Programme Coordinator

The Estonian Refugee Council (ERC) is a humanitarian organization committed to protecting the rights and well-being of crisis-affected populations through humanitarian assistance and recovery-focused interventions.

The emergency response programme aims to deliver high-quality, needs-based humanitarian assistance and recovery programming in Syria. The Programme Coordinator ensures effective cash, livelihoods and protection programme coordination, strategic development, and representation in Syria, while contributing to regional programming efforts, if necessary.

The Programme Coordinator is responsible for overseeing programme coordination processes, supporting high-quality proposal development, conducting and guiding needs and programmatic assessments, and representing ERC in relevant programme working groups and coordination platforms. The role includes supporting the Country Director’s representation with government institutions, partners, and donors, as well as providing programmatic support to ERC operations across the MENA region.

The post holder reports to the Country Director, and works closely with programmatic and operational teams to ensure coherent, compliant, and impactful programme implementation aligned with ERC strategy and donor requirements.

Responsibilities

Assessments and programme development 30%

• Work closely with the Country Director and Technical Programme Leads at ERC’s Head Office to ensure consistency in programmatic approaches, alignment with ERC’s strategy, global standards, donor requirements, and cross-country learning.
• Collaborate with the Cash Technical Advisor to develop training materials for cash interventions and contribute to ERC’s broader capacity strengthening efforts.
• Lead or coordinate needs assessments, rapid assessments, and programmatic reviews in Syria.
• Support sectoral and multi-sectoral assessments to inform strategic decision-making.
• Ensure assessment findings directly inform strategic decision-making, programme adaptation, and portfolio positioning.
• Contribute to situation analysis and strategic planning for potential expansion or adaptation within Syria and, where relevant, other MENA countries.

Proposal development 20%

• Lead and coordinate development of high-quality project proposals and concept notes in cooperation with the Country Director and the Donor and Partner Relations team.
• Provide strategic direction for programme design processes, ensuring evidence-based, conflict-sensitive, and contextually adapted interventions.
• Ensure quality assurance of all programme design documents, including logical frameworks, theories of change, results frameworks, and performance indicators in compliance with donor and organizational standards.
• Ensure proposals are evidence-based, and aligned with assessed needs.
• Ensure coherence of the Syria programme portfolio and strategic positioning across funding streams.

Programme coordination and oversight 15%

• Coordinate implementation of ERC programmes in Syria, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, donor requirements, and humanitarian standards.
• Support programme teams in work planning, activity tracking, and implementation follow-up.
• Ensure technical oversight and quality assurance of cash-based interventions, including compliance with internal SOPs, donor regulations, and global best practices.
• Ensure programme coherence across sectors and geographic areas.
• Facilitate internal coordination between programme and support functions.
• Contribute to or oversee programme budget planning, forecasting, and expenditure tracking in coordination with the finance team.
• Monitor contextual risks related to cash programming (market volatility, access constraints, financial service providers, fraud risks) and ensure mitigation measures are in place.

Representation and liaison 20%

• Represent ERC in relevant coordination forums, cluster meetings, and working group platforms.
• Act as a key liaison with government institutions, ensuring compliance with national regulations and fostering constructive collaboration.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with implementing partners, or civil society actors.
• Contribute strategically to donor engagement efforts, including donor meetings, briefings, and field visits.
• Contribute to external communication and reporting materials in coordination with senior management.

Regional support 10%

• Provide technical and coordination support to ERC programmes in other MENA countries as required.
• Contribute to cross-country learning, harmonization of tools and approaches, and regional strategy development.
• Support regional proposal development and assessment initiatives when needed.

Other responsibilities 5%

• Contribute to internal reporting, strategic planning, and programme reviews.
• Ensure integration of accountability to affected populations, protection principles, gender sensitivity, and conflict sensitivity across programming.
• Uphold and promote ERC policies, including safeguarding, Code of Conduct, and humanitarian principles.
• Perform other tasks aligned with the scope and seniority of the position, as agreed with the Country Director.

Qualifications

• Higher education in humanitarian assistance, development cooperation, international relations, political science, social sciences, or a related field, or equivalent working experience.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in humanitarian or development programming, preferably in complex contexts.
• Proven experience in proposal development and grants management with institutional donors (e.g., EU, UN agencies, bilateral donors).
• Demonstrated experience in conducting needs assessments and programme design, very good understanding of Syria context. Experience with cash assistance is a strong asset.
• Experience representing an organization in coordination mechanisms and liaising with government authorities and donors.
• Strong understanding of humanitarian coordination systems and cluster mechanisms.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and organizational skills.
• Excellent digital literacy skills, using digital tools seamlessly for communication and reporting.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with ability to work in multicultural and high-pressure environments.
• Fluency in English and Arabic (written and spoken). Knowledge of Turkish is a strong asset.
• Ability to create and maintain a productive and safe working environment in line with ERC Code of Conduct.

What we offer

• Gross salary of 2200 EUR.
• 24 annual leave days.
• Opportunity to work partially remotely and with flexible hours.
• Innovative projects: Estonian Refugee Council is internationally known and recognised for its innovative humanitarian assistance initiatives.
• We support a collaborative and inclusive work environment where every team member is valued.
• Everyone is welcome—regardless of gender, religion, skin colour, national or ethnic origin, language, marital status, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, (dis)ability, political beliefs, or any other protected characteristic.