Programme Manager - Lebanon

  BACKGROUND: Oxfam has been running a humanitarian programme in Lebanon since 2013, in response to the Syria crisis and its wider impacts in Lebanon. Our programme has grown beyond direct humanitarian assistance to incorporate longer-term recovery and development planning, notably through economic justice and active citizenship/governance work. Our humanitarian work is also shifting, in line with Oxfam’s global commitments at the World Humanitarian Summit, and in response to the protracted nature of the context. Our humanitarian work increasingly aims to be complementary to, and complemented by, our longer-term work in eg livelihoods and governance, while focusing more on local capacity and responsibilities with a view to becoming more sustainable and reducing aid dependency. Our humanitarian planning is being undertaken against a longer term 5 year vision, with a dedicated 2 year Humanitarian programme plan.   The Programme Manager will lead and is accountable for all the programmatic, management and partnership aspects of one of two programmes, which represents roughly half of our ‘humanitarian’ portfolio. Both programmes are integrated humanitarian interventions targeting primarily refugees, and focusing on protection, accessing WASH services and various forms of cash/emergency assistance. Every effort should be made to integrated both sectors within the programmes, and to the wider development interventions across our country programme. Strong community engagement is critical to all our work.   The position will be based in Zahle, with regular travel to programme sites which may include Tripoli. He/she will oversee effective management and relationships with partners, manage the project throughout the project cycle, including budget management (expenditure planning and expenditure monitoring), lead in preparing and developing high quality programme implementation plans, including MEAL and procurement plans, progress and donor reports, ensure appropriate monitoring and project quality, and enhance project internal and external learning and representation. In addition, the PM will also identify scaling up opportunities and new project ideas in line with the project’s thematic area.   With support from the Area Manager (direct line manager), the PM will solicit relevant technical expertise from national technical coordinators as relevant, namely in areas of protection, WASH, livelihoods /cash, governance, MEAL and Gender.   DIMENSIONS: Manage the successful planning, monitoring and reporting of the project; Manage the field teams of up to 10 staff across different technical areas; Ensure that the project takes cross cutting issues (safe programming; policy/influencing; gender; governance etc) into account; Ensure a constant and constructive relationship relevant staff at field and Beirut level; Build and maintain effective relationships with implementing partners and stakeholders in support of the project in the focus areas; Promote strong community based approaches and community engagement across all areas of work; Ensure the physical welfare, well-being, and professional development of staff directly assigned to the project at field office; Serve as the Project Budget Holder and oversee effective financial management of the programme’s grant/s and activities with the support of admin and logistics teams; Ensure programme quality standards are being met in line with Oxfam’s own requirements; Participate in relevant external working groups; Liaise with the Protection Policy advisor regarding policy components   KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Project Cycle Management & Programme Quality Develop overall programme guidance in terms of work plans/budget work plans, spending plans, MEAL plans, procurement plans; Work closely with the Beka’a Area Manager, technical advisors and support staff to provide appropriate guidance and managerial support to implement the project in line with the objectives laid out in the donor approved proposal; Lead the adaptation and implementation of community engagement to underpin programme delivery; To report regularly, verbally and in writing to the Bekaa Area Manager on regular basis on programme progress; To lead in preparing mid-term and final reports for the donor in collaboration with programme teams, technical coordinators, Funding Coordinator, Support teams partners. Ensure narrative reporting and financial accounting meet Oxfam and donor’s requirements; Support and promote programme quality and project strengthening activities e.g. data management, project quality meetings, learning events and partnership reviews; Assist staff to maintain healthy relationships with government institutions including the municipality and cooperating organizations through regular contacts, visits and fulfilment of project requirements Ensure Oxfam’s Programme Management system OPAL, is up dated and relevant for the programme in question   People & Team Management Recruit and line manage relevant staff Ensure staff are compliant with key internal procedures including  security requirements and code of conduct Sollicit appropriate training and learning opportunities for team members in line with development objectives and ensure regular coaching of staff; Oversee performance management and staff development of team members, and provide necessary and timely feedback to all staff being directly managed; In coordination with technical coordinators, build the capacity of staff in key project management principles, tools and approaches and ensure that these new skills are utilized on the job; Assist in strengthening local relationships, including with the local partners, peer INGOs, the UN and civil authorities; Facilitate effective working relations with colleagues around communications, policy and advocacy issues and concerns, ensuring evidence-based programmatic input into policy and media messaging.   Budget & Financial Management Initiate monthly financial review meetings, involving relevant support staff to plan and monitor the budget, review procurement and spending plans, and ensure funds are spent within the time frame acceptable to Oxfam and the donor and ensuring rules and regulations of Oxfam are adhered to; Ensure that donor contractual requirements are fulfilled, including by partners, with particular reference to the General and Technical conditions of the Grant Agreement with RDPP and internal regulations, throughout the entire project period; Lead on initiating relevant procurement processes, with support from Logistics, in line with programme spending and procurement planning   Partner management Lead on project partnership relations within the scope of the programme, ie partnership agreements including budget Responsible for overseeing activity and financial progress against project partnership agreements Responsible for ensuring appropriate monitoring (financial, technical, implementation) of partners Responsible for ensuring partners receive relevant capacity building and support in line with mutually agreed capacity building plans (eg financial, technical) Liaise with relevant strategic partnership lead (HoP, technical coordinator etc as relevant) to feed into strategic partnership development and partnership reviews     SKILLS AND COMPETENCE: (E = essential, D = desirable)   1.       A Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline such as economics or development or equivalent experience (E)2.       Master’s degree in relevant areas (e.g. thematic expertise, development studies, political science) (D)3.       A minimum of 5 years progressively responsible experience in a similar role – specifically in managing humanitarian/development programmes funded by different donors. (E)4.       Excellent understanding and knowledge of humanitarian programming in protracted humanitarian contexts including urban and rural settings (E)5.       Good knowledge of developing and implementing monitoring systems to track the effectiveness of programmes and an ability to build cooperative, professional relationships with donors, partners and peer organisations. (E)6.       Management skills & experience, including line management, management of other resources, evidence of capacity to support others. (E)7.       Commitment to equal opportunity and gender policies. Demonstrated experience in integrating gender and diversity issues into programmes. (E)8.       Evidence of project cycle management experience, including strategic planning, budgeting, reporting, monitoring & evaluation. (E)9.       Experience in building the capacity of the team internally and of external stakeholders. (D)10.   Experience in working and jointly implement projects involving local organisations as implementing partners (E)11.   Diplomacy, tact and negotiating skills. (E)12.   Good interpersonal, influencing and communication skills (E)13.   Proven team leadership and ability to work independently as required. (E)14.   Sensitivity to cultural differences, and the ability to work in a wide variety of cultural contexts. (E)15.   Good written and spoken English and Arabic. (E)16.   Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications. (E)17.   Confident in dealing with wide range of INGOs and partner agencies and representation skills (D)18.   Sympathy with the aims and Objectives of Oxfam. (E) This job description is not incorporated in the employment contract.  It is intended as a guide and should not be viewed as an inflexible specification as it may be varied from time to time in the light of strategic developments and following discussion with the post holder.