Senior Field Coordinator - Job Platforms (Applications will only be accepted if submitted through the link provided)

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

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 is committed to generating positive opportunities for women, men, boys and girls from Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian communities, with a strong focus on engaging youth.  Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping build secure, productive and just communities. Our programs focus on four sectors:  Economic Opportunities, Governance and Social Stability, Youth and Protection, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). The Mercy Corps Lebanon team consists of over 180 staff working across six offices throughout Mount Lebanon, South Lebanon, Tripoli and the Bekaa Valley.

The “Fostering Resilience by Strengthening Abilities” FORSA II program is a 6.5 mio Euros integrated three-year and a half (anticipated December 2019 - May 2023) program focusing on the nexus between education and employment. The program will target youth between the ages of 16-34 from Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian families, with a specific focus on women and girls in the target areas.  The overall objective is that women and youth are supported to access education and employment in targeted areas in the Bekaa and South.

The primary objectives of the program are that:

1. Youth from all targeted communities have improved market-driven skills as a result of better quality training systems;
2. Job placement systems provide equitable and sustainable access to jobs for targeted populations;
3. Male and female youth have improved pathways to self-employment.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Coordinator for Job platforms is responsible for the technical oversight of the Job platforms component within the FORSA II program.  S/he will manage the Job platforms component team, and ensure that activities within this component are implemented to a high quality, on time, and within budget.   S/he will ensure that activities in this component contribute to achieving key deliverables, including improved access to jobs of women and youth within job platforms.  As requested by the Programme Manager, the successful candidate will assist with donor coordination throughout the grant, attend sector-specific meetings with peer organizations, as well as supporting and building partnerships with CBO’s, Private Sector, and Government.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Project Implementation

• Support the Programme Manager and programme team in planning and implementing project activities to meet project deliverables based on timeline and scope agreed with the donor;
• Provide day-to-day support and coordination, including administrative, financial and logistical support. Troubleshoot any administrative problems and report any challenges or bottlenecks to Programme Manager;
• Participate in team planning and coordination meetings and trainings;
• Support monitoring and evaluation efforts to document project outputs, outcomes, and impact to inform donor and other internal reporting;
• Assist in filing and record keeping of project activities;
• Assist in analysis of data collected to facilitate assessment results and lessons learnt;
• Monitor adherence to grant agreement, Mercy Corps policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations.
• Prepare weekly reports to be submitted to the Programme Manager. Contribute to quarterly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements;

Project Coordination for Job Platforms development

• Lead the Job platforms component processes design and implementation;
• Facilitate field coordination of support to job platforms to strengthen their outreach to potential employers and their inclusion of target population;
• Propose new ideas and design content modules for events to identify partners and solutions, lead  bootcamps, hackathons, pitch competitions, and ideation events or other methods;
• Collaborate closely with incubators and accelerators in the design process for new events and support them in developing programs adapted to the needs of startups in the HR sector;
• Assist with evaluating job platforms idea to understand the opportunity, financials, competitive landscape, addressable market, market viability, expected growth/scale, investment readiness, the effort required (people, time, cost, other requirements);
• Design in collaboration with technical experts development plans for selected job platforms - including business plans, marketing strategies, market testing, transition plans, etc.
• Coordinate financial and operational feasibility studies for job platforms development plans;
• Ensure that all job-platforms support-related interventions are in compliance with international norms and standards, national laws and policies, technical standards and organizational policies;
• Assist with monitoring and evaluation (M&E), accountability and learning systems for optimal job platforms development and support;
• Design formats for critical pieces of operations guides (checklists, SOPs, best practices, etc);
• Manage relationships and performance of third-party technical and creative partners;
• Research and analytics work on an ad-hoc basis to assess and document job placement achieved, innovations developed and learnings from each engagement;
• Assist in the development of strategies to meet the programme’s job placement targets through market-oriented solutions;
• Ensure the integration of adapted approaches to respond to barriers to women and youth’s engagement in the workforce;

Coordination and Representation

• Liaise with local officials including municipalities, Chambers of Commerce, local NGOs and INGOs, key community leaders, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure successful deliverables;
• Assist in building relationships with local authorities to introduce the project and facilitate access to information related to project activities and scope. Arrange for meetings as requested;
• Develop and maintain working relationships and coordinate with relevant international and local agencies active in the livelihoods and economic development sector;
• Represent Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings, where relevant.

Other

• 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
• 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 in Lebanon
• Participate in internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops;
• Other duties as assigned.

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, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

ACCOUNTABILITY

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Programme Manager

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: FORSA II Programme team, MC Support Departments (MEL, HR, Finance, Operations), other employment programming within Mercy Corps Lebanon

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• BA/S or equivalent in social science, management, economics, or other relevant field;
• At least five years of progressive experience and proven high level of competence in working in economic and market development;
• Experience working with incubators and accelerators in Lebanon,
• Proven ability to successfully implement economic development programming including technical support to startups and MSMEs;
• Experience creating and managing detailed action/project plans and assessing impact to timelines and budget for change in scope or pivot in direction.
• Experience drafting detailed requirements for use by business, technical, and creative teams to execute against.
• Creative thinkers who take initiative and are capable of building, launching and managing projects/programs that drive results for our customers
• Proven ability to access to a network of MSME’s, government officials, and NGOs, and potential implementing partners;
• Problem solvers with the ability to analyze and prioritize to meet business objectives
• Deep knowledge of Lebanon, in particular its economic challenges;
• Strong leadership and team management skills;
• Great communication skills and sense of humour;
• Knowledge of Mercy Corps MSME development model a plus;
• Proficiency in English essential

SUCCESS FACTORS:

A successful candidate will have a passion for supporting and facilitating the success of start-ups and entrepreneurs. S/he will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results.  Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humour.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. 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 in all in-country venues.