Field Officer - Governance And Social Stability Program (2 Vacancies)

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. The agency pursues its mission through emergency relief services, sustainable community development, civil society and economic development initiatives. Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980’s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Egypt. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps promotes economic and social development in marginalized communities and respond to emergency needs as they emerge. Since the outbreak of the conflict in Syria in 2011, Mercy Corps in Lebanon has shifted its programs towards emergency based interventions while integrating long-term development programming by focusing on key sectors: Protection, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Governance and Social Stability, and Livelihoods. Under the scope of the Governance and Social Stability Programme, Mercy Corps is implementing a Project “Reinforcing and Empowering Communities to Overcome the Effects of the Syrian Crisis” in Bekaa in nine local communities. The overall objective of this program is to empower vulnerable municipalities and communities to prevent violence, through reducing tensions and the drivers of conflict caused by the Syrian crisis. In this regard, Mercy Corps works closely with municipalities to mobilize and enrich community members with skills that can help them identify sources of common tensions and create action plans that will mitigate those tensions. GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager, the Field Officer will support in the implementation of project activities as stipulated in the work-plan and ensure quality deliverables at all levels. Moreover, she/he will be at the forefront of the engagement with municipalities, community members, stakeholders, and civil society actors to ensure building strong relationships. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Projects Implementation -        Build strong relationships with local authorities and community stakeholders to build the program’s acceptance to facilitate implementation of activities; -        Be the forefront of the engagement with municipalities, community members, stakeholders, and civil society actors to ensure building strong relationships; -        Support the Project Manager in engaging with Union of Municipalities, Qaimaqam, stakeholders, and other regional government actors; -        Support in the preparation for meetings, workshops and trainings for municipalities and union of municipalities taking into consideration all aspects of logistics planning and organization; -        Provide day-to-day coordination with service contractors and suppliers, including providing administrative, financial and logistical support; -        Conduct field visits to the projects location to ensure proper flow of work and smooth implementation; -        Confirm availability at the field upon delivery of goods/materials by suppliers; -        Support Project Manager to maintain effective reporting, monitoring and evaluation systems for both internal and external use; -        Contribute to monthly and quarterly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements; -        Support the Project Manager in identifying, planning, coordinating, implementing, monitoring, and supervising the implementation of the project activities to meet key deliverables based on timeline and scope agreed with the donor; -        Support the Project Manager to assess local government financial and operational capacities, identify gaps, and formulate activities to address those gaps; -        Troubleshoot any problems encountered at the field level or with other staff members and report directly to Project Manager; -        Support the Project Manager to guide the municipality’s selection of projects to implement which will mitigate tensions; -        Highlight opportunities for gathering success stories from the field; -        Ensure donor visibility manifested in all circumstances; -        Prepare documentation of key steps in the program management cycle throughout implementation. -        Highlight opportunities for resource mobilization and support in drafting concept notes. -        Implement Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity policy and applies Do No Harm approaches; -        Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: N/A ACCOUNTABILITY: REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:  Project Manager   WORKS DIRECTLY WITH:  Program Team   KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE BA/S in social and political sciences, history, human rights, or other relevant field required; Minimum of 3 years of experience; Experience working with communities and Municipalities is required; Excellent knowledge of local context in the Bekaa, and experience working in Bekaa area is required; Excellent written and oral communication skills in English required; Good computer skills on MS Office programs; A clear understanding of ethics and donor compliance is essential SUCCESS FACTORS Conscientious with an excellent sense of judgment Ability to work simultaneously on multiple tasks Willingness and ability to work effectively with a wide variety of people Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills Positive, respectful attitude and collaborative approach to problem solving Demonstrated attention to detail; ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently as well as cooperatively with team members