Programme Manager- Early Recovery and Livelihoods, Damascus, Syria

## Programme Manager- Early Recovery and Livelihoods, Damascus, Syria - Organization:UNRWA - United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East - Office:UNRWA Damascus Organizational Setting and Reporting UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff working across five areas of operation, is looking for highly committed personnel wishing to make a change. If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you. The incumbent reports to the Senior Technical Specialist- Recovery Programme. Leads day-to-day planning, coordination and implementation of the Early Recovery and Livelihoods portfolio, including workplans, implementation schedules, field rollout plans, beneficiary pipelines, activity trackers and follow-up mechanisms, ensuring delivery within approved targets, timelines and budgets. Ensures that livelihood activities are implemented as an integrated pathway linking outreach, application, eligibility screening, vulnerability assessment, business feasibility review, TVET linkages, toolkit or grant support, coaching, milestone verification and post-distribution monitoring. Manages the operational cycle of small business grants, including application forms, screening tools, assessment tools, scoring sheets, verification checklists, grant agreements, tranche release documentation, MoUs, mentoring tools and post-distribution monitoring tools, ensuring that the process is fair, transparent, documented and technical defensible Coordinates with teams based in the Field Office and Area offices, including, TVET teams, Area Offices, RSSP and Microfinance to ensure effective linkages between training pathways, toolkit support, job fairs, business coaching, business feasibility assessment, financial literacy and enterprise support, while maintaining separation between grants and loan products. Coordinates beneficiary outreach, field verification, scoring and committee review processes; prepares case packages, agendas, minutes, decision logs and action trackers; and supports segregation of duties between outreach, screening, scoring, approval and payment processes. Monitors implementation progress and maintain complete, accurate and retrievable project documentation, including beneficiary records, training completion data, toolkit distribution records, grant approval and disbursement files, tranche verification records, coaching logs, complaints records and post-distribution monitoring data. Prepares monthly and ad hoc progress reports, donor reporting inputs, case studies, lessons learned, visibility inputs and implementation updates as required. Ensures that project implementation is aligned with accountability, protection, inclusion and risk management standards by supporting accessible outreach and participation; maintaining confidentiality and data protection; communicating eligibility and selection criteria clearly; strengthening complaints and feedback handling; and escalating risks related to fraud, safeguarding, conflict of interest, misuse of funds, reputational exposure or community tension. Maintains close working relationships with Programme Support, Area Offices, RSSP, TVET, Microfinance, M&E, Finance, Procurement, Protection, Gender and Disability focal points, as well as communications and donor reporting colleagues, and supports the Senior Technical Specialist in consolidating implementation updates, challenges, corrective actions and lessons learned. UN Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity, and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default. Formulating Strategies and Concepts Applying Technical Expertise Relating and Networking Deciding and Initiating Action Planning and Organizing Delivers Results Manages Complexity and Change Creates and Maintains Impact and Partnership Advanced university degree, in development studies, economics, business administration, social sciences, livelihoods, project management, humanitarian affairs, international development or a related Job - Specific Qualification Advanced university degree, in development studies, economics, business administration, social sciences, livelihoods, project management, humanitarian affairs, international development or a related field is required. At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian or development programme management, including at least three years in livelihoods, early recovery, economic recovery, cash-based assistance, small business support, vocational training, entrepreneurship, grants management or related programming is required. Demonstrated experience in market-based livelihoods, entrepreneurship development and local economic recovery including donor funded livelihoods or early recovery programming involving grants, toolkits, vocational training linkages, between coaching and post support monitoring is required. Experience should include beneficiary selection, vulnerability assessment, field verification, scoring systems, grant agreements, milestone-based tranche release, post distribution monitoring, donor-funded implementation and reporting, and work in fragile, conflict-affected or refugee settings is required. Experience in the Middle East and familiarity with refugee programming, market-based livelihoods, TVET linkages, toolkits, job fairs and enterprise support is an added advantage is required. Unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, at least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of which the candidate is a national or holds citizenship, a passport or a national identity number is required. Indicate your current involvement in any outside activities, as it is required. Including but not limited to employment, independent contractor/freelance consultant, board member (corporate, academic, etc), expert group, lobby, public speaking/writing (article, book, blog, social media etc), teaching, conferences, training, press statement, voluntary work, political activity, fundraising/donation for non UNRWA entity, running for public office, role in political party or orgs, owning business, work for gov./NGO/private company/charity, UNRWA partner/vendor, full/part-time, paid or not. A "yes" answer doesn't necessarily lead to exclusion from future work at UNRWA, yet misrepresentation in providing accurate/complete info can lead to disqualification/termination of appointment, if hired. Experience with UN agencies, international NGOs or similar humanitarian and development organizations in addition to Familiarity with UN systems, rules, procedures and programme implementation modalities is desirable. Knowledge and understanding of the Palestine refugee situation and the political context of the Middle East in addition to Demonstrated knowledge of Arabic and strong skills in data tracking, reporting tools and Microsoft Office applications particularly Excel is desirable. Relevant professional training or certification in project management, livelihoods programming, cash-based assistance, enterprise development, monitoring and evaluation, or related fields is desirable. English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Arabic is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details). Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview Please note that pursuant to the Staff selection system policy (ST/AI/2025/2): (1) Applicants for positions in the Field Service category cannot be of the nati