Conditional Cash Manager

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and is at work in over 40 countries.  In response to the influx of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, the IRC provides income and livelihoods support to vulnerable Syrian refugees and host communities, through its Economic Recovery and Development Program. The objective of the program is to assist vulnerable households in the most affected areas of the Akkar and Mount Lebanon in meeting their essential needs and increasing their self-reliance; this is expected to ultimately lessen the use of negative coping strategies for survival. Interventions include financial management training, cash for work, vocational training, legal and job counseling, apprenticeship and job referrals through a livelihoods center. Additional market assessments and other research is conducted under this program. The main target groups are acutely vulnerable registered and unregistered Syrian refugees and Lebanese households. The ERD program will develop synergies with the other programs implemented by the IRC in Lebanon, namely the Women Protection and Empowerment Program, the Child Protection Program and the Protection Monitoring Program. The ideal candidate will have 3-5 years of demonstrated experience in cash for work programs or relevant cash or community engagement experience. The Conditional Cash Manager will lead the design of the program’s conditional cash component, ensuring the implementation of quality cash programming that is sensitive to the political and economic context. Job Overview/Summary: The ERD Conditional Cash Manager works within the Economic Recovery and Development team of the IRC in Lebanon, under the lead of the ERD Coordinator. The Manager’s first responsibility is overseeing the day to day implementation of all ERD Conditional Cash Program interventions and supervising the field-based staff working with local partners, communities and beneficiaries. The Manager is expected to spend up to 50% of the working time in Akkar and 50% in Mt. Lebanon/Beirut, on a weekly basis, for coordination with local institutions, implementation support, program monitoring and field-level decision making. The main objectives of this position are: Ensure that cash for work schemes are conceptualized, developed and delivered in a high quality manner that meets project deliverables and is responsive to the local context. Major Responsibilities: Programme Planning & Implementation Conduct political economy analysis of cash for work opportunities in Akkar and Mt. Lebanon and ensure that programming is responsive to the context Engage community and municipal leaders, as well as multilateral and other INGO actors, to ensure cash for work projects are responsive to local needs and have local buy in.  Consult with local authorities, communities and NGOs to identify in a participatory manner the most appropriate and needed cash for work schemes Prepare and maintain/update detailed workplans that support and achieve cash-for-work timeline and completion date Provide direction and monitor conditional cash program staff in their implementation of the workplan and quality of technical activities, share relevant information and direction to improve quality and achieve timelines Approve expenditures to designated level; assist the ERD Coordinator in managing/monitoring monthly expenditures and track the conditional cash program budgets to ensure that all spending is in line with approved budget and timelines Assist the Coordinator in developing procurement plans, monthly program spending plan and conditional cash forecasts.  Ensure procurement for cash for work projects is done in a timely and accurate manner. Ensure that staff are adhering to the  Standard Operating Procedures for Cash for Work and that the SOPs are updated on a regular basis Ensure that accurate information is submitted to Supply Chain department for the timely procurement of raw materials and equipment for cash for work schemes Ensure that beneficiary targets are met, within project deadlines Programme Monitoring & Reporting Undertake weekly field monitoring visits to assess progress and identify technical quality issues and/or other implementation issues, provide solutions and implement modifications as required Coordinate closely with M&E and ICT staff on targeting, data collection, data systems and information management Coordinate with the M&E Manager for the organization of the M&E team field visits, by timely sharing information on ongoing activities and plans Provide inputs for regular reports for IRC donors on grant activities, progress, indicators, and achievements as specified in grant agreements and reporting schedules. Partner Management Regularly monitor performance of partner organizations conducting specific cash for work schemes to achieve the set project’s objectives; provide technical support and guidance;  share relevant information and direction to improve quality and achieve timelines Assist the ERD Coordinator in reviewing partner narrative reports and provide advice and guidance to improve accuracy and quality as required. Coordination & Representation Work closely and coordinate with IRC logistics, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and compliant program activities and expenditures; including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings Under the guidance of the ERD Coordinator, represent the IRC in cash and livelihoods related coordination bodies at the field level, and share information with national and international NGOs, as well as UN agencies, as appropriate. Coordinate with IRC Protection teams to ensure protection is mainstreamed into cash for work programming and cash programming staff are trained in protection principles and approaches. Coordinate closely with ERD multi-sector cash and livelihoods team to ensure coordinated targeting, beneficiary selection and approaches.  Assist with community, municipality and private sector outreach on other livelihoods activities as necessary. Assist in coordination of donor visits to field sites. Program Development Assist in the collection of data, assessments and proposal development for the sector, as needed.   Other Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the Conditional Cash team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and  liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for the ERD program Other duties as assigned by the ERD Coordinator to enable and develop ERD programs Key Working Relationships: Position Reports to:  ERD Coordinator Position directly supervises:  Cash for Work Officers (5 staff located in Akkar and Mount Lebanon), Cash and Protection Mainstreaming Officers, potentially other cash programming staff. Indirect Reporting: None Other Internal and/or external contacts: Internal: Other ERD Managers, including Livelihoods Manager, Senior M&E Manager, ICT Manager and other sector managers External:  Interagency basic assistance and livelihoods groups, other INGOs conducting livelihoods or cash for work programming, partner organizations, private sector companies Management Responsibilities Staff Management and Development Direct supervision of approximately 7-8 employees including Protection and Mainstreaming Officers and 4 Cash for Work Officers   Discuss job expectations, set objectives and provide appropriate and timely feedback regarding performance, including timely implementation of the annual staff performance management system. Clearly define the training needs of direct reports and ensure they are able to access training and professional development resources appropriate to their skill gaps/needs. Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions including staff development plans. Provide leadership support for the successful implementation of and adherence to the IRC Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures Lead with commitment, integrity and accountability to the “IRC Way” –  Global Standards for Professional Conduct Job Requirements: 2-3 years of experience leading teams in a humanitarian context. 5 years of technical experience implementing cash for work, cash or community engagement programs. Additional technical experience in infrastructure, market analysis or community engagement highly preferred.  Experience facilitating technical trainings and workshops related to emergency response, food security or Cash Program. Proven abilities in managing teams, monitoring staff performance, and providing technical support and coaching to field teams. Prior experience in developing program implementation workplans, data collection and analysis, and program reporting Strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills, creativity and flexibility INGO experience preferred Personal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well. Fluency in English and Arabic required Work Environment: The position can be either based in Beirut or Akkar (Deir Dalloum office), with travel to field locations in Akkar and Mount Lebanon.  Both locations offer good quality office environments.