Scholarship Director

About Chemonics
Chemonics International is an international development company based in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to promote meaningful change around the world to help people live healthier, more productive and more independent lives. Since 1975 we have worked in 149 countries around the world, and currently implement 113 contracts in 68 countries. Our main partner is the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), but we occasionally work with foreign donors as well. We have over 600 staff based in our Washington, DC office and over 3000 staff in our project offices around the world.

1.  Project Background 

The Lebanon Community Support Program (CSP) is a multi-year project funded by USAID to support municipalities and underserved and vulnerable communities in providing better services and enhanced economic opportunities to improve lives and reduce tensions that contribute to conflict and violence, primarily in Lebanon’s North, South, and Beqaa regions. Under Task Order No. 4 (TO 4), the project will provide technical assistance and other support to improve labor skills and job placement opportunities through partnerships with the private sector, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) organizations, municipalities, and other public sector entities.  The main objective of this 3-year task order is to improve skills and job placement opportunities for beneficiaries from vulnerable communities.  

2.  Summary of Position 

The Scholarship Director will be responsible for the development, delivery, and administration of the CSP scholarship program, which aims to provide beneficiaries with technical and vocational education, provide practical training, and expand trainees’ professional networks. The Scholarship Director will be charged with oversight and execution of the scholarship program, including its design, the application process, budget management, and day-to-day relationship building. In collaboration with CSP’s partner the American University of Beirut (AUB), the Scholarship Director will be tasked with creating scholarship qualifications and criteria, communicating these requirements to beneficiary communities, establishing scholarship award guidelines with prospective students, and ensuring that scholarship placements are successful.  

3.  Specific Duties and Responsibilities. 

• Oversee the design and implementation of the scholarship program in partnership with AUB; 
• Develop a scholarship framework that includes eligibility requirements, student selection criteria, cost-sharing standards, award procedures, and how to engage local NGOs to increase outreach;  
• Coordinate with the Admissions Officer and Relationship Manager to select scholarship awardees and match with a pre-identified TVET; 
• Ensure community engagement through meetings and outreach to provide information on the new or updated training courses and applications for scholarships; 
• Increase the scholarship program’s profile to maximize outreach to candidates from CSP communities by exploring innovative approaches to increasing outreach;  
• Supervise the Admisisons Officer and Workforce Development Coordinator to ensure effective administration of the scholarship program; 
• Provide regular oversight of the program, ensuring that scholarship commitments are met and monitoring selected students’ academic achievements, internships and civic engagement/volunteer activities;  
• Verify that the scholarship program conforms to all government and regulatory hiring and staff management practices; 
• Monitor scholarship progress and procedures and conduct evaluations of scholarship achievements; 
• Make recommendations to the Task Order 4 Director and Chief of Party about how to build on lessons learned throughout the project; 
• Promote local ownership of the scholarship program to build long-term sustainability;  
• Undertake other duties as assigned by the Task Order 4 Director. 

4.  Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred in a relevant field such as education or public administration; 
• At least five years of work experience in scholarship administration and/or program management, student personnel services, or a related field. Experience liaising with university staff and students required; 
• Proven track record of success in organizing, planning, and directing scholarship or grant programs;  
• Knowledge of and familiarity with labor market assessments, particularly within the context of job placement and private sector engagement; 
• Ability to communicate effectively and with scholarship recipients, scholarship applicants and their families, community members, project partners, and other relevant parties; 
• Excellent computer literacy skills, including experience working in computerized database records management systems with a high aptitude for managing data integrity; 
• Experience working across Lebanon, specifically vulnerable communities in the North, Beqaa and South regions; 
• Fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English. 

5.  Location of the Assignment 

The Scholarship Director will be based in CSP’s main office space in Beirut and will be expected to travel to CSP’s areas of operation throughout the country as needed. 

6.  Reporting 

The Scholarship Director will report directly to the Task Order 4 Director, or equivalent. 

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants that can legally work in Lebanon will be considered for employment based on their qualifications without discrimination.