Deputy Program Manager - Youth For Tomorrow

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. The agency pursues its mission through emergency relief services, sustainable community development, civil society and economic development initiatives. Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, and Iraq. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps has implemented community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while responding to emergencies as they emerged in the country.  In 2012, the program portfolio shifted in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria and Mercy Corps in Lebanon has solidified its emergency response programming while integrating longer-term development programming by focusing on key sectors: Protection, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH), Governance and Conflict, and Livelihoods.  The conflict that began more than five years ago in Syria has resulted in a steady increase in Syrian refugees to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey.  To date, more than one million refugees have fled to Lebanon, and the numbers continue to mount. All refugees who have entered Lebanon are staying with host families or in rented accommodation.  As numbers rapidly increase, humanitarian conditions are deteriorating.  The burden on host communities and the financial and emotional stress on refugees and their hosts is tremendous. Mercy Corps is responding to these needs by addressing urgent basic needs, child protection as well as the psychosocial impact of the conflict and displacement.   With the support of the Government of Canada, Mercy Corps is launching the Youth for Tomorrow program, which will be implemented in Saida, Mt. Lebanon, and Tripoli.   This three-year program is part of a regional initiative by Mercy Corps, funded by the Government of Canada, in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria to build improved, evidence-based provision of psychosocial support and market-driven skills to vulnerable youth in the region.  The program will benefit from regional synergies to increase impact and will contribute to improving the evidence base for interventions of this type.   The program will engage Syrian, Palestinian and Lebanese adolescent boys and girls, between the ages of 12 – 18 who are not currently enrolled in school or are at high risk of dropping out. The program will also engage young adults between the ages of 19 – 35 from among refugee and host communities to act as mentors and facilitators within the project.  Youth for Tomorrow will provide adolescents on-going psychosocial support and market-driven skill-building opportunities while building an enabling environment for young people through community engagement and provision of enhanced adolescent and youth services.    GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY The Deputy Program Manager for the ‘Youth for Tomorrow” program is responsible for the management and oversight of the technical staff that support field teams and partners in project implementation.  He/she will support the Program Manager for the planning and implementation of the program, and ensure that program activities are being implemented on deadline and target.   He/she will ensure the quality of the program interventions, and ensure that they lead to the desired impact with youth and communities.   ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS   Team Management and Capacity Building Support in the recruitment and training of new staff to ensure quality program implementation Manage and coach the Technical Coordinators to ensure that they complete their tasks as assigned in a timely, professional way Ensure effective communications between Beirut office and field officers, and with partners Contribute to fostering a strong team spirit between Mercy Corps staff and with partners Support capacity development trainings and opportunities to enable them to complete their tasks effectively     Program Implementation and Quality Support the ‘Youth for Tomorrow’ Program Manager to ensure optimal technical design and implementation of program activities, including contributing to assessment design, development of workplan, and identification of partners Support learning across the program staff and partners through systematic review of program activities, tools and lessons learned. Ensure quality implementation of program activities, alignment and progress against workplan, and partner support Ensure that lessons learned from Mercy Corps’  ‘No Lost Generation (Bussma) program and regional Advancing Adolescents programming are integrated into roll out of the Youth for Tomorrow program Ensure that all staff have access to curriculum and approaches developed under the previous program and other relevant Child Protection and Livelihoods programs nationally and regionally. Ensure that staff and partners are trained to ensure successful implementation of the program Coordinate with other MC Lebanon programs and assist them as required to integrate protection into their activities In partnership with Program Manager, MEL team and Regional Technical Advisor review curricula and tools and document feedback Review the quality and content of activities to ensure they are engaging, and support the social and emotional needs of adolescents. Promote in-house convergence and synergies across MC Protection, Livelihoods, Governance Sectors and other Mercy Corps programs; Ensure that proper implementation of referral mechanisms in Mercy Corps     Partner Coordination and Capacity Building Assist with the selection of partners Assist with identifying capacity building needs of partner organisations Assist in ensuring that partners are implementing activities as in their workplan, on time and within budget, with the quality required Support YFT field teams to systematically strengthen the capacity of local CBO partners in order to implement program activities   Program Implementation Ensure proper coordination between field, technical and M&E department so the Youth for Tomorrow program has the most impact and influence on the community. Identify needs in programming and proactively suggest new activities to enhance the protection and livelihoods activities; Harmonize, standardize and oversee knowledge management, training and capacity development initiatives across the YFT portfolio; Overall support for the program manager in all aspects as required Other necessary duties as required     Thought Leadership Support new program design for youth and protection programs in coordination with senior management Contribute to agency’s understanding of best practices in adolescent and youth, protection and livelihoods programming Participate in the planning and implementation of Mercy Corps Lebanon Protection, Youth and Livelihoods strategies    Other Commitment to implementation of Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards (PM@MC) to ensure all project planning and documentation is completed in timely manner; Ensure interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy and Do No Harm strategies; Participate in internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops; Other assigned tasks, as necessary.  Organizational Learning  As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.     Accountability to Beneficiaries Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.     SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Protection Coordinator, Lifeskills and Employability Coordinator, Partner Capacity Building Coordinator     ACCOUNTABILITY: Reports directly to:  ‘Youth for Tomorrow’ Program Manager   Works directly with:  Operations, Finance, Program, and M&E Teams, Partners, YFT team.     KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE Bsc or MA in international development, social work, social sciences, psychology or other relevant field; Demonstrated expertise in participatory community-based programs, with at least 5-7 years of relevant and/or field-based experience including management experience; Extensive experience in designing and implementing protection or livelihood development programming in Lebanon, with an understanding of the displacement context, economic challenges, social stability and resilience mechanisms relevant to internal conflict preferred; preference also given to candidates with background in the Middle East region; Proven track record in staff and stakeholder training, mentoring and capacity building; Experience establishing and supporting community-based protection mechanisms and strengthening local systems preferred. Experience of livelihood programming for youth, gender focused programming Experience using a conflict sensitivity and do no harm approach Solid knowledge and application of established inter-agency standards and guidelines relevant to protection Excellent analytical skills with ability to identify problems and propose solutions. Strong communication, networking, advocacy, negotiation and diplomacy skills. Working understanding of procurement, administrative and finance systems.  Fluency in English is essential; fluency in Arabic preferred. SUCCESS FACTORS A successful candidate will have the ability to work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. S/he will have proven experience working effectively and respectfully with host country government and other authorities as well as NGO and CBO representatives. S/he will have a record of accomplishment that demonstrates attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, and successfully meeting programmatic deadlines, as well as anticipating program needs. Familiarity with Child Protection Systems strengthening approaches, Sphere Project’s Humanitarian Charter and Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Pyramid are essential. Sensitivity to multi-cultural international development work and a commitment to working with community members to create safe, nurturing places for youth that foster greater inclusion in the community and productive livelihoods. The ability to solve problems creatively, juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines, and diplomatically manage unexpected and sudden events affecting program operations is essential.   Able to work in Saida, Tripoli and Mount Lebanon.