Area Manager-Bekaa (National Contract)

GVC is an Italian NGO founded in 1971 active in international development and humanitarian aid projects.

We strive for a better world where everyone, especially women and children, must have equal opportunities and rights, access to resources, to health, to education and to decent work. A world in which the environment is a common good to be respected and preserved; in which war, violence and exploitation are banned. A world where nobody is left behind. During a humanitarian emergency, GVC works to rebuild what has been destroyed and to rekindle growth and sustainable development processes. Our interventions aim to increase the population’s resilience, enhancing a community’s capacity to find, within its fabric, the skills and resources necessary to grow in a self-sufficient manner.

Our staff is the key to achieving ambitious goals. With nearly 770 professionals employed and 250 partners, over the past 12 months GVC has reached 1.4 million people. The organisation’s programmes are co-funded by the most important humanitarian and development aid donors such as EU (DEVCO, EACEA, ECHO, NEAR), United Nations (OCHA, UNHCR, UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, FAO) and individual countries (AICS, JICA, France and Dutch Embassies) as well as by private donors and foundations.

Our programmes rely on highly specialised staff, able to implement tailored methods and practices in order to meet the different needs of beneficiaries and donor requirements.

The challenges that characterise the environments we work in are tackled by creating innovative synergies that draw on teamwork, multi-disciplinary experiences and by pairing international and local expertise.

Respect for individuals and constancy are essential and inalienable characteristics if operating in contexts requiring strong human and professional talents.

Being part of the GVC team means taking part in the development of a dynamic organisation where the contribution of each staff member is promoted and valued, working together towards the collective achievement of our goals and vision.

GVC has been working in Lebanon since 2006, and within the Syrian crises response since 2012. Historically, the organization has implemented activities related to basic assistance, WASH service provision and infrastructure; livelihood and protection and inclusion activities, enhancing socio-economic development and improving local water provision through a non-revenue water approach. 

Job description

Within this framework, GVC is recruiting an Area Manager responsible for GVC programmes and staff in Bekaa in direct coordination with the Finance Manager, the HR Manager, the Logistics Manager, the Project Managers and Development/Emergency Programme Coordinators. The Area Manager will be under the direct line management of GVC Country Representative.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Area Manager is responsible for coordinating, consolidating, and ensuring smooth implementation of and adherence to logistics, human resource, administrative and security procedures and provides operational support to the programmes of GVC Bekaa bases. Moreover, she/he will ensure effective representation of GVC to local authorities, INGOs and NGOs, and in other forums, providing accurate context analysis to senior management and programme and support teams. The selected person will be a high performing team builder, sensitive to the cultural, political and security environment of Lebanon and will support teams and partly lead staff covering operations and programmes in Education, Protection, WASH, Shelter, and Livelihood. The Area Manager is responsible for ensuring the development of all staff and identifying needs and resources.

40% Area Management and Development: The Area Manager is responsible for coordinating, consolidating, and ensuring smooth implementation of and adherence to logistic, human resources, administration and security procedures and provides operational support to the programmes of GVC Bekaa bases.

For Office Management, Administration and Finance, the role includes:

• Line manage and support the work of the Office Manager in Ain
• In coordination with the Ain Office Manager, take overall responsibility for managing the offices, the guesthouse and the warehouse, ensuring efficient application of GVC’s policies, procedures and administrative systems
• Ensure that existing schemes of delegation, finance guidelines and related administrative procedures are adhered to and that grant finances are kept in an exemplary state
• Ensure proper archiving of the relevant documentation, implementing GVC archiving methodology in coordination with the Country Representative, the Finance Manager and the Logistics Manager

For HR Management, the role includes:

• Provide leadership to the Bekaa offices ensuring strong team spirit, positive and participatory working environment, effective communication and strong assistance to programmes and support
• Ensure the appropriate staffing of the offices, planning and implementing specific actions to recruit, manage and motivate staff
• Ensure that directly line managed staff have clearly defined objectives, understand their responsibilities and receive meaningful feedback on their performance
• For not line managed staff, provide support and advise in supervision, guidance, coordination and monitoring for project technical and social staff, ensuring clarity over project plans and priorities and encouraging effective team work
• Comply with relevant GVC standard procedures and policies with respect to HR Management

