Project Officer: Livelihood-Intaj

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Libya. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps has been running community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while responding to emergencies as they have emerged. Recently, the program portfolio has expanded in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria, including grants from UNICEF, UNHCR, European Commission, Canadian and American government, and private foundations. The emergency response component of the portfolio will be an increasing focus and driver of programming in Lebanon. As the Syrian refugee crisis stretches into its fourth year, strain on services and resources, and the continued deterioration of the economic situation in Lebanon means tensions between the Lebanese host and Syrian refugee communities are high. Both communities face increasingly large challenges to address their economic and income generation needs. These tensions can be overcome, as well as the potential risk of violent extremism due to economic inequalities, marginalization of youth, and eroding state legitimacy if there are robust economic development initiatives across Lebanon. GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY: The Project Officer will assist in the implementation of the INTAJ (Improved Networks, Training and Jobs) two years economic development program funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). This program aims 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. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Program Implementation: • Support the Project Manager in planning and implementing program activities to meet key deliverables based on timeline and scope agreed with the donor; • Liaise with key stakeholders to build Mercy Corps acceptance within local communities to facilitate program implementation, including informing the wider community actors about Mercy Corps’ programming; • Provide day-to-day support and coordination, including administrative, financial and logistical support. Trouble shoot any administrative problems and report any challenges or bottlenecks to Program Manager; • Support the Project Manager in organizing meetings, community engagement and awareness raising/information dissemination events; • Participate in monitoring and evaluation system design and implementation for all aspects of the program, including monitoring program progress by developing and applying monitoring tools to inform reports to donors and key stakeholders; • Support the Project Manager with all tasks related to procurement, finance, and human resource; • Assist in filing and record keeping of program activities; • Implement Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity policy and applies Do No Harm approaches; • 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; • Other assigned tasks, as necessary. Employment Outreach • Responsible team member to coordinate all employment outreach activities; • Liaise with the SME Coordinator and Skills Building Coordinator on project activities; • Manage the employment outreach document as provided by INTAJ; • Coordinate meetings with SMEs in the relevant geographical region for potential employment; • Coordinate meetings with training providers for potential employment of training participants; • Coordinate meetings with possible employers with training participants; • Update program team on a weekly basis on all employment outreach activities; Communication • Responsible for the implementation of the INTAJ communications strategy in the North; • Liaise with the Communications Officer on the communications strategy • Produce success stories with INTAJ partners that includes photography, gathering quotes, and narratives of INTAJ interventions; • Responsible for coordinating the work of potential communication consultants’; • Focal point for communication between the North office and the Beirut and Bekaa office; SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: N/A ACCOUNTABILITY: REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Project Manager WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Programs, Communication, Operations, and M&E Teams KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE: • BA/S or equivalent in social work, social sciences, human rights, or other relevant field preferred; • Experience in community engagement preferred; • Strong understanding of refugee issues in the current Lebanon context; • Excellent knowledge of local context in the North; • Written and oral communication skills in English preferred; • 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; SUCCESS FACTORS: The successful Project Officer will be able to multi-task, prioritize, problem solve. S/he will have attention to detail and an ability to work independently. Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving is essential in a complex security and political environment like Lebanon. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.