Intaj Project Coordinator-Skills Building

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Libya. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps has been running community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while responding to emergencies as they have emerged. Recently, the program portfolio has expanded in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria, including grants from UNICEF, UNHCR, European Commission, Canadian and American government, and private foundations. The emergency response component of the portfolio will be an increasing focus and driver of programming in Lebanon. As the Syrian refugee crisis stretches into its fourth year, strain on services and resources, and the continued deterioration of the economic situation in Lebanon means tensions between the Lebanese host and Syrian refugee communities are high.  Both communities face increasingly large challenges to address their economic and income generation needs. These tensions can be overcome, as well as the potential risk of violent extremism due to economic inequalities, marginalization of youth, and eroding state legitimacy if there are robust economic development initiatives across Lebanon. GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY The Zahle-based Skills Building Project Coordinator will assist in the implementation of the INTAJ (Improved Networks, Training and Jobs) two year economic development program funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), which started in April 2016. This program aims at improving the stability and resiliency in target communities in the North of Lebanon and the Bekaa through reduced unemployment and increased income for businesses. ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES Project Implementation: Support the Project Manager and INTAJ team in planning and implementing project activities to meet project deliverables based on timeline and scope agreed with the donor; Provide day-to-day support and coordination, including administrative, financial and logistical support. Trouble shoot any administrative problems and report any challenges or bottlenecks to the Project Manager; Support the Project Manager in implementing activities and monitoring of project progress; Build relationships with unions and local municipalities to introduce the project and facilitate access to information related to project activities and scope. Arrange for meetings with local entities and authorities, as requested; Participate in team planning and coordination meetings and trainings; Support the Project Manager in conducting periodic risk assessments to update implementation plan accordingly; Support monitoring and evaluation efforts to document project outputs, outcomes, and impact to inform donor and other internal reporting; Assist in filing and record keeping of project activities; Assist in analysis of data collected to facilitate assessment results and lessons learnt;  Monitor adherence to grant agreement, Mercy Corps policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations. Facilitate internal Mercy Corps procurement processes; Prepare weekly reports to be submitted to the Project Manager. Contribute to quarterly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements; 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; Project Coordination for Skills Building Component Coordinate skills building activities to ensure high-quality, sector appropriate trainings that maximize trainees ability to find employment; Assist with field coordination to facilitate labor market assessments, mapping of training providers and businesses including outreach to potential training providers and the implementation of Question and Answer sessions and roadshows as necessary; Support and strengthen linkages between Chamber of Commerce, private sector, and trainees through the establishment of a skills certification program; Support strategies to meet INTAJ’s job creation targets through labor market-oriented solutions and assist with the implementation of internship schemes for short and long term employment opportunities; Ensure that all skills building-related interventions are in compliance with international norms and standards, national laws and policies, technical standards and organizational policies while abiding by the process map of the component and ensuring proper use of all component tools; Coordinate efforts to select and contract training providers including review and shortlisting proposals with the skills building technical advisor, conduct pre-agreement meetings with selected providers, contributing to the finalized service contracts; Organize and conduct kick-off meetings with the contracted service providers; Contribute in the outreach and interviews of potential trainees as necessary; Follow up with the service providers on the ongoing training courses, service intermediate reports and service completion reports; Collect attendance sheets, pre/posttests, and invoices from the service providers; Support rigorous monitoring and evaluation (M&E), accountability and learning systems for the skills building component in coordination with the Knowledge Management team; Collaborate regularly with the Monitoring and Evaluation team to ensure the quality of the required documentation and coordinate on any identified bottlenecks or challenges in any of the trainings; Coordination and Representation Liaise with local officials including municipalities, Chambers of Commerce, local NGOs and INGOs, project partners, key community leaders, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and other relevant stakeholders to ensure successful deliverables; Develop and maintain working relationships and coordinate with relevant international and local agencies active in the livelihoods and economic development sector; Represent Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings. Other Ensure all activities are gender sensitive and follow Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy; Apply Do No Harm standards to ensure activities do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable communities; Contribute to monthly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements; Participate in internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops; Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission; Other assigned tasks, as necessary. Organizational Learning As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve.  We expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves. Accountability to Beneficiaries Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None Reports directly to: INTAJ Project Manager in Bekaa Works directly with: skills building technical advisor, M&E Team, project officers, project assistants KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE BA/S or equivalent in social science, management, economics, international development, or other relevant field; At least two-three years of progressive experience and proven high level of competence in working in economic and market development and/or development-related programs, ideally in vocational training and job placement Ability to successfully implement economic development programming; Specialized background in skills building and/or economic and market development programming- preferred; Experience with socio-economic development work in a vulnerable context; Some knowledge of Lebanon, in particular its displacement context, protection threats, economic challenges, social stability and resilience mechanisms relevant to internal conflict preferred; Proven track record in staff and stakeholder training and capacity building; Strong leadership and communication skills; Ability and interest to work with a multi-ethnic team in a culturally appropriate manner; Solid knowledge of the socio-economic context of Bekaa; Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel; Proficiency in English essential SUCCESS FACTORS A successful candidate will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with a capacity to promote new approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. S/he will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results. Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.