Regional Program Manager (Southern Lebanon)

About Chemonics
Chemonics International is an international development company based in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to promote meaningful change around the world to help people live healthier, more productive and more independent lives. Since 1975 we have worked in 149 countries around the world, and currently implement 113 contracts in 68 countries. Our main partner is the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), but we occasionally work with foreign donors as well. We have over 600 staff based in our Washington, DC office and over 3000 staff in our project offices around the world.

USAID/Lebanon Community Support Program (CSP)

This Five year project aims to support municipalities and underserved and vulnerable communities in providing better services and enhanced economic opportunities to improve lives and reduce tensions that contribute to conflict and violence in Lebanon. We’re a regionally based program, based in Beirut with activities in Bekaa, North, and South Lebanon. Chemonics is the sole owner of the Lebanon Community Support Program IDIQ contract. We are currently implementing five Task Orders: Task Order 01 (Operations and Management), Task Order 02 (Community Support Program, Stabilization and Development), Task Order 03 (Technical Assistance and Capacity Building) Task Order 04 (Workforce Development) and Task Order 05 (Wastewater Management).

1.  Summary of Position

The Regional Program Manager (RPM) oversees the design and implementation of TO 2 community stabilization and community development assistance interventions in southern Lebanon. S/he will identify communities that meet CSP’s criteria for intervention and will design technically sound assistance interventions to improve the delivery of essential services and enhance economic opportunities according to CSP’s established methodology. Throughout this process, s/he will nurture and maintain relationships with local stakeholders – including governors, heads of unions, mayors, municipal councils, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to advance the goals and objectives of CSP. The RPM is also responsible for supervising up to three Field Officers in his/her area of operation. Reporting to CSP’s Senior Program Manager, the RPM serves as CSP’s primary point of contact to represent the program in communities being served by CSP.  

2.  Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct regular situation monitoring at the national and regional levels as it pertains to the assigned area of intervention to stay up to date and current on general atmospherics and strains on the provision of essential services.
• Provide supervision and technical oversight to CSP's Field Officers in the community profiling, community engagement, and activity implementation process.
• Apply CSP's community selection methodology and make recommendations for priority communities to receive CSP assistance.
• Design technically sound community stabilization and community development interventions according to CSP’s established methodology (program-led; Rapid Analysis and Design, or Local Systems).
• Lead the drafting of activity concepts and approval packages.
• Oversee implementation to ensure activities are implemented according to their design.   
• Facilitate effective coordination between Field Officers and community engagement partners to enhance reach into Lebanon’s most underserved communities.
• Participate actively in problem solving and troubleshooting to ensure implementation remains within the spirit of the original design concept.
• Provide technical advice and assistance as needed to local partners (municipalities or CSOs) in the areas of financial management, procurement requirements, and implementation planning.
• Coordinate with the Activity Fund Team for procurement specifications and in tracking expenditures against activity budgets.
• Assist Activity Fund Team to ensure that all activity files are complete and maintained, and that activities are closed out within required time frames.
• Ensure compliance with USAID and Chemonics policies and procedures.
• Contribute to the implementation of the program's MEL plan by supporting the collection of data, measuring progress against indicators, and writing activity completion statements (ACS).
• Correspond and coordinate with other donors and programs operating in respective areas of operation.
• Coordinate with other CSP task orders to build synergies and efficiencies to ensure the sound implementation of all interventions under the CSP IDIQ.
• Contribute to CSP reports and deliverables, with a particular emphasis on field-level atmospherics reporting for weekly, quarterly, and annual reports, and beneficiary-level reporting for outreach materials.
• Undertake other duties as assigned by the Senior Program Manager, TO 2 Director, or Chief of Party

3.  Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred in a relevant discipline such as engineering, economics, education, business administration, or other
• Minimum five years of experience in community stabilization and/or community development type programming, with some demonstrated experience in the improvement of essential services (e.g. water, electricity, solid waste management, public education) or the enhancement of economic opportunities (livelihoods).
• A minimum of two years in a managerial position.
• Management experience with international donors and international organizations, including familiarity with USAID programs preferred.
• Experience working with municipalities, unions of municipalities, regional water establishments, civil society organizations, and/or private sector.  
• Experience designing and implementing community stabilization/community development activities.
• Familiarity with grants, subcontracts, and commodity procurement with an emphasis on knowledge of USAID’s rules and regulation preferred
• Experience working in Lebanon’s most underserved and vulnerable communities, specifically in the South Lebanon region.  
• Fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English required.

4.  Location of the Assignment

The Regional Program Manager will be based in the project’s main office in Beirut, and will be expected to travel regularly to communities in southern Lebanon.

5.  Reporting

The Regional Program Manager will report directly to the Senior Program Manager, or equivalent.

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants that can legally work in Lebanon will be considered for employment based on their qualifications without discrimination.