Program Coordinator

About the Hariri Foundation (HFSHD)

The Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development is a Lebanese non-governmental organization founded in 1979. Member of ECOSOC with special status, it aims to achieve sustainable human development at the regional, national and local levels through investing in the human capital. Through its diverse set of programs, the organization localizes, delivers and mainstreams advanced educational, participatory and developmental models aiming to transform education, promote active citizenship, and build urban resilience.

The Hariri Foundation seeks to strengthen partnerships between the public, private and civic sectors through establishing and supporting sectoral networks and communities of practice. Through international, national, and local partnerships and a diverse set of engagement programs, the organization strives to facilitate evidence-based policy addressing global development transformations and scientific frameworks.

Position Description

Under the direct supervision of the Research and Development Manager, the Program Coordinator is responsible for planning, communications, research, and reporting tasks under the Outreach and Leadership Academy (OLA) in the Sustainability and Climate Action Program.

The Sustainability and Climate Action Program at the Hariri Foundation is dedicated to driving sustainable transitions through environmental thinking, action, and nudging, with focus areas including i) environmental governance, ii) climate action, and iii) economy/lifestyle behaviors. The program features a designated, green Outreach and Leadership Academy (OLA), specialized in environmental research, education, and urban experimentation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program Coordination

• Coordinating and following up on the deliverables of the Sustainability and Climate Action program research team.
• Implementing and monitoring all project activities and milestones, in close consultation with the Program Technical Coordinator and Research and Development Manager.
• Coordinating National Blue Economy initiatives under the leadership of HFSHD and partners, including national networks, meetings, and conferences.
• Working closely and building positive relationships with project partners across all intervention tracks to ensure project deliverables are met. This entails maintaining regular communication channels with partners and co-leading bilateral and consortium-level meetings.
• Building partnerships with and ensuring outreach to other relevant stakeholders in collaboration with the Research and Development Manager and Hariri Foundation's wider Executive Office Team.
• Supporting the establishment of national networks of environmental scholars and practitioners.
• Supporting the preparation for the annual Saida Environmental Forum on advancing the local environmental agenda and governance, including identifying green ambassadors and champions and coordinating with them.
• Carrying out day-to-day administrative and coordination tasks necessary for overall project success.

2. Program Management

• Planning and ensuring coordinated work and events by aligning cross-cutting objectives among Sustainability and Climate Action Program-related projects and related HFSHD program projects.
• Planning Outreach and Leadership Academy (OLA) activities and coordinating the Green Ambassadors Program (GAP), including the Green Ambassadors Clubs (GAC), the OLA Green Incubator, and environmental education activities.
• Planning, forecasting, and monitoring spending in line with agreed project budgets and expenditures for both HFSHD programs and partner projects.
• Working closely with the Finance Officer to reinforce good financial management practices on a monthly basis.
• Ensuring solid procurement processes are in place for suppliers and service providers to achieve internal and donor compliance, including developing terms of reference and calls for applications where relevant.

3. Research

• Leading research methods for projects and initiatives under the Saida Roadmap Towards an Environmentally Sustainable City, focusing on the urban environmental observatory, including database management, indicator monitoring, and knowledge capturing.
• Coordinating with the program technical coordinator on environmental experimentation-related projects.
• Coordinating with the program technical officer on the work and progress of circular economy initiatives and blue economy under the economy and lifestyle behavior thematic area.
• Coordinating with the program team and the Research and Development Manager for research conducted under the thematic areas of environmental governance and climate action and diplomacy.

4. Communications

• Assisting in preparing communication materials with quality content for internal/external purposes and delivering them through appropriate channels such as campaigns, advocacy materials, policy briefs, and factsheets, using various science communication styles.
• Supporting the HFSHD communications team in managing social media accounts and developing visual and audio media for disseminating project results and building new networks.
• Assisting in delivering events such as webinars and conferences, including outreach to relevant stakeholders and tracking invites and participation.
• Developing and maintaining relations with all environmental researchers and advocates and establishing communication mechanisms, including maintaining an updated Sustainability and Climate Action program database and regular communications with strategic partners.

5. Reporting

• Coordinating partners’ reporting on all project deliverables, ensuring high-quality content and timely submissions.
• Assisting the Research and Development Manager in preparing narrative reports as per donors' and HFSHD requirements, as well as project briefs for other relevant audiences.

6. Qualifications

• A bachelor's or master's degree in environmental science, environmental policy, architecture, civil engineering, sustainable development, or a related field is required. Applicants with a background in social science are encouraged to apply.
• A minimum of 2 years is required for holders of a master's degree, and 3 years for those with a bachelor's degree.
• Proven experience in project management, grants management, and proposal writing, particularly in the field of environmental planning and governance projects, is a must.
• Strong knowledge of climate change and sustainability-related issues in Lebanon and the MENA region is essential.
• Previous experience in conducting and designing technical capacity-building workshops is necessary.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations, is essential.
• Working knowledge of knowledge capture, indicators, and database management is required.
• Proficiency in Arabic and English languages is necessary, with proficiency in French considered a plus.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills are required.
• Previous attendance at international and national conferences in the environmental field is advantageous.
• Experience abroad is a plus.
• Effective time management and organizational skills are crucial.
• Ability to manage deadlines and handle stressful situations is necessary.
• Capacity to work in teams and flexibility to take on new tasks are important attributes.