Early Childhood Development Manager - Bekaa

Job Overview:

The ECD Manager will be responsible for overseeing the ECD team (ECD Officers, ECD MER Officer, ECD Assistants, and ECD Facilitators) based in the Bekaa. The ECD Manager will report directly to the Deputy ECD Coordinator, and will oversee all ECD activities in the Bekaa and the monitoring and evaluation of these activities. The ECD Manager will be based in Zahle, but will be required to travel to field locations in the Bekaa to oversee the implementation of the ECD program activities, services, and research components. The ECD Manager will develop, oversee, and maintain key relationships with relevant stakeholders. The ECD Manager represents IRC ECD program in the Bekaa as needed.

Major Responsibilities:

• Oversee (management and technical support) the field-based ECD team to ensure inclusive program quality and transparency;
• Monitor the quality of the project, with the Deputy ECD Coordinator, against benchmarks determined by the Beirut-based management and RMEAL team;
• Supervise the organization and delivery of all ECD activities and services;
• Design and develop new methodology to support community level outreach and work;
• Whenever required, be the representative of IRC ECD for project activities, donor visits, local governance, etc.;
• Analyze technical gaps and project impact at the community level for project activities;
• Act as key focal point for data quality and data screening with Beirut-based RMEAL team;
• Oversee data collection and verification of data collected;
• Conduct regular field visits to ensure successful program implementation;
• Write regular field reports including progress against targets, all implementation details and challenges;
• Organize and attend regular meetings with relevant stakeholders to ensure a coordinated and streamlined approach across target areas;
• Collaborate with relevant IRC Bekaa field teams to optimize the ECD program implementation, and identify new potential implementation channels;
• Collaborate with field teams in other regions to share lessons learned and harmonize work approaches and best practices across governorates and teams;
• Timely identification and discussion of project issues with Deputy ECD Coordinator.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:  Deputy ECD Coordinator
Position directly supervises:  ECD Officers and ECD MER Officer

Indirect Reporting: Integrated ECD Coordinator
Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Senior Quality, Training, and Capacity Building Officer, ECD Managers in Akkar and Tripoli, ECD Officer in Mount Lebanon, RMEAL team, IRC Bekaa field teams

External:  local governance representatives, local NGOs and INGOs, UN agencies, local ECD stakeholders, donors, Sesame Workshop, New York University

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor degree in social sciences, social work, public health, development, or any relevant related field
• At least 3 years of professional experience in the field of ECD and/or community-level humanitarian work overseeing community-level programming (awareness sessions, parenting)
• At least 2 years of professional experience at management level
• Adhere program implementation to IRC policies at all times, including confidentiality and safe identification/referrals
• Demonstrated knowledge of monitoring, evaluation and planning
• Demonstrated knowledge of developing new community-level awareness raising and assessment tools
• Demonstrated experience in overseeing data collection and M&E activities
• Demonstrated capacity to lead a team (organize, plan and oversee)
• Demonstrated capacity to write clear reports
• Experience in working with communities (monitoring, training, needs assessment, and overseeing activities)
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, and capacity to maintain excellent working relationships with relevant stakeholders
• Demonstrated capacity to perform well under pressure with overlapping deadlines in a challenging environment
• Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English

Preferred:

• Working experience with an NGO/INGO
• Master degree in social sciences, development, public health, or any relevant related field.

Working Environment:  

The position is based in Zahle, and expected to travel extensively within the Bekaa, and occasionally to Beirut. 

WOMEN OF ALL BACKGROUNDS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY