Protection Program Manager (re-advertised)

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps program addresses a large array of needs and gaps, across a number of technical sectors. Projects include emergency response for basic needs; livelihoods and protection projects; WASH projects; and potential for cash transfer programming. The program will be implemented through local and/or regional partner NGOs and will be managed remotely from the Beirut office, Lebanon.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program Support

• Oversee the design, planning and implementation of youth protection programming to help beneficiaries strengthen capacities to mitigate vulnerabilities, reduce exposure to potential protection problems and navigate risks.
• Ensure programs are actively engaging youth to identify priority information, employability and psychosocial support needs
• Stay abreast of and analyze protection trends and develop/adjust program strategies to meet needs. Identify opportunities for the design and development of concept notes and proposals for further programming
• Provide technical oversight to field teams and mentor staff in the design and implementation of protection and youth activities
• Ensure that the programs targets are met according to implementation work-plans. This includes being responsible for the quality of periodical reports/updates and grants tracking system by ensuring that subgrant and grant records are kept up to date.
• Decision making on projects to fund, in consultation with relevant team members.
• Closely follow the implementation of partner activities from the design phase through to implementation and close out.
• Pay close attention to issues, trends or concerns that arise from partner reports, updates and meetings. In discussion with Director of Programs, make decisions and take action.
• Actively seek out new programming opportunities, through keeping abreast of the context, actively identifying new potential partners, and new geographical areas of operation.
• Liaise with Mercy Corps’ experts in specific fields to acquire the required technical support.

• Maintain positive and professional working relationship with partners. Be responsive to their needs and challenges. Ensure the same consistent approach is used throughout the team.
• Support Mercy Corps’ different sectors in their efforts to mainstream sector best practices of safe, dignified and inclusive delivery of services for people of different gender, age and special needs.
• Coordinate internally with finance, compliance, humanitarian access and program development teams, ensuring a consistent approach to project design, implementation and close out. Suggest opportunities for improved integration and collaboration when possible.

• Help design project frameworks/objectives with local partners and ensure that the projects funded all meet set criteria and standards and feed into the larger MC grant.
• Work closely with MC’s MEL team to ensure adaptive approaches to remote monitoring of partner projects.

• Organize and facilitate meetings/workshops/trainings to help increase the capacity of local staff and implementing partners in planning and implementation of our programs.
• Provide specific coaching to local partners, maintaining a consistent approach with other team members.
• Ensure grants are spent on time, appropriately and to budget. Keep track of spending in coordination with Finance Manager and Director of Programs.
• Lead on donor level proposal design and proposal writing in coordination with Director of Programs.
• Ensure a good understanding of the Middle East conflict context and humanitarian need trends.
• Maintain up to date knowledge on donor requirements and compliance issues, relevant to specific grants. 

• 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.
• Provide professional guidance and support to the Program Officer(s) and other team members. Ensure effective line management of Program Officer(s).
• Represent the team in Regional Meetings; donor meetings and coordination meetings when requested.

• Assist in any other task or duty assigned by the supervisor.

Representation and Coordination

• As required by the supervisor, represent Mercy Corps at donor meetings, and government and sectoral coordination forums/meetings
• Under supervision of the Director of Programs, develop and maintain working relationships and coordinate with relevant international and local agencies including humanitarian and human rights organizations, local authorities and local partners
• Under supervision of the Director of Programs represent Protection focused grants at clusters and other forums and internally.

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.

• Take initiative to find required trainings/on-line learning needed to improve his/her professional performance
• Support the wider team with proactively sharing best practice ideas and learning from partner interventions

Accountability to Stakeholders:

• Support partners to ensure that beneficiary communities are adequately informed about programs, are aware of their entitlements, are comfortable to give feedback and that feedback is used to improve the quality of our programs;
• Integrate M&E and accountability systems that are compliant with HAP international benchmarks, CHS, SPHERE and other relevant standards, as well as to the Donors’ requirements;
• 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 or put the team, assets and mission at risk;

Other:

• Participate in and support internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops
• 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

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

Program Officer(s)

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:

Director of Programs

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH:

All Mercy Corps department and staff as well as staff from partner(s) organizations

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• University Degree or Higher in relevant field is required.
• 5—7 of professional experience in Protection programming including youth development and child protection programming or equivalent combination of NGO sector experiences and education.
• Experience of line management is required.
• Strong understanding of protection principles and likely protection concerns for youth arising in the Middle East context
• Experience of protection training and facilitation – including desirable knowledge of designing and/or adapting curriculum for children/youth
• Demonstrated experience in emergency response programming in highly insecure environments.
• Commitment to local capacity development and past experience of engaging and working with local stakeholders in project design and implementation.
• Demonstrated capacity to collaborate closely with INGOs, national NGOs and Community Based Organisations.
• Proven ability to work cooperatively with colleagues from other departments in a team environment, and to lead a diverse group of people.
• Understanding of participatory methodologies for project design, implementation and evaluation.
• Good organizational and project management skills.
• Knowledge of humanitarian standards and codes, including SPHERE, CHS is an asset.
• Working understanding of procurement, administration and finance systems.
• Demonstrated familiarity with the MS Office software (i.e., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) is required.
• Show great initiative and be able to work well in a team and independently.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the Middle East conflict context and understands project needs.
• Commitment to high level of confidentiality with sensitive information.
• Arabic and English language written and spoken is essential. Excellent written English is desired.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful candidate will have proven experience working effectively and respectfully with NGOs 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, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members. S/he should have excellent coordination skills, the ability to manage multiple deadlines and show initiative to improve program implementation. Sensitivity to multi-cultural humanitarian and 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. An ability to creatively solve problems, juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines, and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected and sudden events impacting program operations are also essential.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures and values at all times and venues, in such a manner as to bring positive recognition to Mercy Corps and to not endanger Mercy Corps’ humanitarian mission.