Programs Manager

SAWA for Development and Aid is a Civil Society Organization founded initially as a spontaneous initiative in December 2011 to respond to the arrival of the first 40 Syrian families displaced from Syria into the North of Lebanon.
This initiative then grew to include individual activists, locals and internationals, who worked together (literally meaning ‘SAWA’ in Arabic) to share their knowledge and exchange their experiences in order to support Syrians, internally displaced or refugees in neighboring countries, united by their belief in their right to live in dignity, freedom, and to be active individuals in their communities and wherever they are.
SAWA sees itself as part and parcel of the society, and that it is on a continuous learning journey based on a participatory relationship at all levels with the communities that it works with, whether host or displaced, as well as with local and international partners.
SAWA believes that humanitarian, developmental, and civic work has to always strive to achieve social justice, and so it aims to work with individuals and communities through holistic interventions towards a society based on democracy, pluralism, and the values of citizenship and human rights. 

Objective of the Role:

The Programs Manager is responsible for planning and overseeing projects to ensure they are completed in a timely fashion and within budget. Project managers plan and designate project resources, prepare budgets, monitor progress, and keep stakeholders informed during the entire duration of the project. The Programs Manager provides day-to-day technical and professional guidance and leadership as appropriate to the area of expertise. This is all done within the organization’s goals and vision.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

•    Determine and define project scope and objectives.
•    Predict resources needed to reach objectives and manage them in an effective and efficient manner.
•    Lead the implementation of activities of a project through conceptualization, planning, and documentation. 
•    Prepare budgets based on scope of work and resource requirements. 
•    Track project costs in order to meet budget deadlines.
•    Develop and manage a detailed project schedule and work plan.
•    Provide project updates in a consistent basis to stakeholders about strategy, adjustments, and progress.
•    Monitor progress and make adjustments as needed. 
•    Measure project performance to identify areas for improvement. 
•    Provide background research, context analysisو and support project documentation and donor reporting. 
•    Contribute to fundraising for follow-up to related projects. 
•    Ensure resource availability and allocation. 
•    Report to management as needed. 
•    Perform risk management to minimize project risks.
•    Use and continually develop leadership skills.
•    Attend conferences and trainings as required to maintain proficiency.
•    Perform other related duties as assigned.

Competencies and Skills:

•    Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
•    Experience in internal and external coordination and representation of programs. 
•    Professional, hard-working, and a self-motivated person, with the ability of solving problems.
•    Very strong interpersonal and teamwork skills.
•    Positive and solutions-oriented leader focused on team-building.
•    Flexible and can cope with stressful workload and work with limited resources.
•    English language proficiency is required.
•    Good knowledge of techniques for planning, monitoring, and controlling programs.
•    Good knowledge of budgeting and resource allocation procedures.
•    Sufficient seniority and credibility to advise project teams on their projects in relation to the program.