Program Officer

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. With funding from the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), Mercy Corps is expanding an eight-month pilot project to a two-year program aiming at improving the stability and resiliency in target communities in the North of Lebanon and the Beqaa through reduced unemployment and increased income for businesses. INTAJ (Improved Networks, Training and Jobs) is focused on three main components: skills development, small and medium enterprise (SME) development, and solid waste and recycling management (SWM/R). GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY: The Program Officer will provide support in the implementation of the INTAJ (and operationally where necessary. S/he will assist in all aspects of the project, across all three components to ensure the program meets its targets and deliverables on time and within budget. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: • Support the Operations Coordinator, Project Managers and overall INTAJ team to plan, implement, and monitor activities to meet project deliverable based on agreed timeline and scope; • Provide day-to-day support and coordination, including administrative, financial and logistical support. Trouble shoot administrative problems and report any challenges or bottlenecks to the Operations Coordinator; • Support development of implementation tools and templates for three INTAJ components; • Build relationships with potential partners to introduce the project and facilitate access to information related to projects activities and scope. Arrange for meetings with local entities and authorities, as requested; • Participate in team planning and coordination meetings and trainings; • Assist in filing and record keeping of project activities including Program Management Minimum Standards (PM@MC); • Assist in analysis of data collected to facilitate assessment results and lessons learnt; • Draft communications materials using information from grant files, M&E data, and other sources; • Ensure all activities are gender sensitive and follow Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy; • Apply Do No Harm standards to ensure activities do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable communities; • Contribute to monthly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements; • Participate in internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops; • Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission; • Other assigned tasks, as necessary. 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: Operations Coordinator SUPERVISES: None WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Program and Project Managers, Field Coordinators, Technical Advisors and M&E team KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE • One or more years of experience in economic and market development and/or development-related programs, • BA/S or equivalent in social work, social sciences, human rights, or other relevant field preferred; • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Arabic is a plus; • Positive, respectful attitude and collaborative approach to problem solving; • Demonstrated attention to detail; ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently as well as cooperatively with team members; • Familiarity with major international donor rules; • Ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel; • A demonstrated ability to multi-task and process information into action as to not delay program activities; • Ability and willingness to travel regularly to the field SUCCESS FACTORS: The Program Officer will be bright, energetic, hard-working and eager to learn. They will take a deep personal interest in humanitarian and development assistance. They will have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability. They will be attentive to detail and able to carry out assigned tasks in a timely manner and according to a very high standard of quality. They will be creative and flexible, contributing to developing and encouraging new and innovative solutions, but at the same time will not have any difficulty in adhering to systems and procedures. They will strictly follow all protocols related to safety and security, and holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Mercy Corps’ values.