BPRM - WaSH Component Lead (Applications will only be accepted if submitted through the link provided)

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. The agency pursues its mission through emergency relief services, sustainable community development, civil society and economic development initiatives. Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently works in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq.

Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps has implemented community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while responding to emergencies as they emerged in the country. In 2012, the program portfolio shifted in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria and Mercy Corps in Lebanon has solidified its emergency response programming while integrating longer-term development programming by focusing on key sectors: Protection, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Governance and Conflict, and Livelihoods.

Mercy Corps is implementing the “Holistic Humanitarian Assistance to Syrian Refugees and Host Communities in Lebanon Program” (HHAP). The HHAP program aims to provide multi-sector humanitarian assistance to improve the wellbeing of conflict affected Syrian refugees and vulnerable host communities in Lebanon through integrated WASH services and facilities, livelihood opportunities and Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) prevention and response services. The project is being implemented in the Governorates of Bekaa, Hermel-Baalbek, South Lebanon, and Nabatieh, funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (BPRM). The program takes a multi-faceted approach to achieve this goal by: (1) improving access to water and sanitation facilities and promoting improved hygiene practices; (2) creating short-term livelihood opportunities through Labor Intensive Projects (LIP); and (3) reducing SGBV through increased awareness and improved access to quality services. This will be accomplished through carefully sequencing and integrating activities, with WASH and livelihood activities integrating SGBV risk mitigation in their design and implementation.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The WaSH Component Lead is responsible for delivering BPRM-WaSH project results in the context of time, budget, quality, scope, risk and benefit constraints.  S/he is responsible for developing comprehensive and detailed project plans and managing them through the entire life of the project; including part of the projects that will be implemented via partners.
 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The WaSH Component Lead is responsible for managing the WaSH teams based in Zahle and Nabatieh offices and leading the implementation component in the South Lebanon, Nabatieh, Bekaa and Baalbek/Hermel Governorates, which consists of: Installation of latrines and water tanks, grey water management, water testing, desludging services and promotion of improved hygiene practices. S/he will identify potential risks and establish processes to avoid and address these risks and ensure that the intended project benefits are delivered by Mercy Corps.

WaSH Component Management:

• Lead the management and implementation of the BPRM WaSH component, to facilitate key deliverables and achieve targets, including the management of community mobilization, committees and sites selection processes, and identification of priorities;
• Detailed oversight and tracking of  the WaSH component budget;
• Complete WaSH component financial planning ensuring participation in the monthly projections and budget reviews.
• Conduct regular monitoring of ongoing WaSH activities in the South Lebanon, Nabatieh, Bekaa and Baalbek/Hermel Governorates and assess the impact, per Mercy Corps Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) tools, and in accordance with existing related guidelines (i.e. SPHERE and donor regulations);
• Collaborate with the Program Support Coordinator and Operations Teams to facilitate procurement of the WaSH goods, facilities and services based on community-identified needs;
• Write regular WaSH-related donor and organizational reports to highlight program successes and challenges as directed by the BPRM Program Manager.
• Conduct impact assessment to WaSH activities and produce learning reports on quarterly basis;
• Suggest improvements and adaptations to the WaSH programming during annual reviews in order to enhance impact
• Produce WaSH materials and tools as required by the component activities;
• Prepare and complete the required documentation of the organization G-Drive to adhere to Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards as per the PM@MC methodology.

WaSH Team Management

• Manage the performance of WaSH teams in general and the direct reports in particular. Set clear team and staff performance objectives and make sure that everyone in the team have clear understanding about the objective of the team, their role/responsibility in achieving those objectives, and their position within the team;
• Supervise WaSH teams to develop work plans focused on key outputs and outcomes;
• Ensure that teams complete tasks as assigned in a timely, professional way.

Coordination and Representation

• Closely coordinate and work with BPRM GBV and Livelihoods Component leads at Mercy Corps to ensure complete program integration;
• Coordinate and work with government officials, beneficiaries and other stakeholders throughout the implementation of the program;
• Represent Mercy Corps at national WaSH related coordination meetings in Beirut and in field locations to foster greater coordination and information sharing and ensure optimal service coverage for Mercy Corps respective areas of implementation;
• Liaise with national and local officials to explain the objectives and parameters of the WaSH program, as well as program partners, local religious leaders and other community members to ensure support for and acceptance of the BPRM WaSH activities;
• Develop and maintain working relationships and coordinate with relevant international and local agencies.

Other

• Apply Do No Harm standards in the monitoring process to ensure activities do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable communities;
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission;
• Ensure all activities are gender sensitive and follow Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy.
• Contribute to monthly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements.

Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve. We expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, M&E of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY & ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: BPRM Program Manager;

SUPERVISES: Project Engineers, Hygiene Promotion Officers, WaSH Assistant;

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: GBV Component Lead, Livelihood Component Lead, MEL Coordinator, MEL Officers, BPRM Program Support Coordinator, BPRM Livelihoods and GBV field teams, MEL and support teams at Mercy Corps.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• 5 years of experience in WaSH programming;
• 2 years of experience in project management;
• A university master’s or engineering (BE) degree in Civil, Environmental, Water Management, Architecture, Mechanical engineering or any related field of study;
• Experience in working with local organizations/partners;
• Strong understanding of the Lebanon political, legal, and social systems as related to refugee protection as well as demonstrated experience in working in/collaborating with civil society;
• Demonstrated capacity to plan conduct field assessments with associated management of information, analysis and reporting;
• Demonstrated capacity to collaborate closely with INGOs and national NGOs;
• Familiarity with international humanitarian operations, coordination structures, and the mandates of UN agencies, and other NGOs;
• Information management proficiency, including the use of mapping tools;
• Knowledge of humanitarian standards and codes, including SPHERE and HAP;
• Good organizational and project management skills and the ability to anticipate project needs;
• Proven ability to work cooperatively with colleagues of other departments in a team environment, with a diverse group of national and international staff;
• Understanding of participatory methodologies for project design, implementation and evaluation;
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving;
• Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders;
• Fluency in oral and written Arabic and English;
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment;
• Willingness to travel throughout the country.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful WaSH Component Lead will have proven experience working effectively and respectfully with government and other authorities, NGO, and CBO representatives, and will have effective verbal and written communication as well as multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills. S/he will have demonstrated attention to detail while keeping a strategic view, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members, and will have an interest and ability to travel and work in insecure environments.

Sensitivity to multi-cultural international development work and ability to train and facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of individuals with various skill sets and working styles are all critical, as is a commitment to working with community members to make concrete improvements to their livelihoods and living conditions. An ability to creatively problem-solve, to juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines, and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected and sudden events impacting program operations are also essential, as is patience, tenacity, and a good sense of humor.

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. The agency pursues its mission through emergency relief services, sustainable community development, civil society and economic development initiatives. Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently works in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq.

Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps has implemented community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while responding to emergencies as they emerged in the country. In 2012, the program portfolio shifted in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria and Mercy Corps in Lebanon has solidified its emergency response programming while integrating longer-term development programming by focusing on key sectors: Protection, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Governance and Conflict, and Livelihoods.

Mercy Corps is implementing the “Holistic Humanitarian Assistance to Syrian Refugees and Host Communities in Lebanon Program” (HHAP). The HHAP program aims to provide multi-sector humanitarian assistance to improve the wellbeing of conflict affected Syrian refugees and vulnerable host communities in Lebanon through integrated WASH services and facilities, livelihood opportunities and Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) prevention and response services. The project is being implemented in the Governorates of Bekaa, Hermel-Baalbek, South Lebanon, and Nabatieh, funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (BPRM). The program takes a multi-faceted approach to achieve this goal by: (1) improving access to water and sanitation facilities and promoting improved hygiene practices; (2) creating short-term livelihood opportunities through Labor Intensive Projects (LIP); and (3) reducing SGBV through increased awareness and improved access to quality services. This will be accomplished through carefully sequencing and integrating activities, with WASH and livelihood activities integrating SGBV risk mitigation in their design and implementation.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The WaSH Component Lead is responsible for delivering BPRM-WaSH project results in the context of time, budget, quality, scope, risk and benefit constraints.  S/he is responsible for developing comprehensive and detailed project plans and managing them through the entire life of the project; including part of the projects that will be implemented via partners.
 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The WaSH Component Lead is responsible for managing the WaSH teams based in Zahle and Nabatieh offices and leading the implementation component in the South Lebanon, Nabatieh, Bekaa and Baalbek/Hermel Governorates, which consists of: Installation of latrines and water tanks, grey water management, water testing, desludging services and promotion of improved hygiene practices. S/he will identify potential risks and establish processes to avoid and address these risks and ensure that the intended project benefits are delivered by Mercy Corps.

