JOB DESCRIPTION

1. Scope

1. Context

About Relief International

Relief International (RI) partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change, and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and wellbeing.

Currently, RI is active in 15 countries around the world, including some of the most fragile: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Myanmar, occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt), Pakistan, Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen.

Relief International includes the four corporate members of the RI Alliance: Relief International Inc., Relief International-UK, Relief International-France and Relief International-Europe. Under our alliance agreement, we operate with a single, shared management structure.

Middle East Region

RI operates in seven countries in the Middle East region:  Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, occupied Palestinian Territory (oPT), Syria, Turkey, and Yemen, with a focus on the four RI sector pillars: Health, WASH, Education and Economic Opportunity.  We employ more than 4,000 staff (direct and indirect) in the Middle East region and implement a range of humanitarian and development programs valued at approximately $70 million USD on an annual basis.

About our Country Program in Jordan

Relief International has been implementing programming in Jordan since 2004 in the wake of the Iraqi refugee crisis and is currently actively engaged in the response to the Syrian refugee crisis in Jordan, including provision of services to both refugees and the host community. Currently, Relief International’s portfolio in Jordan focuses on the education and livelihoods sectors in both the host community and the camps. Relief International values coordination with other agencies and the Government of Jordan and takes leadership roles within the response as relevant. Due to funding challenges, Relief International scaled down in Jordan starting in late 2023 but is now in the process of rebuilding the country program based on new funding commitments.

1. Job Profile

The role of the Area Officer is to ensure effective implementation of project activities within the targeted governorates, working closely with local authorities, schools, and other key stakeholders. Your role will require knowledge and experience in operational project management, while you continue to develop higher-level expertise and skills. You will build a deep understanding of RI’s processes and the communities we serve, ensuring that program activities are aligned with our mission and delivered efficiently.

Your role will be to ensure the successful implementation of project activities within your assigned governorate. You will oversee day-to-day operations, managing and supporting field teams to deliver on project goals while adhering to RI’s standards and donor regulations

1. Key responsibilities

Accountability and Complexity

• Demonstrates the impact of RI’s projects and teams by ensuring the delivery of high-quality services and program implementation within the assigned area.
• Holds formal supervisory responsibilities, managing project staff and activities, setting priorities, and coaching team members to meet daily deadlines.
• Coordinates effectively with local government representatives, schools, and key partners to ensure smooth project implementation in compliance with RI and donor regulations.
• Represents RI externally, building and maintaining strong relationships with partners and communities, and ensuring these relationships contribute positively to the safety and quality of RI’s operations.
• Recognizes and addresses operational challenges within the scope of their responsibilities, applying sound judgment to identify and resolve day-to-day technical and operational problems without requiring supervisory approval.
• Ensures that critical concerns or information affecting program implementation, safety, or security are communicated internally to management and relevant teams.
• Uses established options and guidelines to evaluate situations and provide solutions, impacting the efficiency, quality, and effectiveness of their team’s work, as well as its contribution to broader project goals.

Project Implementation and Reporting

• Lead coordination with schools and local officials located in targeted governorate of Mafraq.
• Ensure implementation of activities in accordance with project work plan in the governorate of Mafraq, including but not limited to inside schools. Activities will include school improvement plans, remedial education classes, and protection activities, and technical support will drive the planning and quality of implementation, but ensuring the day-to-day will be the responsibility of the job holder.  
• Provide internal reporting as required by management.
• Facilitate both internal and external monitoring visits.
• Keep country management well-informed regarding developments and emerging challenges related to the implementation of the project.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

• In collaboration with MEAL team, support effective monitoring and evaluation to ensure data collection during implementation of the project component for which job holder is responsible.
• Follow routine data collection and reporting procedures; prepare and ensure submission of all required reports to internal and external stakeholders as required.
• Participate in learning along with MEAL and Technical Team to review implementation and adapt programming accordingly.

Internal and External Coordination.

• In coordination with other members of the team, ensure needed reports are created and shared as relevant to the project component.
• Ensure RI’s mandate is shared and explained to relevant stakeholders.
• Pro-actively liaise and build rapport with local officials, community representatives, UN agencies, and any other relevant stakeholders.

People Management

• Responsible for day-to-day management of incentive-based volunteers/ indirect staff implementing in schools on internal HR processes to ensure successful project’s implementation. 
• Provide mentorship /coaching to indirect staff as relevant.
• Champion teamwork and collaboration.

Behavior and conduct

• Ensures that behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies.
• Acts with integrity and holds themselves accountable for being respectful, inclusive and professional.
• Reports any concerns.

Management and Leadership

• Ensure the highest standards of behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies.
• Be a model for ethical conduct standards for other team members.
• Embrace diversity, and model inclusive and equitable behaviour.
• Ensure own actions and the actions of the teams’ members they manage do not adversely impact the safety of the RI team and the vulnerable communities we serve.
• Ensure donors, partners and communities are aware of RI conduct and reporting mechanisms.
• Ensure safeguarding is embedded in all the work we do.
• Be responsible for ensuring a culture and systems in place for reporting.
• Report any concerns.

1. Person Specification

Essential criteria

• Master's level education in a relevant field or bachelor’s degree with commensurate work experience
• 2-5 years of progressive experience in project implementation.
• Proven experience working in Education Programs in Jordan with understanding of complexity and needed coordination with key actors.
• Excellent organizational, communication and writing skills.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively with colleagues in a multi-cultural setting.
• Experience conducting capacity building activities and enthusiasm to share knowledge and information with others is a plus.
• Ability to work independently, set priorities, and manage time efficiently.
• Proficient English oral and writing skills.

Desirable criteria

• Experience working on USG funded projects (i.e. PRM, USAID) and other main donors operating in Jordan is a plus.

1. RI Values

Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as “Do No Harm,” Relief International Values:

• Integrity
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Inclusivity
• Sustainability