Skills Development Coordinator (Applications will only be accepted if submitted through the URL link provided below)

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have a long-term impact.

The Program / Department / Team

FORSA III (Fostering Resilience by Strengthening Abilities III) program is a 1.3 million Euros one-and-a-half-year (Jun 2023 - Dec 2024) program focusing on strengthening employment pathways within the digital economy. The program aims to facilitate access to employment through a holistic and integrated approach that builds the skills of young people aiming to increase their work readiness while strengthening the capacities of the private sector to absorb and retain the skilled workforce. Hence, the program targets youth between the ages of 16-34 from Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian communities; as well as key market actors such as coworking spaces, digital and agro-food businesses, and TVET institutes - in targeted areas of Beirut-Mount Lebanon, Tripoli and Bekaa. 

The primary objectives of the program are:

• The digital community is more market-responsive and conducive to income-generating pathways for young women and men.
• Local enterprises and institutions can start, sustain, or grow their business operations.

The Position

The Skills Development Coordinator is responsible for the technical oversight and coordination of all Freelance training activities within the FORSA III program while ensuring complementarity and coordination with the relevant private sector. S/he will ensure to build on and further develop the Freelance Academy strategy and vision, and contribute to achieving key milestones and deliverables, including improved access to jobs of women and youth within the digital ecosystem and gig economy. This includes - and is not limited to - the enhancement of the current training delivery, proposing upskilling training relevant to the market needs, linking freelancers to potential employers through internship opportunities, increasing the capacities of local trainers, and mainstreaming visibility and marketing strategies aiming to build partnerships with the wider digital community. S/he will manage the Freelance academy activities and ensure that activities within this component are implemented to a high quality, on time, and within budget; and are achieving the desired objectives. As requested by the Program Manager, the successful candidate will attend sector-specific meetings with peer organizations, as well as support and build partnerships with CBOs, the Private Sector, and the Government.

Essential Responsibilities

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

• Support the Project Manager and program team in planning and implementing project activities to meet project deliverables based on the timeline and scope agreed with the donor.
• Provide day-to-day oversight and coordination, including administrative, financial, and logistical support. Troubleshoot any administrative problems and report any challenges or bottlenecks to the Program Manager.
• Design formats for critical pieces of operations guides (tools, checklists, SOPs, best practices, etc).
• Participate in team planning and coordination meetings and trainings and ensure effective communication and coordination with other program outcomes, and with the local partner.
• Support monitoring and evaluation efforts to document project outputs, outcomes, and impact to inform donor and other internal reporting.
• Contribute to quarterly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements.
• Directly manage the freelance activities budget and complete financial planning to inform programming.
• Monitor adherence to grant agreement, Mercy Corps policies and procedures, and relevant external rules and regulations.
• Responsible for the filing and record keeping of project activities.

TECHNICAL COORDINATION

• Lead the Freelance Academy component processes design and implementation; including the development of strategies to meet the targets and vision of the program and to scale up further the activities through market-oriented solutions.
• Lead the development and enhancement of the Freelance academy curricula, by designing adapted content modules aiming to prepare trainees to successfully obtain gig work in their sector.
• Identify market-driven upskilling training and training of trainers and identify potential institutions that deliver accredited certifications.
• Map existing digital businesses in the areas of intervention and design internship models for freelancers with clear learning objectives.
• Promote and build upon the community approach implemented by the Freelance Academy, through the organization of events, and workshops and ensure continuous engagement of the alumni through peer-to-peer capacity building.
• Build the brand of the Freelance Academy by developing communication, visibility, and marketing strategies that aim to strengthen the outreach of potential applicants, as well as engage the wider community of digital professionals and actors (job platforms, SMEs, universities…);
• Manage and ensure regular updates of the Freelance Academy landing page, and collaborate with consultants, program teams, and MEL to ensure that functionalities are operating as required.
• Orient freelancers to different employment pathways in particular the entrepreneurship track and ensure coordination and referrals to partners' activities.
• Support the program manager in building a comprehensive handover plan of activities to the selected local partner and ensure coordination and transfer of knowledge when needed.
• Map and identify collaboration opportunities with partners that leverage all aspects of freelance work, including job platforms, training institutes, universities, employers/business owners, the Lebanese diaspora, and others.
• Contribute to the evaluation of the Freelance Academy interventions to understand the gig work and remote work opportunities, market viability, expected growth/scale, investment readiness, and effort required.
• Manage relationships and performance of third-party technical and creative partners.
• Ensure that all interventions comply with international norms and standards, national laws and policies, technical standards, and organizational policies.

COORDINATION AND REPRESENTATION

• Liaise with key stakeholders including local partners, Universities, private sector representatives, syndicates, local NGOs and INGOs, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure successful deliverables.
• Contribute to building relationships with external stakeholders to introduce the project and facilitate access to information related to project activities and scope. Arrange for meetings as requested.
• Develop and maintain working relationships and coordinate with relevant international and local agencies active in the livelihoods and economic development sector.
• Represent Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings, where relevant.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Provide oversight and technical support to the Freelance academy team.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive plan for staff capacity building.

OTHER

• Ensure all activities are gender-sensitive and follow Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy.
• Apply Do No Harm standards to ensure activities do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable communities.
• 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 in Lebanon.
• Participate in internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility

Skills development Officer

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Project Manager

Works Directly With: FORSAII Programme team, MC Support Departments (MEL, HR, Finance, Operations), other employment programming within Mercy Corps Lebanon

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, and other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• BA/S or equivalent in social science, management, economics, or another relevant field.
• At least three years of progressive experience and a proven high level of competence in working in economic and market development; private sector experience is an asset.
• Experience working within the freelance and digital ecosystem. 
• Excellent understanding of the digital gig economy and its dynamics in Lebanon and globally.
• Proven ability to coordinate and successfully implement economic development programming, including digitally delivered work. 
• Experience creating and managing detailed action/project plans and assessing the impact to timelines and budget for change in scope or pivot in direction.
• Experience drafting detailed requirements for use by technical, and creative teams to execute against.
• Creative thinkers who take initiative and are capable of building, launching, and managing projects/programs that drive results.
• Proven ability to access a network of the private sector, government officials, NGOs, and potential implementing partners.
• Problem solvers with the ability to analyse and prioritize to meet objectives.
• Deep knowledge of Lebanon, particularly its economic challenges.
• Strong leadership and team management skills. 
• Great communication skills and sense of humor;
• Proficiency in English is essential.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have a passion for supporting and facilitating the success of freelancers and believe in the potential of the digital economy. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results. A strong asset would be her/his ability to test and propose new creative ideas, with a forward-driven mentality that is solution-oriented and optimistic. Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves professionally and respect local laws, customs, and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Beirut, Lebanon it requires up to 60% of local field movements to various regions in the country, with the possibility to support other country offices and which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organisations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organisation with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.