interpersonal, writing, collaboration, problem-solving, planning/organizing, and facilitation skills
• Advanced experience in qualitative and quantitative data analysis and tools 
• Experience in supporting M&E for one of NRC’s core competencies is an asset
• Knowledge of the political situation in Syria is an asset
• Knowledge of the UN system, experience with field-level coordination with UN organisations, INGOs, Donors and authorities
• Fluency in spoken and written English 

Behavioural competencies

• Handling insecure environments
• Working with people
• Analysing
• Communication with impact and respect
• Coping with change

What We Offer

NRC is an equal opportunities employer and aims to have staffing diversity in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality and physical ability.

We offer an opportunity to match your career to a compelling cause and a chance to meet and work with people who are the best in their fields.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply and join our work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility: At NRC we think outside the box. We encourage ideas and give responsibility to all employees at all levels, to help solve the complex issues that we face. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take initiative.

We are also looking for people who share our values:

• To be dedicated in what we do;
• To be innovative with our solutions;
• To act as one unified and inclusive team;
• To be accountable to the donors that make our work possible; the people we exist to serve, and to each other… the members of our NRC family.

Additional Information:

Duty Station: Amman, Jordan

Travel: Up to 10 % International Travel

Duration of contract: 12 months, subject to Renewal depending on funds and performance         

Grade 9 in NRC’s grading structure

Reporting to: Head of Programme

For more information regarding the role, here is the detailed job description.

We invite applications from all qualified and interested candidates. Send in your application by latest August 16, 2023.

Please ensure you attach copies of your academic and professional certificates.

Learn more about NRC’s operations in Syria here.

For any queries, please email us at [email protected] with “Monitoring and Evaluation Manager- Syria Response Office” as the subject line.