Project Director

Project Director-Strengthening Resilience 2        Role Information Role Type  Pay Band  Location  Duration  Reports to: New-FTC E/8 Beirut 3 Years Team Leader- SR‖ in MENA   Role purpose The Senior Project manager will lead the delivery of Strengthening Resilience Programme in Lebanon ensuring project and financial management meet client, corporate and programme quality standards. Reporting to the Senior Project Manager – SRII in MENA, the post holder will act as key point of contact for all project activities in country including liaison with partners and other relevant stakeholders.    About us The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body.   Main opportunities/challenges for this role: Evening and weekend working will be required from time to time. The post is likely to require considerable travel within Lebanon Main Accountabilities:   Manage and quality assure the delivery of programme products, initiatives and activities in line with agreed contract and project plans, policies and standards. Lead on the reporting of all Lebanon project activities ensuring that collection and dissemination of all technical, financial and other data are met. Undertake regular monitoring activity and provide management information to relevant stakeholders in the form of activity status reports and summaries to an agreed schedule, format and quality Ensure the project is managed and delivered in accordance with all agreed financial and procurement standards in the head contract and British Council procedures Developing, maintaining and regularly updating a project risk management strategy. Leading the Lebanon  project team in line with British Council policies and standards; overseeing the recruitment and performance management of short term staff, experts and consultants Leading local internal and external communications - appropriate liaison and engagement with key project stakeholders including national and local government, beneficiary institutions, non-state actors, third party providers and international development partners.   Developing local networks to promote project and facilitate provision of strategic guidance and local insights to programme Senior Project Manager and Programme SRO. Key Relationships: Internal/External British Council country and regional teams FCO and RICU colleagues Lebanon EU delegation High level Government of Lebanon and Civil Society stakeholders Lebanon and regional delivery partners UK partners and stakeholders Role Requirements: Threshold requirements: Passport requirements/ Right to work in country Ability to work in Lebanon Direct contact or managing staff working with children? Yes/No   IF YES. Appropriate police check Notes  Criminal Records Board (CRB) checks as the post will involve some contact with young people. Person Specification: Qualifications Minimum / essential Desirable Bachelor’s degree with at least 5 years of experience at a senior level Master’s degree or equivalent Recognised Project Management/International; Development/Conflict Management qualification Role Specific Knowledge & Experience Minimum / essential Desirable Work experience in managing similar donor and partner funded projects to agreed financial and non-financial targets and to client satisfaction. Experience of managing project budgets and using corporate financial management systems and controls. Internal and donor reporting both financial and non-financial Working with Lebanon state and civil society institutions. Representational activity with internal and external stakeholders. Technical knowledge and/or experience of a sector relevant to the programme (e.g. civil society, youth and conflict programmes). British Council Core Skills Project and contract management (Level 2) Follows project management disciplines   Planning and Organising (Level 2) Is methodical   Financial/resources planning and management (Level 3) Uses resources efficiently Uses resources efficiently in own role and complies with financial rules and procedures. Relationship building, communicating and influencing (Level 4) Communicates clearly & effectively Listens to others and expresses self clearly, with grammatical accuracy and awareness of a diverse audience in speaking and writing. Fluency in English and Arabic Fluency in French   British Council Behaviours Connecting with others: (Most demanding) Building trust and understanding with people who have very different views Shaping the future: (More demanding) Exploring ways in which we can add more value Making it happen: (Most demanding) Achieving stretching results when faced by change, uncertainty or major obstacles Being Accountable:(More demanding) Putting the needs of the team or British Council ahead of my own   Creating shared purpose (More Demanding) Creating energy and clarity so that people want to work purposefully together Working together: (More demanding) Creating the environment in which others who have very different aims can work together