Indefinite Quantity Option Program Manager (IPM) - ARE Activity

BACKGROUND

The Lebanon Agriculture and Rural Empowerment (ARE) program is a multi-year project funded by USAID to develop rural economics in Lebanon through support to the agro-food sector and other industries to unlock local and export sales potential while also creating jobs and increasing farmers’ and worker’s incomes. ARE will increase jobs; improve incomes; improve female participation and employment opportunities; increase domestic and export sales; increase private sector investment; improve access to finance; link value chain actors to domestic and international markets; and improve farm production through improved practices, technology, increased volume, and/or decreased cost. Under ARE’s Indefinite Quantity Option (supporting ARE’s Objective 3: Increase productivity of Micro, Small, and Medium-size Enterprises (MSMEs)) the activity will help strengthen the resilience of at least 200 MSMEs in Beirut that were affected by last year’s tragic port blast. ARE will also support targeted agricultural and non-agricultural interventions inside and outside of Beirut. Non-agricultural interventions will focus on the food and beverage sector as well as light industry/manufacturing.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The IQO Program Manager (IPM) will serve as a key member of the Technical Assistance and Strategic Communications (TASC) team, under the direct management and supervision of the Deputy Chief of Party and Chief Technical Officer. The IPM will be responsible for leading the design, coordination, oversight, support and management of grants and interventions under the Objective 3 IQO that will be implemented under the Strategic, Innovation, Technology and Sector Development (SITSD) fund and framework. He/She will also support with the design and validation of newly identified opportunities and interventions in other sectors if and as needed. The IPM will be based in the Beirut office with relevant travel to the field across Lebanon (North of Lebanon, Mount Lebanon, Bekaa, South of Lebanon). The IPM will coordinate closely with their assigned Grants Manager and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Team to continually assess ongoing interventions and potential opportunities for interventions and plan tasks in line with project outputs and overall objectives.

DETAILED RESPONSIBILITIES

Oversees ongoing and upcoming ARE interventions and grants (private and non-private sector entities) under the Objective 3 IQO of the SITSD sub-fund, including identifying and linking opportunities with emerging and established agricultural and potentially non-agricultural activities.

Oversee and lead ARE’s Building Business Resilience in Beirut intervention including managing subgrantee(s) and subcontractor(s);

Oversee and lead on ARE’s intervention on productivity enhancements for non-agricultural MSMEs in urban, peri-urban and/or rural areas.

Lead the grant and procurement management and processes related to ARE’s Building Business Resilience in Business intervention.

Lead administrative and operational management of the assigned interventions including scope, budget and schedule tracking and reporting in line with ARE’s project management standards and protocols.

Liaise and coordinate with ARE’s Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team in order to develop indicator plans and monitor intended results.

In partnership with the TASC Technical Advisors, lead the development of work plans for the assigned interventions that incorporate assistance to the activity’s beneficiaries.

In coordination with the TASC Advisors and in line with Chemonics and USAID’s rules and regulations lead on the procurement of goods and services for the assigned interventions.

Draft and submit technical and progress reports for ongoing and completed interventions for internal and external communication purposes.

Provide supervision and technical oversight to ARE’s IQO Program Assistant.

Participate actively in problem solving and troubleshooting to ensure that intervention implementation remains within the spirit of the original design.

In collaboration with the assigned Grants focal point, designs grant or technical assistance interventions with identified and selected private sector entities.

Contribute to the design and implementation of private sector interventions, grants, and technical assistance to enable increased sales and export potential, job creation, and increased incomes for private sector entities and selected beneficiaries.

Coordinate with other team members, including communications team, data collection assistants, grants manager, and RPSE teams to identify areas for technical assistance, achieve project objectives, and other tasks as required.

Other duties as assigned by the Deputy Chief of Party/Chief Technical Officer and/or Chief of Party.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in agricultural engineering, agribusiness, engineering, business management, or another relevant field. Graduate/Masters degree preferred.

Minimum of five years of program management experience working on a portfolio of multiple projects/interventions.

Prior experience working on the projects supporting Beirut-port blast recovery and assistance is highly preferred

Demonstrated experience working on economic development projects including support to the Food and Beverage (F&B) sector and/or light industry/manufacturing (such as metal working, wood/furniture production, glass, or other light industries) highly desired.

Familiarity with renewable energy, specifically solar solutions, for improving energy efficiency and reducing energy cost for MSMEs highly desired.

Demonstrated experience using digital project management tools and software solutions required, PMP certification highly preferred.

Minimum three years experience on USAID projects highly preferred.

Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well within a team environment required.

Fluency in Arabic and advanced proficiency English (Reading, Writing, Speaking).

LOCATION OF ASSIGNMENT

The IQO (3) Program Manager will be based in Beirut with extensive travel across Lebanon expected on a regular basis.

REPORTING

The IQO (3) Program Manager will report to the Deputy Chief of Party and Chief Technical Officer.