Training And Cash For Work Program Officer (2 Vacancies: 1 In South Lebanon; 1 In Beqaa)

PROGRAM 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 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Libya. In Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps promotes economic development and increased opportunity for marginalized communities, while responding to emergencies as they have emerged. Until recently Mercy Corps’ focus has focused on bolstering civil society and give voice to under-represented groups through the empowerment of young leaders. Recently, the country office portfolio expanded in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria, to address key needs like non-food items/winterization, water and sanitation, child protection, and capacity building.   Mercy Corps is launching the “Keeping families safe: WASH, Shelter and Rapid Income Support to Vulnerable Syrian Refugees and Host Populations in Lebanon” project.  The overall objective of the project is to To increase access to WASH, shelter, rapid income, and protection services and support for Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese host communities in underserved urban and rural areas.  The project will be implemented in the Governorates of Bekaa, Hermel-Baalbek, South Lebanon, and Nabatiyeh funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration for 12 months.  It will focus on increased access to improved water, sanitation and hygiene facilities. In addition, the project will increase the capacity of Syrian refugee and vulnerable Lebanese households to meet their basic needs by increasing the household cash flow of vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian households through cash-for-work activities in the targeted areas. Lastly, the project will reduce the risks and consequences of SGBV, and improve access to services.                       GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY: The Training and Cash for Work (CfW) Project Officer assists the Project Manager  in the daily  running of the household resource management and Cash for Work components of the project. The position will be responsible for targeting basic needs of vulnerable HHs with immediate income generation opportunities through cash-for-work (CfW) projects, which focus on infrastructure rehabilitation and improved delivery of services while helping to mitigate negative coping mechanisms to sustain livelihoods.   ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Conduct stakeholder outreach and identify community support project opportunities using the participatory needs assessment. Train municipality and refugee committee members: Mercy Corps will work with municipality and refugee committees to build their capacity on how to conduct participatory needs assessments as means to identifying potential CfW projects, but also on how to provide financial planning and budgeting, work planning, and scheduling to ensure proper maintenance of rehabilitated infrastructure Coordinate all CFW activities, including area selection, MoU signing, laborers’ identification with key stakeholders and predetermined criteria, community mobilization and prioritization activities, and coordination. Implement municipal and community infrastructure support projects through cash-for-work schemes. Organize and deliver trainings through various methods, and tracking and monitoring impact over the lifetime of the project Review labor and time-line requirements for CFW activities, determining staffing requirements With the Project Manager coordinate payment procedures, including documentation, approval and actual payment Develop implementation work plans and monitor activities and their contribution to achieving program deliverables Oversee procurement of all materials for CFW projects in coordination with the Project Manager Report and follow up on any problems encountered in the field such as project participant complaints, local authority interference, security threats to MC staff, beneficiaries and activities.  Maintain all documentation relating directly to CFW activities required to ensure accountability to the donor, particularly where labor is concerned. 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. Other duties as assigned.   Organizational Learning  As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.     SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: N/A   ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Project Manager WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Program Officer, Engineering team, and livelihoods advisor   KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE: Require B.A. with preference for Business Administration, Economics,  or Agriculture Economics, or Agriculture At least 2 years’ experience with core skills and financial coping mechanisms Experience implementing cash for work programs Experience identifying and developing local partnerships Demonstrated ability to manage and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles; Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving; Proven ability to learn quickly, lead a program to achieve stated results and objectives; Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders; Oral and written Arabic required Oral and written English skills preferred Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment; Experience with NGOs is a plus Willingness to travel throughout the country.   SUCCESS FACTORS: The successful Project Officer will combine knowledge of administrative, executive and financial work flow related to infrastructure activities and cash for work program implementation. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving is essential in a complex security and political environment like Lebanon. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations