Deputy Director of Programs

Background/ Anera Summary:

Since 1968, Anera has helped refugees and others hurt by conflicts in Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan live with purpose and hope.

Anera, which has no political or religious affiliation, works on the ground with partners in Palestine (West Bank and Gaza), Lebanon and Jordan. We mobilize resources for immediate emergency relief and for sustainable, long-term health, education, and economic development. Our staff serve in their communities, navigating the politics that constrict progress to get help where it’s needed most.

That’s how Anera received more than $171 million in support of programs in 2023 alone, and it’s how we will keep building better lives until hope finds its way in the Middle East.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Deputy Director for Programs (DDP) plays a critical leadership role in ensuring program quality, impact, and alignment with Anera’s mission. The DDP ensures that programs are evidence- and needs-driven, effectively monitored, and strategically funded. Reporting to the Country Director, the DDP is a key member of the Country Program Senior Management Team (SMT) and oversees a team of technical, program, and monitoring and evaluation coordinators.

Essential Functions:

As a key member of the leadership team, the DDP will:

Leadership and Representation:

• Provide leadership and oversight for all programs in Lebanon, ensuring quality, accountability, and effective resource management.
• Set clear communication and strategic direction for all program staff, including field teams.
• Actively engage in country program management, coordination, and strategy discussions with SMT members.
• Represent Anera in donor engagements, partner collaborations, and humanitarian coordination efforts.
• Collaborate with regional and global teams to apply best practices and maximize program impact.

Strategic Direction, Program Quality, and Growth:

• Lead program teams to align efforts with Anera’s regional strategy and the country’s Strategic Action Plan.
• Ensure programming is community-driven, contextually relevant, and based on technical best practices.
• Work with internal stakeholders to identify funding opportunities and develop competitive, donor-compliant proposals.
• Guide in-country teams in evidence-based, cost-effective program design and grant applications.
• Align field and operations teams with programmatic priorities for seamless implementation.
• Stay informed on humanitarian trends in the region and provide strategic insights.
• Lead the development and submission of innovative, evidence-based proposals in collaboration with the program and the Business Development teams.
• Work closely with the BD team to ensure program designs are competitive and meet donor priorities.
• Regularly conduct sector and donor landscape analyses to guide strategic planning and identify new funding opportunities.
• Ensure program development and execution are integrally linked with the organizational strategy, fostering inter-departmental synergies.

Staff Performance Management, Learning, and Development:

• Supervise, mentor, and provide performance feedback to direct reports.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with direct reports.
• Develop capacity-building plans to strengthen technical expertise and career growth.
• Promote staff well-being and ensure adequate departmental coverage.
• Support succession planning and national staff development initiatives.
• Foster an inclusive, team-oriented work environment.
• Develop and conduct training for program staff on proposal writing and design to enhance internal capacity for generating compelling funding applications.

Grant Monitoring & Partner Management:

• Oversee the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure program effectiveness.
• Ensure timely and appropriate grant spending in line with program objectives.
• Support the preparation and submission of accurate, high-quality donor reports.
• Ensure all program initiatives have clear, measurable outcomes that are rigorously reported against to stakeholders, demonstrating impact and guiding future strategy.
• Other Duties: Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by the CD to support the organization’s goals and address emerging needs.

Qualifications

Academic Qualifications:

Graduate degree in International Development, Emergency Management, or a related field.

Experience and Skills:

• At least 10 years of leadership experience managing complex, multi-sectoral humanitarian programs.
• Experience engaging with global communities of practice.
• Prior experience working in emergency or conflict-affected settings.
• Strong leadership and team management experience in multi-disciplinary, cross-cultural environments.
• Proven success in managing multi-site operations and high-value donor-funded projects.
• Expertise in humanitarian best practices across programmatic sectors.
• Skilled in designing and implementing sophisticated monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Ability to conduct rapid and accurate analysis of complex issues and develop strategic solutions.
• Strong diplomatic, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes.
• Understanding of the political and operational complexities in the Middle East region.

Our values:

We are inspired: We are committed to energize, engage, and motivate others to forge the best outcomes for the diverse communities we serve.

We are people-centric: We are respectful and empathetic. We believe that each person, no matter their circumstances, embodies promise and has the power to shape the lives of their community and world.

We are collaborative: Teamwork and collaborative action are at the heart of how we do our work and deliver results.

We are versatile: In a region burdened by obstacles, we make the right connections to find a way and bring can-do, innovative approaches to everything we do.

We are impactful: We make a lasting difference in the lives of those we serve by delivering impactful solutions at the local community level.

We are accountable: Our words, actions and results stay true to our mission and values.