Project Manager

Oxfam is a global movement of people who won’t live with the injustice of poverty. Together we save and rebuild lives in disasters. We help people build better lives for themselves. We speak out on the big issues that keep people poor, like inequality, discrimination against women and climate change. And we won’t stop until every person on the planet can live without poverty.

All our work is led by three core values:

Empowerment. Everyone, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen.

Accountability. We take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions.

 Inclusiveness. We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.

Our Team

Oxfam in Lebanon is increasingly working at local, national and international levels to improve the protection of civilian population in situation of insecurity and displacement. The Project manager will be part of Oxfam’s efforts to bring about improvements to the safety of civilians population in Lebanon, as well as local and national change in the protection framework applied to refugees and to civilian population

The Project Manager position will lead and is accountable for all the programmatic, management and partnership aspects of the Project. As a key role within the Oxfam Lebanon Country programme, the position will be based in Zahle, with regular travel to programme sites in the Bekaa region. He/she will oversee effective management and relationships with relevant external stakeholders, manage the intervention throughout the project cycle, including budget management (including expenditure planning and expenditure monitoring), lead in preparing and developing high quality programme plans, including MEAL and procurement plans, progress and donor reports, ensure appropriate monitoring and project quality, and enhance internal and external learning and representation. In addition, the Project Manager will also identify scaling up opportunities and new project ideas in line with the thematic area.

Location:

Zahle, Lebanon

Internal Grade:

C2 National

Contract type:

Fixed Term -   14 months contract renewable pending availability of funds and performance

This role reports to:

Humanitarian Programme Coordinator

Staff reporting to this post:

2 direct reports (senior protection and WaSH officers). The post holder will be responsible to manage partners relations

Annual budget for the post:

Management of budget project of approximately 1.4 million Euros

Screening checks:

This role will be subject for screening checks

• Responsible for all stages of design and implementation of the designated project and of policy development, e.g. concept design, proposal writing, implementation, monitoring, evaluation.
• Short, medium and long term planning is required in the context of changing priorities.
• Managing/supervising resources within defined boundaries – one country - and specialist professional areas, which includes people, assets and budgets
• To support fundraising efforts and produce clear and quality reports (financial and narrative) that demonstrates good accountability.
• Management tasks are complex and non-routine within a specialised function
• Decision-making requires significant levels of judgement based on technical and management experience, generally actively supported by line management or the programme team.
• Diverse and complex problem-solving, requiring professional knowledge field experience and an understanding of development and humanitarian work.
• Role is variable with well-defined targets and/or minimum standards and is both proactive and reactive.
• Impact on external policy and practice of other agencies and through advocacy and policy work on the international debate in relief and development.
• Coordination of and delivery of agreed plans or strategies. Input to strategic plans and processes at country, region and global thematic level (e.g. OGB or OI protection strategy)
• Representation in coordination meetings and external relationships, contacts are with wide spectrum of actors, often external.
• Plans and objectives are developed to contribute to country strategy and can involve collaboration with other programme units (e.g. other affiliates in-country or colleagues in different country programmes).
• Requires the ability to analyse and communicate complex information to a wide audience and to communicate complex concepts and issues in a relevant and meaningful way to other Oxfam staff.
• To play active role in influencing activities on issues related to programmes through coordination with the Policy Team.

Project Cycle Management & Programme Quality

• Develop overall programme guidance in terms of work plans/budget work plans, spending plans, MEAL plans, procurement plans;
• Work closely with the technical advisors, especially the WaSH coordinator and Policy Lead, as well as support staff to provide appropriate guidance and managerial support to implement the project in line with the objectives laid out in the donor approved proposal;
• Report regularly, verbally and in writing to the Humanitarian Coordinator on a regular basis on programme progress;
• Ensure that the intervention mainstreams gender justice and protection, where relevant;
• Ensure a constant and constructive relationship with municipalities in the areas of intervention, as well as other relevant stakeholders, such as the Bekaa Water Establishment;
• Lead, where applicable, in preparing progress reports for the donor in collaboration with partners, project staff, technical coordinators, funding coordinator and support teams. Ensure narrative reporting and financial accounting meet Oxfam and donor’s requirements;
• Support and promote programme quality and project strengthening activities e.g. data management, project quality meetings, learning events and partnership reviews;
• Ensure Oxfam’s Programme Management system (OPAL) is updated and relevant;
• Monitoring and evaluating the project regularly, ensuring partners’ and community participation as appropriate, as well as accountability towards communities;
• Follow up on MEAL activities and findings ensuring that learning from monitoring and evaluation is included and strategies and programme implementation are adapted accordingly;
• Ensure that risk management and contingency planning is included at all stages of the programmes;
• Ensure the physical welfare, well-being, and professional development of staff directly assigned to the project.

People & Team Management

• Recruit and line manage relevant staff
• Ensure staff are compliant with key internal procedures including security requirements and code of conduct
• Work closely with the WaSH programme team towards common objectives
• Solicit appropriate training and learning opportunities for team member in line with development objectives and ensure regular coaching of staff;
• Oversee performance management and staff development of team member, and provide necessary and timely feedback to all staff being directly managed;

Budget & Financial Management

• Initiate monthly financial review meetings, involving relevant support staff to plan and monitor the budget, review procurement and spending plans, and ensure funds are spent within the time frame acceptable to Oxfam and the donor and ensuring rules and regulations of Oxfam are adhered to;
• Ensure that donor contractual requirements are fulfilled, including by partners, with particular reference to the General and Technical conditions of the Grant Agreement and internal regulations, throughout the entire project period;
• Lead on initiating relevant procurement processes, with support from Logistics, in line with programme spending and procurement planning.

Partner management

• Lead on project partnership relations within the scope of the programme, including budget monitoring;
• Oversee activity and financial progress against project partnership agreements;
• Ensure appropriate monitoring (financial, technical, implementation) of partners;
• Responsible for ensuring partners receive relevant capacity building and support in line with mutually agreed capacity building plans.

External representation

• Attend all relevant coordination meetings especially the WaSH and Protection Working groups and/or ensure that senior project staff attend those meetings regularly;
• Serve as primary project representative to external stakeholders, including the donor, municipalities, water establishments, etc; responsible for addressing all project matters;
• Assist with the coordination of visits of donors, and/or partners related to the project.

Other

• Required to adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values as well as the promotion of gender justice and women's rights
• Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles

• A Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline such Development Studies or equivalent experience.
• 3-5 years experience in protection, preferably in a senior protection role in conflict environments, or displacement and refugee crisis. Experience in policy and advocacy work is a plus.
• Strong knowledge and/or experience of WaSH. Protection professionals with relevant WaSH experience are strongly preferred.
• Demonstrable understanding of the gender dynamics of protection work and ability to capture in analysis and design of protection activities with a strong emphasis on the gendered aspects of conflict, violence and abuse.
• Ability to work with civil society and policy makers.
• Evidence of project cycle management experience, including strategic planning, budgeting, reporting, monitoring & evaluation.
• Diplomacy, tact and negotiating skills.
• Good interpersonal, influencing and communication skills.
• Proven team leadership and ability to work independently as required.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences, and the ability to work in a wide variety of cultural contexts.
• Good written and spoken English is essential, as well as a good working knowledge of Arabic.
• Sympathy with the aims and Objectives of Oxfam.
• Commitment to humanitarian principles and action.

Key Attributes

• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities
• Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work
• Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible

Organisational Values

• Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions
• Empowerment – Our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen
• Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences