Senior Program Implementation Manager - Beirut - FOR NATIONAL CANDIDATES ONLY

Background:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as with those who remain within their homes and communities. At-work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. IRC reaches over a million children annually with education and child protection programs in 25 countries around the world.

In response to the influx of Syrian refugees to Lebanon in mid-2012, IRC opened a country office and launched humanitarian assistance programming. IRC operates throughout Lebanon, with the main office in Beirut and field offices in Qobayat, Zahle, Tripoli and Mount Lebanon. IRC’s programs assist Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese in host communities across multiple sectors: education, livelihoods, protection, women's protection and empowerment child protection and early childhood development in close coordination with national partner, the Lebanese Government and broader humanitarian community.

High-quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs provide the foundation for children’s future academic success, health, prosperity and wellbeing. A large body of scientific evidence emphasizes the need for increased investment in early childhood, particularly for children experiencing conflict, crisis and displacement; these children are extremely vulnerable to the long-lasting effects that prolonged stress has on the developing brain.

In December 2017, Sesame Workshop and the IRC were awarded the MacArthur Foundation’s inaugural 100&Change grant to make real progress toward solving a critical problem of our time. With the extraordinary investment of $100 million, our partnership will transform the language, early reading, math, and social-emotional skills of a generation of children ages 0-8. Focusing on children in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria over the next five years, the plan combines the depth of in-person services, reaching 1.5 million children, with the breadth of mass media, reaching 9.4 million children. For more information, please visit: http://refugee.sesameinternational.org/.

Job Overview:  

Reporting to the ECD coordinator, the ECD Senior Program Implementation manager, is responsible for the oversight of implementation of ECD direct and partners’ services in Tripoli, Akkar and Bekaa, ensuring all program models are implemented with quality, in coordination with ECD Senior Technical Quality manager and Senior Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager. The Senior Program Implementation manager directly supervises and provides management support to the ECD field teams and ensures programmatic strategies and best practices are shared across field teams and partners. The Senior Program Implementation manager also ensures program implementation is clearly planned, tracked, documented, and aligned with overall program goals and objectives. Senior Program Implementation manager supports with external representation on both field and national levels in addition to rolling out ECD partnerships and scaling plans in Lebanon.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Implementation and Coordination:

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• Develop project management and planning tools in line with the ECD program vision and objectives
• Oversee and monitor the implementation of ECD services in Tripoli, Akkar, and Bekaa in close coordination with Senior Technical Quality Manager and Senior Research Monitoring and Evaluation Manager and roll out and oversee scaling and partnership activities in the field
• Adapt and update relevant project management tools in a timely manner, based on contextual changes
• Standardize operational and field implementation plans, strategies, and processes across field teams
• Track progress against deliverables and address gaps systematically
• Ensure timely and clear dissemination of information across field teams
• Provide timely status reporting regarding project milestones, deliverables, challenges, and support needed
• Closely coordinate with IRC Women’s Protection and Empowerment program on Ahlan Simsim program integration
• Regularly attend related sector working group and coordination meetings
• Identify potential local actors from the field for partnership and scaling opportunities
• Attend scaling operational planning meeting and coordinate the scaling field related activities
• Liaise and coordinate with local and international NGOs, UN agencies, authorities, relevant stakeholders as needed

Human Resources Management:

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• In coordination with HR, support in the recruitment of ECD program field staff
• Supervise field based ECD teams, ensuring accountability to IRC policies and donor rules and regulations
• Supervise, coach, support and motivate ECD field teams; discuss, and review goals, performance objectives, and expectations with direct reports; provide regular and timely performance feedback
• Monitor staff performance and complete semi – annual performance reviews with direct reports
• Conduct weekly coordination meetings with ECD field teams
• Provide the teams with clear guidance on processes related to procurement, financial, and administrative tasks; provide the teams with support on the execution of tasks as needed
• Promote a positive working environment and encourage collaboration and coordination across teams
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures

Technical Quality

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• Establish a standard qualitative reporting mechanism in coordination with the RMEAL unit to document progress, achievements, address challenges and identify the needed support
• Support and coordinate closely with the Scaling and Learning manager on the pilot of the trainings and capacity building plans related to scaling activities
• Set capacity building plans that are tailored to the ECD teams needs, in coordination with Senior Technical Quality manager
• Set, in coordination with Senior Technical Quality manager, mechanisms for program quality supervision and provision of technical support to ECD field teams
• In coordination with the Senior RMEAL Manager, oversee the maintenance of a robust monitoring and evaluation framework, including quality control and reporting systems
• Stay well informed on content updates/changes, research initiatives and requirements, and M&E tools

Business development

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• Work closely with ECD Coordinator, ECD Senior Technical Quality Manager and ECD Senior Research Monitoring and Evaluation manager in generating quality and timely donor reports
• Support the Integrated ECD Coordinator in developing new project proposals that would address gaps and needs identified through program implementation

Job Requirements:

• • University degree in management, social sciences, international development, or other relevant related field, master’s degree is preferable
  • 3-5 years of professional experience in project and program management, including tracking and planning projects
  • 3-5 years of experience in ECD or education related programming
  • Strong experience in developing project management tools
  • Strong experience in planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation
  • Experience in staff management, capacity and team building
  • Excellent leadership and communication skills (verbal and written) – being responsive, clear and concise, as well as demonstrates the ability to provide structured and constructive feedback
  • Demonstrates experience in coordination and representation with external parties
  • Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time
  • Strong analytic problem-solving skills and proactivity in identifying gaps and challenges to be addressed
  • Demonstrates flexibility, ability to work under pressure and in a changing environment
  • Proficiency in Arabic and English

Working Environment:  

The position is based in Beirut, with frequent field visits to Tripoli, Akkar, and the Bekaa.