Head of Support Services

Head of Support Services – DanChurchAid (DCA) Lebanon

Background

DCA Lebanon has worked in mine action since 2007. In addition to reducing the harm from explosion, clearance activities also release contaminated land for socio-economic development in the context of rising demands from the local and refugee population. In 2012, DCA began implementing humanitarian and development projects through local partners and scaled up its operations this year due to the deepening crisis in country. Read more at: https://daleel-madani.org/civil-society-directory/danchurchaid/jobs/programme-coordinator-dca-lebanon

 The role

• The Head of Support Services will lead finance, procurement, logistics, HR and administration staff, ensuring they deliver their work effectively. Manage and coordinate all finance, procurement, logistics, HR and administrative tasks, ensuring work effectively meets the needs of operational staff to deliver high quality assistance to people supported by DCA.
• Lead capacity building of local staff and partner organisations, including undertaking capacity assessments, designing and undertaking capacity building and coaching for national staff and partner organisation staff in areas such as financial management, procurement and logistics, HR, administration, good governance and management of accountability and transparency.
• A member of the Senior Management Team, contribute to a culture of excellence and continuous improvement, taking a highly flexible pragmatic approach to delivering DCA’s projects, aims and vision for Lebanon.

Leadership

• Be a role model for diversity and inclusion, exemplifying positive behaviours contributing to the team spirit of DCA Lebanon.
• Contribute positively to team building with colleagues in DCA Lebanon and partake in the common responsibility in development of DCA Lebanon and programmes as well as of DCA globally.
• Represent DCA in any relevant Working Groups and Coordination bodies.
• Contribute to defining strategic direction through inputs to the Annual Goals and Plan and Country Strategy.
• Provide guidance and oversight to the Country Director with overall resource planning for projects and monthly reporting all aspects of Finance, HR and Admin.​​​​​​​
• Lead the risk management process for DCA Lebanon, reviewing the Risk Register and ensuring follow-up actions are taken and risks that are likely to, or have breached the Country Office risk appetite are alerted to the Country Director immediately.
• Responsible for chairing the Learning and Development Committee, creating a capacity building plan for DCA staff, ensuring it’s implemented annually.

Finance

Project specific

• Manage project budgets, monitor forecasts/actual expenditure are in line with DCA and donor requirements, and spent in an effective and efficient manner, delivering value for money for DCA’s donors and people being supported by projects.
• Assist in preparation of budgets, in close collaboration with relevant programme staff for new Concept Notes and Proposals.
• Ensure all projects received VAT exemption.

• Lead engagement with HQ on all necessary finance matters, ensuring all necessary information is updated online, reports are produced and all policies and requirements are adhered to.

Compliance

• Ensure financial donor reporting in line with contracted obligations.
• Ensure all spending is in accordance with DCA and donor requirements, and all relevant files for documentation are created, updated and maintained.
• Monitor DCA and donor policies, procedures and guidelines are strictly adhered to and DCA operates in compliance with local laws.
• Responsible for certifying and authorising payments, expenditure and disbursements, entering all transactions into the ERP system.
• Prepare all documentation required for audits.
• Ensure audit recommendations are timely addressed and implemented.
• Act as the anti-corruption focal point, actively looking for any issues or tendencies of fraud/embezzlement/corruption/malpractices in projects, handling them in a transparent manner and reporting this to the Country Director immediately.

Partner focus

• Advise on partner organisations’ Financial Management capacity and internal control systems and their suitability for potential partnership.
• Provide support for preparation of partner organizations’ budgets as per donor requirement.
• Support and capacity building of DCA staff and DCA partners.
• Prepare Cooperation Agreement with the partners.

Procurement and logistics

• Manage the procurement and logistics staff, being responsible for their output and work.
• Ensure procurement is done according to donor requirements and in compliance with DCA Procurement Manual.
• Ensure equipment and fleet are functional, in good repair, upgraded as needed and replaced as necessary.
• Ensure procurement is conducted effectively in coordination with the HQ and in-country procurement staff.
• Ensure best value for money is derived from all DCA procurement activities in country.

   HR and administration

• Ensure all national staff have valid contracts and insurances, updated and signed Job Descriptions and have received sufficient induction and training based on their position and needs.
• Advise Country Director on staff welfare issues and bring to their notice any matter of concern, which might be hampering the smooth running of the office, advising on any issues related to DCA keeping its obligations with local authorities.
• Ensure Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment, Child Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct and Anti-Corruption training is completed annually for all staff.
• Take the lead in recruitment of national support staff.
• Ensure relevant induction of staff into DCA finance, HR and admin policies and procedures.
• Ensure all staff and beneficiary data and other relevant documents are kept in a confidential manner and not shared outside the organisation.
• Ensure staff disciplinary actions are executed in accordance with DCA Staff policies and local labour laws, including having an up-to-date Staff Manual.
• Ensure payments are made correctly for the National Social Security Fund and other appropriate tax payments are made, ensuring year end reporting is completed with the Government of Lebanon as needed.

About you

• We’re looking for a finance and operations expert, with experience of delivering humanitarian and development projects in Lebanon.
• You will be highly motivated, flexible, diplomatic and someone with an eye for detail.
• You will need to have a Master’s Degree in finance or business management or operations.
• You’ll need at least 10 years previous experience working within the humanitarian and development sector.
• You should have experience working in an INGO, UN agency or donor agency, preferably all of these, in roles related to finance or operational management.
• You need to be fluent in both Arabic and English, with excellent writing skills.
• You will need to have experience of working for or with one or more of these donors: US AID/State Department/BHA, DFID/FCDO, ECHO/EU, DANIDA or JICA/Japan.
• If you had experience of working within a mine action or humanitarian INGO this would be beneficial.
• Experience of working in or on south Lebanon and Mount Lebanon areas would be a significant advantage.

• DCA offers

• 12-month renewable contract starting end June/early July 2021.
• A salary range of $4000 -$5000, based on experience.
• 15 days of leave and all Lebanese national holidays are paid time off, with flexible use.
• Great colleagues in a rewarding and empowering workplace.
• Insurance as per industry standards.
• Flexible working, with location based in Tyre and/or Beirut.
• An interesting and challenging experience, addressing humanitarian needs.
• Training opportunities to help you grow professionally.

How to apply

Send your CV and one page motivation letter that sets out how you meet the requirements of the role to infolebanon@dca.dk. Applications without both of these documents will not be considered. All qualifications will be verified by DCA, prior to job offer. Deadline for applications is Friday 14 May 2021. A test and interviews will be conducted by suitable candidates in the week commencing 17 May.

DCA is an equality opportunity employer. All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, religion or ethnicity are encouraged to apply for the vacancy.

Everyone applying for a job with DCA must be ready to comply with our Staff Policy on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment and our Child Safeguarding Policy.