Emergency Response Manager

Job Purpose: The Emergency Response Manager will provide leadership for the overall development, management and implementation of Concern’s emergency response interventions in Lebanon. The Emergency Response Manager ensures that emergency response, preparedness and recovery plans and activities for Concern Lebanon are implemented successfully and according to the respective project budgets and timeframes whilst meeting the highest standards of quality and accountability. The Manager will work to continuously improve standards and procedures around emergency responses, positioning and preparing the country team to respond effectively to rapid onset emergencies.

Job Location: Based in Tripoli, with frequent visits to projects’ sites, partners’ offices and Beirut Office

Main duties & Responsibilities:

Emergency Response:

• As the designated in-country focal point for emergency response, maintain familiarity with on-going emergency, and ensure adherence to Concern and international standards and tools.
• Manage ongoing and future emergency response projects in coordination with the PQC and Programs Director, both as direct implementation and through local partners, with activities likely including protection (awareness raising, Psychosocial Support Sessions, Psychological First Aid, Recreational activities for children, case management and referrals), procurement and distribution of core relief items (mattresses, blankets, dignity/elderly/baby/winterization kits), basic assistance and food security, cash assistance, shelter support, assessments and rapid needs assessments, and documentation, reporting and learning.
• Coordination and collaboration with other departments and teams in Concern including the Protection, Shelter, MEAL, logistics and finance departments.
• Identify and respond to new alerts in collaboration with OCHA and other actors, ensuring Concern's strategic positioning for rapid crisis response across North Lebanon, Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Akkar, and other provinces.
• Optimize Concern Lebanon's internal mechanisms to support rapid emergency responses.
• Development or improvement of any relevant SOP, monitoring or assessment tools, training materials or guidelines for emergency response and related activities.
• Build and maintain a strong network with INGOs, local partners, OCHA, and UN agencies to ensure complementarity and avoid duplication of activities.
• Build and maintain a strong network with local authorities and leaders to manage and ensure humanitarian access considerations, in collaboration with Protection and Shelter teams, informing to the Access Working Group as relevant.
• Participate and share Concern updates to emergency/RNA working groups, and coordinate with other Concern team members attending related working groups.
• Plan emergency responses based on assessments and collaborate with teams to follow up on recommendations.
• Support to emergency procurement processes, pre-qualification of suppliers, or related tasks.
• Lead planning, coordination and implementation of core relief items distribution, documentation and reporting.
• Support in recruitment of emergency response related staff, including conducting orientations, training and PDR
• Ensure effective monitoring, tracking, reporting and evaluation of emergency response activities and partnerships.  
• Work with local partners and stakeholder to develop and harmonize tools for emergency programming.
• Participate in sector and donor meetings as relevant, providing regular project updates.
• Ensure grant compliance and timely, accurate financial and narrative reporting in line with donor agreements.
• Budget Holder responsibility and budget management for Emergency Response projects.
• Coordinate with the finance department and partners to submit reports according to donor compliance guidelines.

Funding strategy implementation:

• Provide inputs to desk reviews and analysis of the current donor and stakeholder profile in country: their priorities for investment, potential calls
• Provide information to the Programme Quality Coordinator to identify opportunities for funding and information dissemination
• Be aware of and engage in networking opportunities where there is likelihood to learn about/engage with new opportunities/priorities for the country, relevant to INGO work.
• With the support of the Programme Director, lead on the development of funding proposals for emergency projects in line with Concern Lebanon country strategy.

Partner Management:

• Manage the Partnership Agreements for implementation of emergency response activities under any funding that Concern mobilises
• Support mapping, identification and due diligence assessments (CILPAT and CILPAT lite as relevant) for emergency response partners
• Support implementing partners during the implementation of project activities by providing managerial support, sharing key updates and information, day-to-day communication and activity tracking.
• Monitoring partner progress against targets and expenditure, identify any delays or challenges with the partner, and corrective actions to ensure timely delivery and spend.
• Act as one of Concern Lebanon’s focal point between implementing partners and Concern teams to ensure well-coordinated and impactful implementation.
• Provide inputs to partner mapping, stakeholder analysis, and other relevant documents.

Planning:

• Work with the Programme Director and SMT to update and monitor actions against the Concern Lebanon Preparing for Effective Emergency Response (PEER) plan, Business Continuity Plan, Security Management Plan (SMP) and other Concern initiatives.
• Contribute to ongoing security management and planning as necessary.
• Be aware of, understand and comply with all of Concern’s policies and procedures (P4, finance, logistics, HR, security management etc).

