BRIDGE Program Manager

Role Purpose 

The BRIDGE Programme Manager is responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight for the BRIDGE programme across a regional programme. The role ensures the coherent design and high-quality delivery of integrated resilience, livelihoods, youth economic empowerment, social cohesion, and disaster risk reduction interventions. By bridging humanitarian response with early recovery and transitional development, the post holder will strengthen community resilience, reduce aid dependency, and promote inclusive socio-economic stability, while ensuring alignment with donor commitments, country strategies, and Plan International standards.

Dimensions of the Role

Under the direct supervision of the Director of Programmes and Head of Mission, the BRIDGE Programme Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, coordination, and oversight of the BRIDGE programme across a regional programme. The role oversees the planning and implementation of integrated programme components, including livelihoods and vocational training, youth economic empowerment, social inclusion and social cohesion initiatives, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) interventions, ensuring coherence across humanitarian, resilience, and transitional development approaches.

The Programme Manager works closely with local partners, country and field teams to ensure effective coordination, strong programme quality, and context-responsive implementation across both countries. The role requires strong programme, reporting, and financial management skills, including budget planning, re-phasing, and realignment in response to evolving contexts. The Programme Manager closely monitors programme expenditure and progress, ensures timely and accurate narrative and financial reporting, and maintains close coordination with Plan’s finance and grants teams as well as partner finance focal points.

In addition, the Programme Manager collaborates closely with internal support functions, including MEAL, Operations, Security, Finance, and Partnerships and Grants, to ensure programme delivery is compliant with donor requirements, organisational policies, and safeguarding and accountability standards. The role also contributes to cross-country learning, adaptive management, and strategic positioning of Bridge programming within Plan International’s wider country strategy.

Accountabilities

Project Monitoring and Implementation and quality

• Lead the monitoring and analysis of contextual, socio-economic, humanitarian, and security developments in the region, and assess implications for BRIDGE programme implementation.
• Ensure effective, coordinated implementation of all programme components, including livelihoods and vocational training, youth economic empowerment, social inclusion and social cohesion initiatives, and disaster risk reduction (DRR), in line with approved work plans and budgets.
• Guide programme and project teams in weekly and monthly planning, ensuring alignment with implementation plans, expenditure forecasts, and partner deliverables.
• Ensure timely procurement of goods and services in coordination with Operations, Supply Chain, and Security, and maintain accurate budget tracking and follow-up.
• Oversee the application of robust programme management, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (PMEL) frameworks, in close coordination with Plan and partner MEAL teams.
• Ensure rollout and effective use of Plan International’s project management and partnership monitoring tools across the BRIDGE programme.
• Work closely with Plan technical focal points to ensure coherent technical support, capacity strengthening, and training for programme and partner staff.
• Ensure consistent delivery of high-quality outputs and outcomes across all programme cycles, from start-up to close-out.
• Supervise field implementation and partner performance to ensure activities are delivered on time, within scope, and in line with expected results.
• Ensure integrated and cohesive delivery across sectors and themes, with strong attention to gender sensitivity, inclusion, and conflict-sensitive programming.

Partner engagement and Field coordination

• Provide ongoing technical, managerial, and coordination support to local partners to strengthen programme delivery, efficiency, and compliance.
• Maintain regular communication and field engagement with partners and field teams to track progress, identify challenges, and agree on corrective actions.
• Support partners in adapting activities to evolving contexts, ensuring continuity and relevance of interventions.
• Ensure systematic collection, updating, and sharing of programme information with relevant internal stakeholders, including Grants and Finance teams.

Coordination, Communication and Reporting

• Lead internal and external programme review meetings with Plan and partner teams, ensuring follow-up on action points and agreed decisions.
• Represent the BRIDGE programme in relevant inter-agency, sectoral, and coordination forums, as appropriate.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with government counterparts, local authorities, NGOs, and other stakeholders in target areas.
• Contribute to documenting programme approaches, learning, good practices, and success stories to inform adaptive management and future programming.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and high-quality narrative reporting (weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual), aligned with donor and organisational requirements.
• Ensure accurate entry and validation of programme data in internal systems, dashboards, and SitReps, as required.
• Support contingency planning and preparedness measures, including contributions to emergency preparedness and response planning where relevant.

Financial and grant Management:

• Monitor programme budgets on a regular basis in close coordination with Grants and Finance teams, proactively identifying and addressing variances.
• Lead and support budget re-phasing and realignment processes in response to programme and contextual changes, in coordination with senior management.
• Ensure timely financial liquidation, settlement, and submission of partner and programme financial reports in line with Plan procedures.
• Coordinate closely with Finance during partner financial reviews and supporting document checks, ensuring follow-up on findings and recommendations.
• Work with Operations teams to develop and monitor procurement plans and stock management aligned with programme needs.

Staff Management

• Provide line management, coaching, and technical support to direct-report staff, ensuring clarity of roles, performance objectives, and accountability.
• Ensure regular team meetings, effective internal communication, and coordination across Lebanon and PU programme teams.
• Lead performance management processes, including performance reviews and development planning, in coordination with HR and senior management.
• Promote staff well-being, duty of care, and compliance with security protocols in close coordination with Operations and Security teams.

Key relationships

• Internal: project team, line manager, other support departments including MERL, finance team, operations team, grants team, etc.
• External: Partners, Protection actors, UN and local authorities at national and sub national levels.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of:

• Working in complex, changing contexts across humanitarian, resilience, and transitional development settings.
• Integrated programming approaches including livelihoods, vocational training, youth economic empowerment, DRR, and social cohesion.
• Partner-based implementation and coordination with local actors and authorities.
• Relevant national frameworks affecting vulnerable populations in the region.
• Application of humanitarian principles, safeguarding, accountability, and Plan International policies, including PSEA and Code of Conduct.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum 7 years of experience in humanitarian, resilience, or development programming.
• Proven experience in programme or project management, including planning, monitoring, and reporting.
• Experience in livelihoods, youth economic empowerment, DRR, or social cohesion programming.
• Experience working with local partners and donor-funded projects.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Master’s degree an asset).

  Skills

• Operational and flexible,
• good communicator and report writer,
• Calm under stressful situations
• Strong team player and team leader
• Strong financial skills for large budgets
• Excellent knowledge of Arabic and English mandatory
• Flexible work arrangement which requires travel to within the region.
• Candidates must be able to balance field and office work.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

1. Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
2. Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
3. Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
4. Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
5. Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

1. Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
2. Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
3. Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
4. Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

1. Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
2. Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
3. Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
4. Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

1. We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
2. We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
3. We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

Level of Contact with Children:

Mid contact: Occasional interaction with children

Travel

• In-country travel is estimated at 50%.
• Occasional international travel may be required.