The Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) Psychosocial Support Officer will be a part of a mobile team that will work in various displaced communities and be responsible for providing emergency psychosocial support for women and girls. They will run peer support groups, provide focused and non-focused, non-specialized psychosocial support services including psychosocial first aid and referrals to needed services within communities in Northern Syria. The IRC is expanding into community based psychosocial service provision and referrals in order to:
Improve access to protection services for those in need.Improve the continuity of protection services and care for beneficiaries.Provide of protection services in a holistic and coordinated manner.Protect and enhance the psychosocial wellbeing of individuals and communities.Responsibilities:
Carry out psychosocial first aid for persons who have experienced trauma, refer cases to existing services.Support with establishing formalized referral pathways within the communities of work to available services. Ensure follow up of cases in a timely manner.Plan, develop and facilitate and provide children, youth and adults with a focus on women and girls with culturally and age appropriate, safe and stimulating non-structured as well structured PSS activities such as recreational sports and games, life skills and positive coping mechanisms activities.Conduct community-based psychosocial education of selected topics;Co-facilitate group based focused non specialized psychosocial support curriculums with women and girls where situation allows to carry out curriculum activities;Activate social networks through engaging with community to support traditional community structures and support groups;Promote positive mental health and wellbeing through provision of key messages on constructive coping mechanisms;Raise awareness regarding the availability of mental health, psychosocial support and protection services;GBV.Identify and refer cases for more specialized mental health support or case management services;Participate in capacity building trainings as directed by supervisor;Carry out capacity building of other humanitarian actors and IRC staff on GBV and WPE services as requested;Participate in regular supervision meetings with supervisor;Follow a pre-prepared schedule of activities in agreed communities;Ensure that protection is mainstreamed in all PSS activities and that activities are compliant with IRC Policies, Standard Operating Procedures (e.g. Child Safeguarding Policy Accountability Principles);Oversee activities, provide supervision and coaching for PSS assistants;Attend training related to line of work.Coordination with livelihoods center to have strong referral pathway.Monitoring and Reporting:
Conduct key informant interviews and focus group discussions in order to periodically assess needs of women and girls in the community and validate the current curriculums;Contribute to data entry and analysis of gathered information.Regularly monitor activities and provide feedback to Jordan based staff to ensure high quality implementation of program activitiesEnsure that PSS assistants maintain complete, accurate, and confidential e-case files to document client interactions and interventions using IRC tools;Make sure to follow case management data protection protocol for case files and client identifying personal information;Contribute to randomized selection of case management beneficiaries for M&E visits, support M&E Assistant visits with beneficiariesEnsure daily reporting of attendance per activity and ensure that the data collected is accurateCompile weekly monthly reports to provide information on activities conducted, topics discussed, challenges facedMake efforts to learn and improve activities based on feedback and M&E information.Other relevant duties as assigned by the supervisor to support the implementation of the program.All IRC staff are required to adhere to The IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies
Staff Performance Management, Learning & 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 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.Required Experience/qualification/Skills:
Approximately 2-4 years of progressively responsible professional experience of WPE/GBVUniversity degree in any related field.Previous experience in an emergency or conflict-afflicted setting is required.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 developmentValidated 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:
Arabic and English are required. Travel: 15% to field sites in Syria as well as attending regional and global workshops and meetings.Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: WPE Manager
Position directly supervises: WPE Assistants
Indirect Reporting (If applicable): Integrated Protection Coordinator, CP officer, WPE officer
Key Internal Contacts: IRC Departments inside of Syria (Supply Chain, ERD, Human Resources, M&E, etc.) and Protection team members
Key External Contacts: Local authorities, community members and leaders, health services providers INGOs and other local charities/actors working in protection and any other relevant sectors
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 in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. 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.
Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.
Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.
IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.
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.