Civil Society Specialist

CIVIL SOCIETY SPECIALIST Management Systems International (MSI) is recruiting a Civil Society Specialist to join the Promoting Active Citizen Engagement (PACE) program in Beirut for a five-month consultancy. Launched in October 2011, PACE is a three-year program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The overall objective of the program is to strengthen civil society capacity to act as a catalyst for change through civic participation and advocacy. PACE partners with civil society organizations around the country through civic engagement, media, capacity building, and social entrepreneurship grants, training, and technical assistance. GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY The Civil Society Specialist will provide management oversight of a dynamic portfolio of grants with civil society partners working on civic engagement, advocacy, media, and social entrepreneurship initiatives. The period of performance is through September 30, 2014. The successful candidate is expected to start by May 1 or sooner. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Oversee grant activities implemented by PACE partners to ensure the successful achievement of project deliverables and target results Provide overall guidance and support to PACE partners throughout the grant cycle Review grantee reports, assess progress toward meeting grant objectives, and suggest adjustments to implementation plans as needed to achieve results Conduct regular site visits and attend grantee events and activitieS Monitor and report on grant activities within assigned portfolio, maintaining continuous communications with grantees to remain up-to-date on their activities, progress, and planS Ensure timely implementation of planned activities, submission of deliverables, and grant closeout Regularly capture success stories, lessons learned and information on the impact of grant-funded activities, in collaboration with the M&E Specialist Identify and seize opportunities to promote civil society networking and partnerships Contribute to designing and organizing major events, workshops and conferences Other tasks as assigned  REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in social sciences or a related field At least 3 years of experience in civil society, project management, or a related field Field experience with local and/or international NGOs in Lebanon Excellent communication and relationship-building skills Strong teamwork and organizational skills Fluency in Arabic and English required Experience on USAID-funded programs is a plus