Gcap Program Manager

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 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Libya. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps has run community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while responding to emergencies as they have emerged.   The conflict that began more than five years ago in Syria has resulted in a steady increase in Syrian and Palestinian refugees to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey.  As part of the Syria refugee crisis in Lebanon, Mercy Corps is responding by addressing urgent basic needs like non-food items, water and sanitation, and protection. At the same time, there is greater programmatic focus on mitigating existing tensions between host and refugee communities, by addressing both livelihood opportunities and conflict mitigation capacity.  Mercy Corps aims to provide a community-level framework for engaging the most vulnerable municipalities in Lebanon, helping them identify both short term emergency and longer-term responses to their communities’ needs. At the same time, Mercy Corps seeks to foster greater local decision-making to promote participatory approaches to local development and strengthen social capital between groups, ultimately building greater community resilience.   GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY: The Municipality Program Manager is a management position with supervisory and managerial responsibilities, including direct program management responsibilities.  S/he will implement a European Union (EU) and DANIDA-funded program to promote municipal-level community engagement to foster stronger collaboration and decision-making between host and refugee communities, while increasing service provision and livelihood development, and support the UK-funded livelihoods and market development program on conflict sensitivity during implementation, and research to better understand tensions and conflict. The management of other programs in the same sector may be added to her/his remit at the discretion of the Country Director and Director of Programs. S/he is responsible for ensuring that programs run smoothly by providing technical leadership, supervising, training and mentoring program staff, and coordinating program implementation. At the same time, this position will provide key support to Lebanon’s advancement of resilience thinking through program proposals, research, and the overall country program strategy.   ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Program Management Manage implementation of  projects, including the work of partners and contractors, to facilitate key deliverables and achieve targets, including designing and managing overall community mobilization strategies, committee selection processes, capacity building, and identification of priorities; Conduct regular monitoring of program activities and program impact, per Mercy Corps Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning and in accordance with existing related guidelines (i.e. SPHERE and donor regulations); Lead in designing, managing and implementing research into conflict; Advise other program teams in conflict sensitive implementation; Collaborate with Operations Team to facilitate procurement of required equipment and services based on community-identified needs; Manage program budget and complete financial planning including monthly projections and budget reviews; Design and apply monitoring and evaluation systems to measure change facilitated by the program; Write regular donor and organizational reports to highlight program successes and challenges; Collaborate and guide local partners in all phases of planning and implementation; Ensure visibility in all Mercy Corps’ related actions;     Team Management Provide technical direction and advice to inform program design and implementation; Hire, supervise, train and mentor the national staff and local partners; Develop and implement a comprehensive staff and local partner training series to build team capacity; Work with partners and utilities to strengthen linkages with other actors to enhance organizational learning which directly impacts staff performance and productivity;   Strategy and Thought Leadership Lead and contribute to related program design, including concept note and proposal writing to secure future funding, in coordination with senior management; Contribute to agency's research agenda, working with key technical staff and program staff to integrate and advance plannine;   Representation and Coordination Represent Mercy Corps at relevant coordination meetings in Beirut and the field; Liaise with national and municipal-level officials to explain the objectives and parameters of the programs, as well as local NGOs and program partners, local religious leaders and other community members to ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps; Develop and maintain working relationships and coordinate with relevant international and local agencies active emergency response and community development, including donors, other humanitarian organizations, local authorities and local partners;   Other Understand and follow Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards to ensure all project planning and documentation is completed in timely manner; Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy and Do No Harm strategies; Participate in internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops; Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission. Other assigned tasks, as necessary.   Accountability to Stakeholders: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to the 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: Project Managers, M&E Coordinator, Assistant Program Officer—plus partner organizations.    ACCOUNTABILITY: REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:  Director of Programs   WORKS DIRECTLY WITH:  Program, Operations, Finance, and M&E Teams   KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE: BSc or Master’s Degree in international relations, social science and/or relevant field; Demonstrated expertise in participatory community-based programs, with at least 5-7 years of relevant and/or field-based experience including management experience; Strong understanding of stabilization and governance-related programming; Commitment to local capacity building and the ability to engage local stakeholders in project design and implementation; Demonstrated capacity to collaborate closely with INGOs and national NGOs. Familiarity with international humanitarian operations, coordination structures, and the mandates of UN agencies, and other NGOs; Good organizational and project management skills and the ability to anticipate program needs; Proven ability to work cooperatively with colleagues of other departments in a team environment, and to lead a diverse group of national and international staff; Understanding of participatory methodologies for project design, implementation and evaluation; Knowledge of humanitarian standards and codes, including SPHERE, HAP, etc.; Working understanding of procurement, administration and finance systems; Must be able to strategically advise staff on program and office activities and security issues; Proven ability to formulate and conduct research, and write policy, advocacy and learning documents; Strong record of designing programming, writing proposals and winning grant applications; Experience working in Middle East country, strong preference for previous experience in Lebanon; Fluent English essential; Arabic is an important asset.   SUCCESS FACTORS: The successful candidate will have proven experience working effectively and respectfully with host country government and other authorities, NGO, and CBO representatives, and will have effective verbal and written communication as well as multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills. S/he will have demonstrated attention to detail while keeping a strategic view, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members, and will have an interest and ability to travel and work in insecure environments. Sensitivity to multi-cultural international development work and ability to train and facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of individuals with various skill sets and working styles are all critical, as is a commitment to working with community members to make concrete improvements to their livelihoods and living conditions. An ability to creatively problem-solve, to juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines, and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected and sudden events impacting program operations are also essential, as is patience, tenacity, and a good sense of humor.