For Logistics, Supply Chain and ICT, the role includes:

• Coordinate the Logistic activities in support to all field activities, in coordination with the Logistics Manager
• Ensure efficient application of GVC Logistic policies, procedures, tools and systems  at area level
• Ensure good planning and implementation of procurement
• Ensure quality warehousing and support distributions in the field, in coordination with the Logistics Manager and the project staff
• Ensure, in coordination with the Logistics Manager, that Logistic and ICT equipment and systems run well for an effective programme delivery: vehicle fleet, computers, offices equipment, internet equipment, communication and security equipment, etc.

30% Programme Management: The selected person will provide support to Project Managers of the area of intervention in project planning and implementation. The role includes:

• Facilitate and support other PMs in the implementation of projects and monitoring of activities implemented, in coordination with the Development/Emergency Programme Coordinators and with the assistance of technical advisors and operational support staff
• Ensure that partnership projects and reports are delivered according to GVC and donor contractual requirements, within the agreed timescale and budget in collaboration with the sector Coordinators
• Work with the Country Representative and Development/Emergency Programme Coordinators to support the development of GVC’s overall programme strategy, including a master budget
• Support the PMs in tracking budget spending and support the preparation of financial reports
• Support programme teams and the Grants Officer in coordinating and writing new project proposals

20% Representation: The Area Manager represents the organization at the local and regional level. The role includes:

• Represent GVC in general meetings, including with humanitarian actors, local authorities, protocol meetings, security meetings, as well as sector program meetings in coordination with the Programme Coordinators and the Project Managers
• Manage the visits of donors representatives, HQ visitors and other stakeholders whenever requested
• Report on specific incidents, trends or contextual events occurring in Bekaa to the Programme Coordinators
• Analyse periodically the regional (Bekaa) context in terms of risks and opportunities

10% Security Management:  In cooperation with the Security Focal Point, the Area Manager ensures that optimal security management procedures and practices are in place. The role includes:

• Ensure security guidelines are updated and adhered to and that all new staff and visitors receive appropriate security briefings
• Continually monitor the security situation and adapts staff safety procedures accordingly
• Ensure that appropriate and timely measures are put in place to reduce risks and threats to GVC staff, assets, operation and beneficiaries
• Ensure that security incidents are duly reported and information is effectively collected and exchanged with staff and other organizations
• Comply with all relevant GVC policies and procedures with respect to health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Professional experience:

At least 5 years of substantial experience working with a humanitarian/development organization, including significant experience working at field level ∞ At least 3 years of experience working with a humanitarian/development organization in a managerial position ∞ Substantial people and programme management experience with good interpersonal skills and ability to communicate at all levels ∞ Capacity to work autonomously and to prevent/resolve problems ∞ Experience in coordinating project implementing partners ∞ Experience in working with local Authorities, preferably in elaborating strategic plans and common actions ∞ Knowledge of institutional donors ∞ Proven experience in team building and capacity building

Education and skills:

Master’s degree in related academic disciplines ∞ Excellent command of Arabic ∞ Excellent English language skills, both written and spoken ∞ Advanced communication skills and ability to properly represent GVC externally ∞ Strong negotiation abilities in dealing with external stakeholders including contractors ∞ Strong networking abilities in dealing with stakeholders and in particular local authorities, institutions and donor at high performance level ∞ Capacity to work in group and in a multicultural contest and negotiation/interpersonal skills ∞ Flexibility in cultural and organizational terms ∞ Good organizational skills and capacity in managing own time and responsibilities with limited supervision from the line manager ∞ Ability to perform under stress condition ∞ Good knowledge of Microsoft Office pack

Will constitute a plus:

Knowledge of French language