Relief International – Jordan Hiring for Livelihood Specialist- Employability and Micro-business at Amman, Jordan Full Time

ABOUT RI: Relief International specializes in relief and development programs that benefit people in acute distress. A registered non-profit in the US, UK, France and Belgium, our work targets those fragile countries or communities that suffer from recurrent man-made or natural crises that impede human development. The people that we serve live in seventeen countries across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia where the debilitating effects of political instability, forced displacement, and natural disasters are pervasive. Often, RI is the only organization providing healthcare, education, logistics, energy, capacity building, economic development, sanitation, and many other forms of assistance to these highly vulnerable communities.  
 

Position Summary:

The Livelihood Specialist – Employability and Microbusiness Specialist is a strategic position that has overall responsibility for technical oversight, design, quality and implementation of RI Livelihoods and Microbusiness portfolio.

About The Role

RI is looking for an experienced Livelihood Specialist – Employability and Microbusiness Specialist who will provide technical oversight of RI’s job placement and microbusiness support programming in Jordan in close coordination with the Project Coordinator. She/he will assist with the design of project activities related to job placements and work-based learning, MSME (particularly home-based business) establishment and expansion, and career counselling and business mentoring. The Specialist will conduct a mapping of private sector entities to promote recruitment and promotion of business outcomes for vulnerable households. The Livelihood Specialist will also be responsible for acting as external technical representative for Amman-level coordination in technical working groups, other coordination mechanisms and as needed.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

Technical Oversight and Field Support (50%):

• Lead the development of RI’s employment promotion and microbusiness support programming, including support for home-based business and self-employment grants, as well as soft skill and technical trainings. 
• Drafting and updating SOPs for the various aspects of the graduation approach including mentoring, consumption support, financial inclusion, networks and linkages, technical and soft skills training, and job placement/ business support
• Provide technical expertise and leadership on program activities that focus on improved household resilience and economic outcomes using the graduation approach, through coordinating programmatic, technical, logistical, financial, and administrative management components in order to ensure appropriate systems and support mechanisms are in place to track, analyze and report on results.
• Lead the design and implementation of programmatic assessments, in coordination with relevant RI technical units (MEAL, Awards and Partnerships etc.)
• Support for business mentorship and job placements for vulnerable refugee and Jordanians
• Market-based interventions to promote job creation and integration of beneficiaries to the labor market.
• Supporting field teams in aligning livelihood interventions with labor market requirements per governorate  
• Identify relevant staff capacity building activities in coordination with field management.
• Review and/ or contribute to donor reports as required. 
• Visit program activities and provide support and feedback to implementing partners and RI staff on technical approaches and methodological issues. 

External Representation and Partnerships (20%)

• Identify strategic national level partnerships – particularly with the private sector – and hold regular meetings to develop/ strengthen relationships.
• Represent RI in meetings with other humanitarian and development partners as needed.
• Strategic Partnerships with financial inclusion actors including MFIs and FinTech
• Liaise with RI technical staff in other regions to promote sharing and methodological coherence around livelihoods, cash, and economic empowerment programming.

Strategy Design and Development (30%)

• Provide field evidence to support the design of new programming.
• Develop new project concept notes.
• Integrate innovative concepts (mobile wallets, virtual training, tech for development, etc.) and partnerships (private sector, social enterprises, etc.) into existing new programming.
• Assist in the development and revision of RI’s country livelihood strategy.
• Provide technical support in the development of livelihood learning documents and the improvement of RI’s livelihoods programming across all units.

Culture and leadership

• Ensure a positive and productive work environment which is free from harassment and bullying.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity and understanding of diversity and cultural differences, gender issues and the commitment to equal opportunities.
• Ability to demonstrate and uphold RI’s values and ethics.
• Other duties as required for this role.

Safeguarding

All staff:

• Uphold and promote RI’s commitment to ensuring the safeguarding and safety of the vulnerable communities we serve.
• Ensure that your behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values outlined with RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies.
• Consistent with RI’s safeguarding and protection policies,
  • contribute to ensuring that all those who come into contact with Relief International staff and the communities we serve can be trusted to work safely with them.
  • ensure your job-related activity and practice is compliant with safeguarding standards.

Managers / SMT (as per the role):

• Support and develop systems that create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and abuse and promotes the implementation of the Code of Conduct and safeguarding policies.
• Work collaboratively with the Global Safeguarding Manager to advocate for the inclusion of safeguarding activities and resources within program.
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge of donor requirements of safeguarding standards and protection from exploitation and abuse.

Program teams:

• Ensure program design adequately addresses safeguarding and protection standards.

Managers level and above:

• Ensure a positive and productive work environment which is free from harassment and bullying.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity and understanding of diversity and cultural differences, gender issues and the commitment to equal opportunities.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Master’s degree in a relevant in Business Studies, Economics, Social and Economic Development, Agriculture with commensurate work experience; technical experience in Livelihoods, Education, Social Protection and Safety Nets Strongly Preferred.

• At least three years proven and successful track record as technical advisor or program manager in the field of livelihoods. 
• Proven experience in livelihood programming in a protracted humanitarian context, private sector engagement or economic development. 
• Experience working in Jordan with a range of a local partners in the field of economic empowerment and/ or livelihoods.
• Excellent English writing skills and ability to communicate technical information in an easy to understand, informative and collaborative manner.
• High integrity and willingness to conduct her/himself transparently and open to scrutiny.
• Availability to travel within Jordan, including overnight trips.
• Substantial knowledge of the international humanitarian system, institutions, and donors, and of compliance requirements, accountability frameworks and best practices; prior experience with funding from USG, SDC, BMZ, GIZ, FCDO, UN (UNDP, ILO, UNHCR) and other leading donors.
• Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGOs, NNGOs and other stakeholders.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation, and coaching.
• Experience of solving complex issues collegially, defining a clear way forward, and utilizing best practices in management to ensure shared success.
• Outstanding analytical and strategic thinking skills, with a focus on results and impact.
• Demonstrated ability for rapid, accurate analysis of complex issues, strong decision-making, and translation of programmatic priorities into operational strategies.
• Excellent leadership and management skills including coaching, mentoring, and managing teams.
• Fluency in English (spoken and written) required; Arabic language skills are highly advantageous.
• Superior diplomatic and coordination skills are essential, both for internal coordination and for working with key stakeholders
• Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes.
• A keen understanding of political complexities in the Middle East region.

RI Values:

We uphold the Humanitarian Principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence. We affirmatively engage the most vulnerable communities. We value:

• Inclusiveness
• Transparency and Accountability
• Agility and Innovation
• Collaboration
• Sustainability

All staff are expected to abide by RI Safeguarding, Code of Conduct & Incident Management Policies & procedures.

Relief International is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.