Job Summary

In a brief paragraph, state the position’s overall purpose or objective, highlighting the general function for which the position is responsible. Why does the position exist and what must it accomplish. IMPORTANT: This section, along with the “Qualifications” section will appear in the vacancy announcement, so please describe fully

The Syria Resilience Initiative (SRI) is a partnership of organizations working together to increase the resilience of people affected by the conflict. We work alongside Syrians to recover their livelihoods and identify new opportunities; find innovative ways to overcome the challenges they face; and foster stronger, inclusive, and supportive communities. The SRI is led by three multi-mandate agencies – CARE, IRC, and Mercy Corps – who have been on the ground in Syria for over a decade, working together with local and international partners in all geographies and areas of control to help Syrians overcome repeated shocks and stresses.

The SRI is seeking an experienced and motivated Advocacy and Policy Lead to lead the SRI’s advocacy and influencing efforts within the wider humanitarian sector in Syria. S/He will work with SRI partners to produce joint content for advocacy, engage in and contribute to relevant forums on behalf of the SRI, create partnerships to increase SRI’s leadership and influence within the sector, and organize events and opportunities to share SRI messages on resilience-building in Syria. The Lead will coordinate and engage with the SRI partners’ Advocacy representatives to take forward these efforts.

The Advocacy and Policy Lead will have a minimum of 8 years’ experience in an advocacy role within the NGO sector, preferably in the Syrian humanitarian context. S/He will have produced policy briefs and developed advocacy messages for donor and peer audiences, organized events, be a confident spokesperson, have experience using social media for professional purposes, and be able to lead stakeholders to influence policy and strategy. S/he should be a strategic thinker and a ‘doer’, with the ability to identify strategic opportunities and make them happen.

Responsibilities and Tasks

Describe the major responsibilities, principal tasks, competencies and end results for which the position is accountable (limit responsibilities to five). Include WHY it is done and the impact to the organization. List the responsibilities in the order of importance and state the percentage of time the employee spends on each responsibility during a typical year.

Job Responsibility 1

Advocacy planning and strategy-setting

% of time: 30

• Develop the SRI’s Advocacy & Influencing Strategy and core messages, Advocacy Action Plan and Advocacy Calendar, engaging SRI partners in development.
• Ensure the Strategy and Action Plan are implemented and reviewed annually.
• Coordinate the SRI Advocacy Working Group, comprising partner Advocacy Lead representatives.
• Identify influencing opportunities and prepare plans for SRI engagement in these opportunities, working with the SRI Advocacy Working Group.

Job Responsibility 2

Produce and share content for influencing the Syrian humanitarian sector and stakeholders

% of time: 30

• Identify relevant content (blogs, papers, social media, statements, etc.) for influencing opportunities and develop workplans to produce them, in collaboration with the Advocacy Working Group.
• Produce policy briefs, joint position statements, talking points or other advocacy materials and secure sign-off from SRI partners.
• Oversee maintenance and updates to SRI media channels (website, X, etc.), providing relevant and current content.
• Work with Program Quality and Learning Lead to generate content and information that serves as evidence for SRI core messages and influencing.  
• Closely monitor policy issues, access and security, regional politics, humanitarian coordination and other issues that may impact the humanitarian situation and response in Syria, and where relevant prepare SRI positions.
• Provide comments and inputs on behalf of SRI into strategic materials produced by forums, donors, governments, etc.
• Ensure contractual communications deliverables for donors are on time and of high quality, maintaining a clear process relating to content generation and dissemination.

Job Responsibility 3

Engagement with sector forums, donors and other external stakeholders

% of time: 20

• Support the Consortium Director in engagements with donors on policy and strategic issues for Syria, the humanitarian response, and early recovery and resilience programming in Syria.
• Plan and coordinate the SRI’s involvement in the annual Brussels Syria conference, and other events and meetings led by donors, NGOs, UN or other stakeholders.
• Build relations with coordination mechanisms (e.g. SIRF, NGO Forums, Working Groups, Clusters) and other humanitarian actors and stakeholders for cooperation on messaging, advocacy and influencing.

Job Responsibility 4

Organize and coordinate SRI-led advocacy initiatives

% of time: 15

• Identify opportunities for campaigns, events, roundtables or other advocacy opportunities that SRI could initiate and lead in order to inform and influence humanitarian actors, UN, donors and policy makers.
• Include these opportunities in the Advocacy Action Plan and Advocacy Calendar.
• Coordinate and organize these events, working with the SRI partners Advocacy Working Group.
• Manage the publicity, promotion and logistics of these events, working with the PMU Senior Programs and MEL Officer.

Job Responsibility 5

Other relevant duties and responsibilities assigned by the manager

% of time: 5

Internal Relationship:

SRI Program Management Unit team members

External Relationship:

SRI partner advocacy leads; donors; humanitarian Syria working groups, forums and clusters; international and Syrian response actors and NGOs; UN agencies.  

Qualifications (Know How)

Indicate the minimum required level of education, experience, and skills necessary to qualify for the position and fulfill the organization’s expectation for job performance. Also include the education, experience and skills desired for the position.

Education Degree / Trainings

E.g. high school diploma: college degree (specified major/minor); specialty, example: Accounting, etc. Include the following phrase when possible: “or equivalent combination of education and work experience”.

Required:

Desired:

Technical Experience / Technical Skills

Number of months / years of previous professional experience in a similar position. Example: Languages; planning; budgeting; word-processing; basic accounting; advanced written communications; presentation; fundraising; training/facilitation, etc.

Required:

Desired:

Core Competencies

CARE has 5 Core Competencies that all staff are expected to demonstrate and 2 Leaders Competencies expected of those in management and leadership positions.

 Relationship Building

 Dynamic Learning Mindset

 Delivering Results

 Communication

 Inclusion    Strategic Leadership and Execution   

Functional Competencies

Given the responsibilities and level of accountability of the position, please list the technical competencies. These will be used both for recruitment and performance management.

Mention at least 3 Functional Competencies that this role must demonstrate to create the desired impact. There are many competencies that will fit the role, however, please think about the most essential skills needed for this employee to succeed in their role.

Political Acumen – Level 3, Inspirational – Managerial

Communication – Level 4, Transformational Executive

Relationship building – Level 4, Transformational Executive

Proficiency Level

Please select the level of responsibility/contribution

Competency proficiency levels define the degree to which a person in each job is required to demonstrate the competencies through observable behavior   

  Level 1: Support

Foundational: Provides support but contributes indirectly to overall success.

  Level 2: Professional

Practical application of the behaviors, provides support and contributes to the overall success.

  Level 3: Managerial

Inspirational: Role Model, coaches, and influences demonstration of the behavior.

  Level 4: Executive

Envisions and innovates the next generation of behaviors

Health and Safety

I commit to the following:

I will remain aware of and comply with instructions designed to protect my health, welfare and safety. I will always consider my safety and other employees in operational decisions.

I will follow the set safety and security regulations/procedures for the area of operation.

I will bear responsibility for my own safety and security while under contract.

CARE Policies and Safeguarding Declaration

I commit to the following:

By signing this job description, I agree to comply with CARE Policies which includes but not limited to Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct and other organizational and HR policies.

I am committed to promoting the implementation of Safeguarding Policy and maintaining an environment that prevents Safeguarding violations.

I agree to comply with all the terms of the CARE policies, which form an integral part of the conditions of my employment with CARE.

I acknowledge that failure to abide by the terms of these policies may result in disciplinary action and termination of my employment contract.

I also acknowledge that, depending on my role and responsibilities, I may be requested to comply with the terms of additional policies, guidelines and related regulations, as and when necessary