Position Summary and Purpose:
The Program Officer for the Middle East works under the direction of the Manager of Middle East Programs in administering and supporting all programs of IOCC offices in the Middle East Area of Responsibility (AOR): Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Jerusalem-West Bank-Gaza. S/he helps ensure that all programs are implemented following strict compliance with donor rules and regulations, with the highest quality, the greatest possible efficiency and effectiveness, and producing the greatest positive outcomes for beneficiaries. Program Officer for the Middle East works in close coordination with the field office(s) and HQ Program Department and other HQ departments as required.

Area of Responsibility Overview:
International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) offers emergency relief and development programs to those in need worldwide, without discrimination, and strengthens the capacity of the Orthodox Church to so respond. IOCC was founded in 1992 as the primary humanitarian and relief development agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, representing a commitment to philanthropy and global cooperative involvement.
Through a variety of programming activities, IOCC's global portfolio focuses on program services in eight core areas: (1) Agriculture and Food Security; (2) Emergency Response; (3) Education; (4) Health; (5) Water & Sanitation; (6) Economic Opportunities and Livelihoods; (7) Emotional & Spiritual Care; and, (8) Humanitarian Assistance.
In the Middle East, IOCC's program delivers services in Syria, Jordan Lebanon and Jerusalem-West Bank­ Gaza. IOCC's key sectors of focus are: Health and Nutrition, Water & Sanitation, Protection, Emergency Response and Livelihood. IOCC chose to focus on these areas because of the intersection of our mission and the local context.

Responsibilities and Essential Functions:
1. Representation:
• Represent IOCC in assigned coordination/working groups, forums, and meetings with donor(s), NGOs, UN, government officials, church, and other representatives, as appropriate.

2. Leadership and Management:
• Support the Manager of Middle East Programs in supervising programs in the Middle East and in ensuring that all operations are implemented according to IOCC administrative and financial policies and procedures, donor requirements, and local law.
• Be completely familiar and up-to-date with the organization and internal policies of assigned AOR, and ensure IOCC's global policies and practices are being properly implemented on the ground.
• Be completely familiar with donor rules, regulations, and processes to ensure smooth administration and compliance with all legal and policy requirements.
• Monitor project agreements and donor requirements, ensuring that all terms and conditions are met in a timely way and that any new donors' rules and/ or regulations are duly introduced and applied by the field offices.
• Assist the Manager of Middle East Programs in the review, critique, and provide guidance and input in the development of the Country Operation Plans for the assigned AOR.
• Be completely familiar and up-to-date with all plans, ongoing project agreements, operations progress, obstacles to success, needs, and strategies of the assigned AOR.
• Provide guidance, information, and HQ liaison in support of the field offices' goals and needs.
• Maintain and enforce reporting schedules for offices.
• Review, critique, and provide guidance on reviewed documents to ensure quality and timeliness.
• In collaboration with the MEAL Officer, support periodic reviews of field office activities to generate lessons learned and capture best practices.

3. Business Development:
• Stay up-to-date on developments in donor strategies, approaches, policies and best practices by participating in trainings, workshops, seminars, working groups, networking events (InterAction), in order to inform business development plans/activities of the Middle East programs.
• In coordination with the Manager of Middle East Programs, liaise with current and potential donors (USG, EU, UN, ACT, etc.) for proposal opportunities, proposal critiques, news and developments, information on what may be on the horizon.
• In coordination with the Manager of Middle East Programs, receive, review, critique, and clarify with field staff all Proposal Authorizations and present for authorization by executives and further action.
• Review field offices' potential partner capacity assessments and due diligence verifying that potential partners are meeting IOCC's requirements.
• Support (and as assigned, lead) the concept note and proposal development process from concept inception through submission, including writing and budgeting.

4. Financial Management:
• Support the Manager of Middle East Programs in ensuring proper management of all financial systems including budgeting, financial and program reporting.
• Provide effective oversight of the financial status of country programs and support consistent management of project budgets and activities to ensure proper and timely completion, including but not limited to budget vs. actual reviews, Active Project Index and Pipeline completion and oversight.
• Liaise with finance staff in the review and approval of project budgets.

5. People Management:
• Be fully familiar with IOCC policies and procedures, and positively encourage staff to abide and comply.

6. Security Management:
• Monitor and be familiar with the overall Safety and Security developments in the Middle East region.
• In cooperation with Safety and Security Manager and the Manager of Middle East Programs, help ensure that IOCC Safety & Security Policy and Guidelines are implemented throughout project planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of IOCC and donor safety and security procedures.
• Serve in the IOCC Duty Officer rotation.

Minimally Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Relationship Management: Proven experience building relationships and communicating with key stakeholders, including top organizational executives and decision makers.
• Project/Partner Management: Ability to thrive in an environment with changing priorities; proven ability to manage a variety of tasks and activities simultaneously; impeccable attention to detail and consistently accurate; resourceful with strong researching experience and capability; organized to shepherd and coordinate information from various sources; can implement and follow an effective follow up and check-up procedure; able to manage all projects from inception to implementation or delivery; skilled and savvy with training others, when necessary.
• Software Applications: Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Sharepoint, and internet applications.
• Communication: Advanced verbal and written skills using different forms of media; ability to translate complex concepts to individuals at all levels; provides continuous proactive verbal and/or written status of updates of activity; knowledge of Arabic is a plus.
• Humanitarian Context: Knowledge of the Syria crisis and its impact on neighboring countries. knowledge of key donor agencies (such as US government, EU governments, ecumenical agencies, and UN agencies) and their procedures, guidelines, policies, and compliance requirements. Knowledge and/or experience with disability programming is a plus.
• Organization, Planning and Multi-tasking: Advanced organizational, filing, and planning skills; proven ability to set priorities, meet tight deadlines and multi-task with minimal supervision; proven ability to coordinate multiple activities quickly and efficiently; ability to observe standard office policies and procedures.
• Self-Management and Teamwork: Ability to work independently or as a member of the team; ability to manage stress effectively in a fast-paced and changing environment and contribute to problem-solving; and ability to quickly learn and fully support old and new systems, processes and procedures.
• Confidentiality: Proven ability to maintain confidentiality on work-related issues and maintain a high degree of professional etiquette and decorum.

Minimally Required Education, Experience, and Training:
• Bachelor’s degree in international development or affairs, political science, or a related field required. Master’s degree in related field preferred.
• Minimum of three years’ experience working with an international NGO or donor on international relief and development programs (including reporting).
• Or a combination of education and work experience that yields the minimally required knowledge, skills and abilities.

*Nothing in this job description/posting restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

EOE

To apply, please send an email to jobs@iocc.org and attach your current resume or CV.  Please note the position title on the subject line.  Thank you.