Responsibilities in link to Concern’s values, workplace equality, diversity and inclusion,  safeguarding, and participation in emergency response:

• All managers are responsible for upholding and promoting Concern’s values, demonstrating leadership on workplace equality, diversity and inclusion, and role modelling a positive safeguarding ethos;
• All employees are required to undertake training in equality, diversity and inclusion; the Code of Conduct; and safeguarding, along with any other training required for the role;
• All managers are required to actively participate in any emergency response as and when required.

Responsibilities in link to Complaint Response Mechanism (CRM) Accountabilities:

• In line with Concern’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS):
• Actively promote meaningful community participation and consultation at all stages of the project cycle (planning, implementation, M&E);
• Work with relevant colleagues  to ensure that the Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) is functional and accessible, that feedback and complaints are welcomed and addressed;
• Work with relevant colleagues to ensure that information about CRM, safeguarding and expected staff behaviour is disseminated among programme participants and communities.

Other:

• Take active measures to address equality issues, particularly relating to gender, in programme as well as operational activities.
• Ensure the highest stands of accountability through ensuring good communication and information sharing within and outside the organisation.
• Undertake other related duties as may reasonably be assigned by the CD or PD.

Requirements 

Essential:

• Education: University Degree in Development, Finance/Economics, Policy, Business/Public Administration, Political/Social Sciences, or a related discipline

• Experience:
  • At least 5 years of experience in implementing multi sectoral programmes in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) or humanitarian work, with proven experience in all stages of the project cycle.
  • 2 years experience managing Emergency Responses.
  • Experience in external representation with authorities and partners.
  • Excellent spoken and written English, Arabic is an advantage.
  • A proven record of effective team and people management.
  • Sensitivity to cultural differences, and the ability to work in a wide variety of cultural contexts.
  • Excellent teamwork skills and the ability to build good relations both internally and externally.
  • Experience of building capacity of internal and partner staff.
  • Analytical and problem solving skills.
  • Proven financial management skills.
  • Commitment to Concern’s ethos and values.
  • Sound IT skills, including Word and Excel.

Desirable:

• Experience in proposal and report writing.
• Familiarity with logistics, HR, Finance, and administrative processes of Concern.
• Understanding and experience of mainstreaming issues of gender equity, ethnicity and HIV and AIDS into project planning and implementation.
• Experience of working in Emergency Responses (or elsewhere under similar conditions).
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload, using initiative when appropriate.
• Ability to cope with stress; work under pressure often to strict deadlines.
• Facilitation and interpersonal skills

Competencies:

• Managing Yourself
• Individual leadership
• Communication and working with others
• Delivering results
• Planning and decision-making
• Creativity and innovation
• Influence, advocacy and networking
• Change

Safeguarding Competencies - High Risk Role:

• Addresses the immediate safety of the child or adult and ensures that a safeguarding plan is put in place immediately when the risk of abuse is high.
• Identifies and refers to appropriate services any other associated persons including carers, family members and children at risk.
• Practises in a manner that seeks to reduce the risk of abuse, harm or neglect.
• Uses safeguarding and local context knowledge, and understanding of what constitutes any signs of adult or child abuse, harm or neglect. Including the further recognition of local safeguarding priorities, for example, financial abuse, modern slavery, trafficking.
• Acts to ensure effective advocacy for the adult or child at risk of abuse, harm or neglect.
• Understands local safeguarding structures and arrangements.
• Understands decision making capacity (and laws pertaining to this) as relevant to the country of practice for children and adults.
• "Documents safeguarding concerns in order to be able to inform the relevant staff and agencies as necessary, maintains appropriate records, records the wishes and views of the adult or child at risk and differentiates between fact and opinion. Has an understanding of forensic requirements for example the need to preserve any evidence in SEA cases."
• Shares appropriate and relevant information with other teams within relevant information sharing protocols.
• Acts in accordance with local legislation and best practice guidance relevant to country of practice.
• Recognise obligations to act when they have a safeguarding concern and acting is against the expressed wishes of the person.
• Understands own and colleagues’ roles, responsibilities, and professional boundaries, including what constitutes both organisational and professional abuse. Is able to raise concerns about conduct of colleagues.
• Understands how to access local safeguarding networks and support.