WaSH Component Management:

• Lead the management and implementation of the BPRM WaSH component, to facilitate key deliverables and achieve targets, including the management of community mobilization, committees and sites selection processes, and identification of priorities;
• Detailed oversight and tracking of  the WaSH component budget;
• Complete WaSH component financial planning ensuring participation in the monthly projections and budget reviews.
• Conduct regular monitoring of ongoing WaSH activities in the South Lebanon, Nabatieh, Bekaa and Baalbek/Hermel Governorates and assess the impact, per Mercy Corps Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) tools, and in accordance with existing related guidelines (i.e. SPHERE and donor regulations);
• Collaborate with the Program Support Coordinator and Operations Teams to facilitate procurement of the WaSH goods, facilities and services based on community-identified needs;
• Write regular WaSH-related donor and organizational reports to highlight program successes and challenges as directed by the BPRM Program Manager.
• Conduct impact assessment to WaSH activities and produce learning reports on quarterly basis;
• Suggest improvements and adaptations to the WaSH programming during annual reviews in order to enhance impact
• Produce WaSH materials and tools as required by the component activities;
• Prepare and complete the required documentation of the organization G-Drive to adhere to Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards as per the PM@MC methodology.

WaSH Team Management

• Manage the performance of WaSH teams in general and the direct reports in particular. Set clear team and staff performance objectives and make sure that everyone in the team have clear understanding about the objective of the team, their role/responsibility in achieving those objectives, and their position within the team;
• Supervise WaSH teams to develop work plans focused on key outputs and outcomes;
• Ensure that teams complete tasks as assigned in a timely, professional way.

Coordination and Representation

• Closely coordinate and work with BPRM GBV and Livelihoods Component leads at Mercy Corps to ensure complete program integration;
• Coordinate and work with government officials, beneficiaries and other stakeholders throughout the implementation of the program;
• Represent Mercy Corps at national WaSH related coordination meetings in Beirut and in field locations to foster greater coordination and information sharing and ensure optimal service coverage for Mercy Corps respective areas of implementation;
• Liaise with national and local officials to explain the objectives and parameters of the WaSH program, as well as program partners, local religious leaders and other community members to ensure support for and acceptance of the BPRM WaSH activities;
• Develop and maintain working relationships and coordinate with relevant international and local agencies.

Other

• Apply Do No Harm standards in the monitoring process to ensure activities do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable communities;
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission;
• Ensure all activities are gender sensitive and follow Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy.
• Contribute to monthly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements.

Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve. We expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, M&E of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY & ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: BPRM Program Manager;

SUPERVISES: Project Engineers, Hygiene Promotion Officers, WaSH Assistant;

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: GBV Component Lead, Livelihood Component Lead, MEL Coordinator, MEL Officers, BPRM Program Support Coordinator, BPRM Livelihoods and GBV field teams, MEL and support teams at Mercy Corps.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• 5 years of experience in WaSH programming;
• 2 years of experience in project management;
• A university master’s or engineering (BE) degree in Civil, Environmental, Water Management, Architecture, Mechanical engineering or any related field of study;
• Experience in working with local organizations/partners;
• Strong understanding of the Lebanon political, legal, and social systems as related to refugee protection as well as demonstrated experience in working in/collaborating with civil society;
• Demonstrated capacity to plan conduct field assessments with associated management of information, analysis and reporting;
• Demonstrated capacity to collaborate closely with INGOs and national NGOs;
• Familiarity with international humanitarian operations, coordination structures, and the mandates of UN agencies, and other NGOs;
• Information management proficiency, including the use of mapping tools;
• Knowledge of humanitarian standards and codes, including SPHERE and HAP;
• Good organizational and project management skills and the ability to anticipate project needs;
• Proven ability to work cooperatively with colleagues of other departments in a team environment, with a diverse group of national and international staff;
• Understanding of participatory methodologies for project design, implementation and evaluation;
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving;
• Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders;
• Fluency in oral and written Arabic and English;
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment;
• Willingness to travel throughout the country.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful WaSH Component Lead will have proven experience working effectively and respectfully with government and other authorities, NGO, and CBO representatives, and will have effective verbal and written communication as well as multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills. S/he will have demonstrated attention to detail while keeping a strategic view, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members, and will have an interest and ability to travel and work in insecure environments.

Sensitivity to multi-cultural international development work and ability to train and facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of individuals with various skill sets and working styles are all critical, as is a commitment to working with community members to make concrete improvements to their livelihoods and living conditions. An ability to creatively problem-solve, to juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines, and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected and sudden events impacting program operations are also essential, as is patience, tenacity, and a good sense of humor