Icla Field Coordinator

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent, international humanitarian nongovernmental organisation which provides assistance and protection to refugees and internally displaced persons in over twenty countries worldwide. NRC has been working in Lebanon since 2006, initially assisting displaced Lebanese. In early March 2012, NRC commenced its Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance ICLA (ICLA) programme in Lebanon, with a focus on assisting refugees and displaced persons to understand and enjoy their rights. Initially providing assistance to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon (Palestinian Response), since May 2012 ICLA has also been implementing a programme throughout Lebanon targeting those affected by displacement from Syria. Under its Syrian response, NRC currently works through seven community centres around Lebanon (two in the North, three in the Bekaa, one in the South and one in Mount Lebanon), as well as through extensive outreach. In the Bekaa, NRC provides information, counselling and legal assistance to people who are affected by displacement as a result of the crisis in Syria; develops understanding of the protection and legal issues affecting the target communities, and, in coordination with other actors, identifies ways to address them. JOB PURPOSE The ICLA Field Coordinator, the Bekaa is responsible for: (1)   Establishing and managing the implementation of the ICLA programme in the Bekaa, in accordance with ICLA strategy, workplans, and technical and operational guidance; and, (2)   Contributing to the standardisation and quality of ICLA programming across Lebanon in liaison with ICLA Management and other ICLA field teams. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Management Responsibilities Responsible for ensuring staffing needs of the ICLA team in the Bekaa are met, by working in close liaison with ICLA Management, the Senior Information Field Officer, Information Field Officers, and the Field Manager and Human Resources in the Bekaa to ensure appropriately qualified personnel are recruited and in post in a timely manner, and that future staffing needs of the ICLA programme in the Bekaa are anticipated and planned for ; Provide direct supervision of two Senior Information Field Officers in the Bekaa, in close coordination with ICLA Programme Management; Responsible for managing the performance of staff under his / her supervision, including working with the staff members to set and monitor objectives and workplans, and provide constructive feedback on an on-going and scheduled basis; Responsible for conducting recruitment for those positions under his / her responsibility and in doing so identifying appropriately qualified staff in a timely manner, in liaison with the ICLA Project Coordinator and Human Resources in the Bekaa. Project Implementation and Management Responsible for overseeing the delivery of agreed outputs and for quality of the ICLA activities being implemented in the Bekaa; In close liaison with ICLA Management take timely and considered decisions on how to respond to changing needs of beneficiaries in the Bekaa; Ensure that weekly activity plans developed by the ICLA team in the Bekaa are in accordance with overall project objectives, identified outputs and timeframes; Overall responsibility for ensuring that materials to be used in ICLA field activities are consistent with materials being developed elsewhere by ICLA in Lebanon, through close liaison with ICLA Management and other field offices; Responsible for ensuring that the methods used to publicise ICLA's services amongst target communities in the Bekaa L are in accordance with the ICLA structure; Services Mapping: Support the Senior Information Field Officers in maintaining a clear, comprehensive and up-to-date written mapping of services provided by humanitarian actors in the Bekaa, by exchanging information about activities with other humanitarian actors operating in the area; Information and Counselling Services: Input into the technical guidance developed by ICLA management on the provision of information and counselling services to beneficiaries, based on the identified needs of target communities in the Bekaa, as required; Ensure that weekly activity plans developed by the ICLA team in the Bekaa are in accordance with overall project objectives, identified outputs and timeframes; Overall responsibility for ensuring that materials to be used in ICLA field activities are consistent with materials being developed elsewhere by ICLA in Lebanon, through close liaison with ICLA Management and other field offices; Legal Assistance: Input into the legal guidance being developed by ICLA management and the Legal Support Team, as required; In close liaison with Senior Information Field Officers and the Legal Field Officer (and / or legal focal points, as relevant) identify, contract and manage consultant lawyers working for ICLA in the Bekaa, and ensure that ICLA structure, guidelines and principles are applied in the provision of legal assistance to beneficiaries. Project Cycle Management Needs Assessment: Identify and assess the main information, legal and protection needs of target communities in the Bekaa, and apply this to quality project design and implementation; Project Design: In close coordination with ICLA Management and the ICLA team in the Bekaa, develop the design of ICLA activities in the Bekaa, and, as relevant, contribute to their development and standardisation across Lebanon; Project Planning: Responsible for developing workplans for the ICLA programme in the Bekaa, and ensuring that project activities and outputs are delivered on target and in accordance with NRC and donor commitments, in close liaison with the ICLA Project Coordinator; Support the Senior Information Field Officers to identify suitable locations for ICLA activities (including outreach work, and additional community centres, as applicable), in liaison with ICLA Management; Monitoring and Evaluation: Develop and implement the monitoring and evaluation plan for the Bekaa, including designation of roles and responsibilities across the ICLA team in the Bekaa,  in liaison with ICLA Management, other ICLA field teams, the NRC Monitoring and Evaluation team, and the Senior Information Field Officers in the Bekaa; Responsible for ensuring that design and standardisation of forms, questionnaires and other templates used to document ICLA's activities in the field meet ICLA project needs, in liaison with ICLA Management, other ICLA field teams, the NRC Monitoring and Evaluation team, and the Senior Information Field Officers in the Bekaa; Support the Senior Information Field Officers and Information Field Officers in the Bekaa to ensure that the ICLA Field team in the Bekaa understand the purpose, and consistently use the agreed templates and tools to document ICLA's activities in the field; Undertake monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure the satisfactory progress, quality, efficiency and accountability of ICLA's activities in the Bekaa, in accordance with the agreed monitoring and evaluation plan for the Bekaa; Budget and Financial Management: Manage the budget for ICLA in the Bekaa, including the preparation, monitoring and updating of the financial workplans, in liaison with the ICLA PC and the ICLA team in the Bekaa, to