Senior Project Officer (WASH)

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Project Officer will advance Mercy Corps’ ongoing WASH programming in Bekaa by assisting the Project Manager in the day-to-day project implementation that focus on increasing access to safe water, sanitation services/facilities, and proper hygiene conditions and practices for Syrian refugees and Lebanese host communities.

He/She will be responsible for promoting cordial working relationships with partners, communities and the Government in Bekaa. He/she will be required facilitate the overall management of WASH component including planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of high quality, innovative projects, in collaboration with the Project Manager. This position requires very close coordination with the local partner organization implementing the WASH activities with Mercy Corps in Bekaa. Furthermore, this position will require field planning coordination and monitoring and evaluation coordination with the M&E team to ensure integrated project target achievements.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Support the project manager in Bekaa by providing assistance to the team and partners in all aspects of project cycle management – design, implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning - using Mercy Corps Best Practices;
2. Ensure quality and integrity of implementation, including adherence to technical guidelines, administrative systems, and established deadlines
3. Monitor and coordinate the implementation of the different components of the WASH project in Bekaa
4. Assist the project manager in preparing inception plans (kick-off phase), work plans (Gantt Chart) and regular donor progress reports.
5. Contribute in the preparation of internal and external reports for donors, including expenditure plans.
6. Assist in the implementation of the work plan, review achievements and constraints and provide feedback accordingly.
7. Consult with program team and community to ensure WASH activities maximize gender mainstreaming and inclusiveness of vulnerable & disable groups;
8. Coordinate with the project officers and assist to oversee day-to-day project implementation and prepare weekly reports to be submitted to WASH Project Manager and area Manager.
9. Provide information and assist with the development of concept notes and proposals for WASH components;
10. Identify and manage project dependencies and critical path. Based on this analysis, defining, following up and updating the implementation plan (Gantt Chart and follow up tools).
11. Support in facilitating agency and donor monitoring visits;
12. Support in establishing and maintaining proper project documentation and records, including but not limited to: needs assessments questionnaires, monitoring questionnaires, certificates of vouchers receipts, consolidated list of beneficiaries, photos etc.
13. Participate and represent the organization in field coordination meetings as requested by the Project Manager.
14. Conduct visits to implementation sites including refugee informal settlements (IS) and municipal facilities to verify quality and details of implementation.
15. 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.
16. Represent the project in absence of the project manager;
17. Other relevant tasks as required.

Communications

1. Work with local partner and WASH team to review existing WASH hygiene promotion and water conservation materials and advise on how to improve further, including development of new materials to increase community awareness as well as visibility.
2. Make recommendations to improve qualitative performance of the implementing partners and monitoring implementation of these recommendations
3. Coordinate with M&E team to gather and use existing success stories that highlight Mercy Corps’ interventions for donors.
4. Coordinate on the ground with implementing partners, communities and other actors to avoid any duplication and facilitate cooperation.
5. Contribute to Mercy Corps’ activities on social media.
6. Apply and maintain Mercy Corps brand identity and parameters in all written and audio visual materials

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: N/A

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:  WASH Project Manager

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Project Team, M&E Team, Area Manager

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s Degree in social or natural sciences.
• Familiarity with the issues of water and sanitation systems in refugee informal settlements, municipal water and sanitation facilities,
• Minimum of 3 years’ work experience working directly for an NGO or relevant organization in Lebanon
• Demonstrate good expertise in hygiene promotion and behavioral change activities under emergency programs
• Commitment to local capacity building and the ability to engage local stakeholders in project design and implementation.
• Demonstrated capacity to collaborate closely with INGOs and national NGOs and CBOs.
• Good organizational and basic project management skills
• Experience working with refugees or other vulnerable population required, implementing a WASH project and conducting training is preferred.
• Proven understanding of Do No Harm principles and methodology with applied experience implementing projects with/for women and girls.
• The applicants should have good written and verbal English and Arabic skills.
• Must be computer-literate, particularly in programs such as MS Word and MS Excel. Strong organizational and collaboration skills required, with the ability to work independently and be self-directed, as necessary.
• Must work well as a member of a team, with willingness to travel throughout Lebanon, sometimes staying overnight, as the job requires.