Housing Land and Property Technical Working Group (HLP TWG) Coordinator

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization dedicated to helping people who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict and crises. Established in 1946, NRC has grown to employ approximately 15,000 staff members who work across 40 countries, providing essential life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of individuals each year. In the Middle East, NRC has over 3,000 staff members focused on aiding those affected by conflict in countries such as Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Libya, and Palestine. The organization is recognized for its expertise in various humanitarian interventions, particularly in the Core Competencies of Shelter, Education, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Livelihoods and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Food Security, and Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA). NRC is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all employees are empowered to contribute ideas and take responsibility in their roles.

Job Overview:
The Housing Land and Property Technical Working Group (HLP TWG) Coordinator will play a pivotal role in co-leading the HLP TWG in Syria, representing the Norwegian Refugee Council alongside UN-Habitat and UNHCR. This position involves coordinating meetings, forums, and joint events for the HLP TWG, while also liaising with various stakeholders including humanitarian and development actors, relevant authorities, and HLP TWG members. The coordinator will be responsible for developing and operationalizing the HLP TWG strategy, providing capacity building for partners, and creating technical guidance and tools for humanitarian actors involved in the response. The role aims to enhance coordination and performance to improve the effectiveness of the humanitarian response and to strengthen the participation of both local and international NGOs in humanitarian coordination efforts. The coordinator will also be expected to contribute to evidence-based programmatic decisions and build institutional knowledge to support humanitarian interventions.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The HLP TWG Coordinator will have a range of responsibilities, including but not limited to: ensuring adherence to NRC policies, guidance, and procedures; providing overall advisory and technical expertise in areas such as protection, Shelter, WASH, Site Management, Education, and Food Security; supporting the day-to-day operational and technical activities of the HLP TWG; coordinating regularly with other HLP TWG co-chairs and partners; developing integrated responses concerning HLP issues in close coordination with NRC ICLA Specialists; providing regular progress reports to line and technical managers, including key updates to donors; enhancing awareness of HLP issues; contributing to evidence-based programmatic decisions; building institutional knowledge; and promoting ideas for improvement and necessary changes in activities.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess at least four years of relevant experience working with international organizations in humanitarian and/or development contexts. A university degree in legal studies with a focus on housing, land, and property, or other relevant fields is required, while a Master’s degree is considered an advantage. Experience in inter-agency engagement and cluster/sector coordination, particularly in setting up HLP TWG/AoR, is essential. Candidates should have extensive experience in humanitarian or recovery contexts, particularly with a background in protection or legal assistance. Strong interpersonal, negotiation, coordination, and information management skills are necessary, along with expertise in planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting on humanitarian operations. Demonstrated ability to provide technical advice for consensual decision-making processes and experience in capacity building and development of technical tools and guidance are also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a university degree in legal studies with a specialization in housing, land, and property issues or other relevant fields. A Master’s degree in a related area is advantageous and may enhance a candidate's suitability for the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of four years of relevant experience with international organizations in humanitarian and/or development contexts. Candidates should have a proven track record of working in inter-agency settings and possess experience in cluster/sector coordination, ideally with a focus on HLP issues. Extensive experience in humanitarian or recovery contexts, particularly in protection or legal assistance, is essential for success in this role.

Languages:
Fluency in both English and Arabic, both written and verbal, is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
The duty station for this position is Damascus, Syria, with a contract duration of 12 months, subject to renewal based on funding and performance. The role may require travel up to 50% within areas of operation. NRC offers a competitive salary and benefits package, and is committed to being an equal opportunities employer, promoting diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability. The organization encourages innovative thinking and provides employees at all levels with opportunities to take initiative and contribute to the mission.