ensure that ICLA's resources in the Bekaa are managed effectively and efficiently; Overall responsibility for ensuring that all financial transactions completed by ICLA in the Bekaa are undertaken in compliance with NRC and donor guidelines and procedures; Reporting: Overall responsibility for reporting on ICLA activities in the Bekaa to donors and NRC management on time and according to requirements; Review and provide feedback on reports prepared by the ICLA team in the Bekaa in order to anticipate and address any questions or comments which may arise from donors and ICLA Management, as applicable. Coordination ICLA: Provide leadership for the ICLA team in the Bekaa, and build and maintain positive and effective relationships with all ICLA colleagues in the Bekaa and with ICLA Management and support teams through regular and effective communication; In close liaison with the Senior Information Field Officers, monitor and ensure a positive morale and professional satisfaction amongst the ICLA team in the Bekaa; Participate in regular meetings with ICLA Management and other ICLA Field Coordinators in other locations from across Lebanon in order to facilitate the exchange of information, discussion and response to challenges and to identify lessons learned; As applicable, participate in team meetings with the ICLA team in the Bekaa, exchanging information and discussing ICLA's response to challenges and identifying lessons learned. NRC: Build and maintain positive and effective relationships with colleagues in other core competencies (programmes) and departments, and, as relevant, find ways of collaborating to further enhance the effectiveness of NRC activities in the Bekaa; Develop a clear and comprehensive understanding of the strategic objectives, methods and activities of ICLA elsewhere in Lebanon, and of other NRC core competencies (programmes) and be able to present these to others within ICLA or amongst other audiences, as applicable; ICLA’s Donors: Maintain close and productive relationships with ICLA donors in the Bekaa, keeping them updated on ICLA's work and discussing opportunities for the continuation or expansion of work together, in close liaison with ICLA Management; Other Humanitarian Actors: In coordination with ICLA Management, the Field Manager in the Bekaa, and colleagues from other core competencies, liaise closely with other humanitarian actors in the Bekaa, including active participation in sectoral working groups and through bilateral meetings in order to maintain information on and coordinate activities, and to exchange information and lessons learned; Overall responsibility for establishing  referral pathways and procedures in the Bekaa, in close liaison with other humanitarian actors (including the UN, other NGOs, and other NRC core competencies), and support the ICLA team in the Bekaa to follow them; Local Authorities: Develop and maintain positive relationships with local authorities in the Bekaa which facilitate NRC's mission in Lebanon, in close coordination with the Field Manager in the Bekaa, and NRC Senior Management, as applicable; Host Communities and Beneficiaries Overall responsibility for ensuring that ICLA in the Bekaa identify and maintain positive relationships with focal points in host and beneficiary communities through timely and clear sharing of information; Work cooperatively with the beneficiaries and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen the project. Context and Needs Assessments Develop and maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the operating context in the Bekaa, and maintain an ability to present and apply this assessment to ICLA’s work in the Bekaa and in engagements with other members of the humanitarian sector; Support the implementation of stand-alone assessments by ICLA in the Bekaa, and, as relevant across Lebanon, by facilitating introductions and inputting into the design of assessments, as required.  Strategy Contribute to strategic development and expansion of ICLA programme in the Bekaa, and, as relevant, of ICLA throughout Lebanon; Responsible for developing his / her understanding of the strategy of the ICLA programme in the Bekaa and across Lebanon, under the guidance of ICLA Management. Technical Quality and Consistency Be receptive to, and where necessary proactively seek, technical advice from ICLA Management as regards the implementation of ICLA’s programming in the Bekaa; Provide technical advice to the ICLA team on the implementation of ICLA activities in the Bekaa, under the guidance of ICLA Management; Document technical issues and questions and report to the ICLA Management with suggested ways of addressing them. Protection Overall responsibility for ensuring that protection principles are applied to ICLAs work in the Bekaa, under the guidance of the NRC Protection Focal Point; Responsible for ensuring that he / she understands and applies protection principles and NRC guidance to daily activities. Operations and Administration Overall responsibility for administration of the ICLA programme in the Bekaa, in liaison with colleagues in other departments, particularly finance, administration, logistics and security; Manage the procurement of programmatic materials and equipment required by the ICLA programme in the Bekaa, in accordance with NRC procedures and in liaison with colleagues in Logistics; Support the Senior Information Field Officers in managing a movement plan and that the transportation needs are met for the ICLA programme in the Bekaa; Overall responsibility for the ensuring that ICLA activities and staff are conducted in accordance with NRC security procedures; Responsible for ensuring that he / she understands and follows NRC security and safety guidance at all times; Support the Senior Information Field Officers in maintaining an organised and up-to-date filing / archiving system in the Bekaa, in accordance with the ICLA filing structure and principles of confidentiality and protection. Other Perform any other duties as required by ICLA Management. QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE Educational Requirements At least a Bachelors degree in Law, International Relations or Social Sciences Experience and Skills Requirements At least 5 years' experience of progressive experience working in similar positions in the humanitarian / development sector Experience in legal and / or protection work in a humanitarian context Experience of providing information and counselling services (desirable) Experience of community sensitisation (desirable) Ability to analyse information and apply legal / protection principles Experience of managing budgets (desirable) Experience of preparing reports (desirable) Experience of preparing proposals and liaising with donors (desirable) Experience of project cycle management (desirable) Demonstrated leadership skills Proven experience of successfully managing a team Additional Skills and Qualities Ability to work under pressure and to be flexible Ability to work independently, and to be proactive in seeking support when needed Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing in both English and in Arabic Strong organisation skills, and an ability to prioritise and plan work in order to meet deadlines Proficiency in use of computers and Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Team spirit and a sense of humour