Job Counselor (Mkalles) - FOR NATIONAL CANDIDATES ONLY

Background/IRC Summary

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and is at work in over 40 countries. 

In response to the influx of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, the IRC provides income and livelihoods support to vulnerable Syrian refugees and host communities, through its Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) Program. The objective of the program is to empower non-Lebanese and Lebanese host communities in economic economically resilient. assist vulnerable households in the most affected areas of North and Mount Lebanon in meeting their essential needs and increasing their self-reliance; this is expected to ultimately lessen the use of negative coping strategies for survival.

Interventions include unconditional cash assistance, financial management training, cash for work, access to training and business development opportunities, legal and job counseling, and job referrals through a livelihoods center. In addition, the IRC has developed a private sector initiative aimed at (1) strengthening the capacity of existing employers to expand employment opportunities and (2) supporting the startup of microenterprises. Additional market assessments and other research are conducted under this program. The main target groups are acutely vulnerable registered and unregistered Syrian refugees and Lebanese households.

The ERD program has developed synergies with the other programs implemented by the IRC in Lebanon, particularly working closely with the Protection sector to mainstream protection principles into livelihoods approaches and expand program offerings.  The ERD program has also sought synergies with the Women’s Protection and Empowerment and Children Protection sectors.

Job Overview/Summary

The IRC is managing a stand-alone Livelihoods Centre (LC) in Mount Lebanon serving as venue for the IRC’s ERD activities (e.g., candidate assessments, financial management and vocational trainings, etc). It serves as a space to provide advice to both job-seekers and employers on legal matters pertaining to Lebanese labor regulations. Job-seekers are advised on their rights as workers and on working conditions they should expect. The LC advocates for employers to offer decent working conditions to their employees, including equal wages for women and men, minimum wages, working hours, and safety and health at work.
The Livelihoods job counselor will be responsible for interviewing the beneficiaries and providing guidance for them.

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to: Livelihoods Center Manager
Position directly supervises: NA
Other Internal and/or external contacts:

External: Employers, Partners, local and international NGOs

Internal: Job Counselor, Legal Counselor, Protection Mainstreaming Officer, Private Sector Engagement Assistants, women empowerement program staff etc…

Major Responsibilities

General Responsibilities:

• Schedule interviews with registered job seekers for job ,trainings and other available vacancies
• Provide counseling services on employment and self-employment options, on vocational training opportunities, apprenticeship, and micro loans.
• Provide vocational and career guidance to registered job seekers
• Provide jobseekers and employers with information on relevant Lebanese regulations (including on business start-up) and their implications for Syrian refugees, and Lebanese jobseekers
• Produce reports on results of counseling sessions
• Work with program information systems to record relevant data of job seekers
• Support employers through pre-screening of job seekers
• Match job seekers with training and employment opportunities
• Interview job seekers before referring them to employers.
• Follow up with jobseekers after referring them to employers, and/or after being hired.
• Organize and hold group information sessions (job application training and information)
• Any other task as may be assigned by the Livelihoods Center Manager

Other:

• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

Professional Standards:

• All IRC staff are required to adhere to THE IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies.

Job Qualifications

Education:

• Human Resrouces, Business Administration, psychology or equivalent. Postgraduate degree is an advantage but it is not required

Work Experience:

• 1-2 years of experience working with refugees
• experience in counseling is preferable

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Public speaking and presentation skills
• Good organizational and time management skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (specifically Word and Excel) and web based applications
• Team player
• Can work in stressful environment

Language Skills: 

• Fluent in oral and written Arabic with strong English skills

Working Environment

Travel and other requirements: Staff will be based in Mount Lebanon

WOMEN OF ALL BACKGROUNDS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY