Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Project Manager (Zahle or Beirut)

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Project Management:

• Establish standardised tools for use by all MHPSS staff across project activities, based on agreed country strategy
• Establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for outworking of project activities and recruiting, training, and supervison of facilitators and community volunteers
• Oversee and contribute to the revision of existing curriculum, including facilitator guides
• Conduct Training of Trainers for key curriculum and topics, equipping MHPSS staff to conduct future trainings
• Set clear targets in the implementation of the MHPSS strategy, based on current research and planning, and conduct regular monitoring
• Provide input into the integration of beneficiary participation and accountability in all aspects of the project
• Manage the assigned MHPSS projects in order to meet the project objectives within budget and within the allotted time frame, reporting promptly operational concerns to Project Coordinator (PC)
• Provide strong leadership of the assigned MHPSS projects, working to ensure both short and long-term positive impacts and outcomes for the beneficiaries, local authorities (where applicable) and local staff
• Contribute to development and implementation of an appropriate and effective MHPSS strategy including proactive planning for responsible exit in consultation with PC and HA
• Set clear objectives and indicators for MHPSS activities in collaboration with the PC, HA, field managers and, where appropriate, with the local communities
• Continuously monitor and supervise MHPSS activities, evaluating progress through outputs and impacts using both quantitative and qualitative data involving the MHPSS team in analysis and taking appropriate action as needed to ensure continued progress
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of all MHPSS activities according to Medair, donor and other applicable timeframes and formats
• Develop new proposals, linked to the assessed needs and gaps and the Medair country strategy, in conjunction with the field team
• Develop the strategy and mechanisms to integrate mental health and psychosocial support into Medair regular/ standard programs
• Coordinate with the MEAL PM, Manager and Officer to develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework for MHPSS programs, analysing data trends and best practices with subsequent learning to inform MHPSS strategy and programming. Contribute to develop and implement integrated referral mechanism

Staff Management:

• Line-manage the MHPSS Manager and Psychologist within the assigned projects, including day-to-day management, regular catch-ups, development and training, appraisals, etc., supporting them in managing other team members
• Set clear expectations and objectives for staff and ensure that they are met, providing all necessary information
• Facilitate regular meetings to assist information sharing between project staff, to ensure all staff members are aware of project objectives and current work plans and to provide the opportunity for feedback
• Provide coaching and technical supervision to staff in order to develop ownership for MHPSS activities
• Assess the training needs of MHPSS staff and ensure that appropriate training is conducted
• Engage in staff capacity building in relevant areas of MHPSS and general professional learnings and skills

Financial, Logistical and HR Management:

• Manage the MHPSS budgets for the assigned project(s) in close collaboration with Project Coordinator and ensure all expenses are according to budget and meet the Medair standards with regard to financial management, including accountability and good governance
• Liaise, as necessary, with the logistics and finance staff to ensure items are procured, transported, stored, managed and accounted for correctly
• Liaise, as necessary, with HR for the recruitment and induction of any staff and volunteers related to the assigned projects
• Contribute to thinking and planning for future staffing need for MHPSS Medair Lebanon work, to ensure all needs are met

Communication and Coordination:

• Develop and maintain appropriate, regular, transparent and supportive communication structures with the assigned MHPSS team, Medair in-country team and GSO advisors and other relevant stakeholders (e.g. beneficiaries, community leaders, local and national government officials, UN agencies and other NGOs), with the objective of ensuring good cooperation and partnerships
• Foster good working relationships with external stakeholders, including beneficiaries, community leaders, local officials and other humanitarian agencies
• Ensure that MHPSS team is participating in MHPSS Taskforce, protection and GBV meetings as appropriate. Also in Medair internal trainings, and other working groups or meetings as required, representing Medair and feeding back to MHPSS staff on relevant issues

Quality Management:

• Promote and use the Medair intranet and other operating procedures, ensuring that all standardised formats are used and guidelines are followed
• Work closely with the Information Management (IM) team to ensure that proper IT tools are in place for project implementation and monitoring / evaluation
• Pro-actively work to prevent fraud by working ensuring adherence to Medair guidelines on fraud prevention with relevant line managers to improve transparency and to ensure the best use of Medair assets and resources
• Ensure MHPSS projects are implemented in line with donor proposals and requirements and in accordance with Medair, donor, country and international standards i.e. Sphere, CHS and IASC guidelines
• Encourage conversations to ensure continued learning, and best practices and implementation are taking place
• Ensure workplans and implementation plans are well established and followed

Person Specification:

• Relevant bachelor degree or diploma (sychotherapy, Public Health, Social Work). Master's degree preferrable 

• 4+ years’ post-qualification professional experience

• At least 2 years project management experience

• Minimum of 1 year’s experience working as MHPSS manager overseeing mental health/ psychosocial/protection projects in Humanitarion Sector

• Demonstrated experience in facilitation and training

• Strong working knowledge of Arabic and English (spoken and written)

• Familiar with Microsoft Office programs, in particular Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint

• Familiar with SPSS or STATA 

• Team-player with good inter-personal and communication skill

• Aptitude for community mobilisation and capacity-building

• Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels

• Creative, open-minded, flexible, self-learner

• Ability and willingness to manage project implementation

• Good numerical, report writing and administration skills