Icla Senior Information Field Officer

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent, international humanitarian nongovernmental organisation which provides assistance and protection to refugees and internally displaced persons in over twenty countries worldwide. NRC has been working in Lebanon since 2006, initially assisting displaced Lebanese. In early March 2012, NRC commenced its Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance ICLA (ICLA) programme in Lebanon, with a focus on assisting refugees and displaced persons to understand and enjoy their rights. Initially providing assistance to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon (Palestinian Response), since May 2012 ICLA has also been implementing a programme throughout Lebanon targeting those affected by displacement from Syria. Under its Syrian response, NRC currently works through seven community centres around Lebanon (two in the North, three in the Bekaa, one in the South and one in Mount Lebanon), as well as through extensive outreach. In the North, NRC provides information, counselling and legal assistance to people who are affected by displacement as a result of the crisis in Syria; develops understanding of the protection and legal issues affecting the target communities, and, in coordination with other actors, identifies ways to address them. JOB PURPOSE The Senior Information Field Officer, Akkar is responsible for assisting the ICLA Project Coordinator, North in managing the implementation of the ICLA programme in the Akkar area, in accordance with ICLA strategy, workplans, and technical and operational guidance DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Management Responsibilities Provide direct supervision of two Information Field Officers in Akkar, in close coordination with the ICLA Field Coordinator; Responsible for managing the performance of staff under his / her supervision, including working with the staff members to set and monitor objectives and workplans, and provide constructive feedback on an on-going and scheduled basis; Assist the ICLA Project Coordinator in ensuring that the staffing needs of the ICLA team in Akkar are met; Responsible for conducting recruitment for those positions under his / her responsibility and in doing so identifying appropriately qualified staff in a timely manner, in liaison with the ICLA Project Coordinator and Human Resources in Akkar. Project Implementation and Management Assist the ICLA FProject Coordinator in taking timely and considered decisions on how to respond to changing needs of beneficiaries in Akkar; Oversee the development and implementation of weekly activity plans by the ICLA team in Akkar, working with the Information Field Officers to ensure that roles and responsibilities of ICLA team members are clearly defined and applied; Support the Information Field Officers in developing materials to be used in ICLA field activities, ensuring that they are consistent with materials being developed elsewhere by ICLA in Lebanon, through close liaison with ICLA Management and other field offices; Support the Information Field Officers in developing and implementing effective ways of publicising ICLA's services amongst target communities, in accordance with the ICLA structure. Services Mapping: Responsibility for maintaining a clear, comprehensive and up-to-date written mapping of services provided by humanitarian actors in Akkar, by developing and following a plan to exchange information about activities with other humanitarian actors in Akkar; Information and Counselling Services: Document technical issues and questions that arise during the course of information and counselling activities, and in liaison with the ICLA Project Coordinator in Akkar and ICLA Management identify ways of addressing them; As necessary, assist the ICLA team in Akkar in providing information and counselling to beneficiaries on legal issues (currently NRC's legal focus is on legal status and documentation, including birth registration, and Housing, Land and Property rights); Legal Assistance: In close liaison with the Legal Field Officer (and / or legal focal points, as relevant) support the ICLA Field Coordinator in managing consultant lawyers working for ICLA in Akkar, and ensure that ICLA structure, guidelines and principles are applied in the provision of legal assistance to beneficiaries. Project Cycle Management Needs Assessment: Assist the ICLA Project Coordinator in identifying and assessing the main information, legal and protection needs of target communities in Akkar; Project Design: Provide inputs to the ICLA Project Coordinator on the design of ICLA activities in Akkar, as requested; Project Planning: Assist the ICLA Project Coordinator in developing workplans for the ICLA programme in Akkar, and ensuring that project activities and outputs are delivered on target and in accordance with NRC and donor commitments, in close liaison with the ICLA Project Coordinator; In close liaison with the ICLA Project Coordinator and the ICLA team, identify suitable locations for the ICLA activities (including outreach work, and additional community centres, as applicable), in liaison with ICLA Management; Monitoring and Evaluation: Assist the ICLA Project Coordinator in developing and implementing the monitoring and evaluation plan for Akkar, including designation of roles and responsibilities across the ICLA team in Akkar; Assist the ICLA Project Coordinator in ensuring that design and standardisation of forms, questionnaires and other templates used to document ICLA's activities in the field meet ICLA project needs, in liaison with ICLA Management, other ICLA field teams, and the NRC Monitoring and Evaluation team; In liaison with the Information Field Officers in Akkar, ensure that the ICLA Field team in Akkar understand the purpose, and consistently use the agreed templates and tools to document ICLA's activities in the field; Support the Information Field Officers in ensuring that the ICLA team in Akkar consistently use agreed templates and  tools to document ICLA's activities in the field; Undertake monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure the satisfactory progress, quality, efficiency and accountability of ICLA's activities in Akkar, in accordance with the agreed monitoring and evaluation plan for Akkar; Budget and Financial Management: Assist the ICLA Project Coordinator in ensuring that all financial transactions completed by ICLA in Akkar are undertaken in compliance with NRC and donor guidelines and procedures; Reporting: Develop and manage responsibilities within the ICLA team in Akkar for reporting to NRC management and donors; Review and provide feedback on draft reports prepared by the ICLA team in Akkar, and submit to the ICLA Project Coordinator for approval and submission to NRC donors and ICLA Management, as applicable. Coordination ICLA: Assist the ICLA Project Coordinator in providing leadership for the ICLA team in Akkar, and build and maintain positive and effective relationships with all ICLA colleagues in Akkar and with ICLA Management and support teams through regular and effective communication; In close liaison with the ICLA Project Coordinator, monitor and ensure a positive morale and professional satisfaction amongst the ICLA team in Akkar; As applicable, participate in regular meetings with ICLA Management and other ICLA team members in other locations from across Lebanon in order to facilitate the exchange of information, discussion and response to challenges and to identify lessons learned; Hold regular team meetings with the ICLA team in Akkar, and facilitate the exchange of information, discussion and response to challenges and to identify lessons learned; NRC: Build and maintain positive and effective relationships with colleagues in other core competencies (programmes) and departments, and, as relevant, find ways of collaborating to further enhance the effectiveness of NRC activities in Akkar; Develop a clear and comprehensive understanding of the strategic objectives, methods and activities of ICLA elsewhere in Lebanon, and of other NRC core competencies (programmes) and be able to present these to others within ICLA or amongst other audiences, as applicable; Other Humanitarian Actors: Liaise frequently on a working-level with other humanitarian actors in order to coordinate activities and exchange information, and as applicable, assist the ICLA Field Coordinator by participating in sectoral working groups and through bilateral meetings in order to maintain information on and coordinate activities, and to exchange information and lessons learned; Assist the ICLA Project Coordinator in establishing  referral pathways and procedures in Akkar, in close liaison with other humanitarian actors (including the UN, other NGOs, and other NRC core competencies), and support the ICLA team in Akkar to follow them; Local Authorities: Assist the ICLA Project Coordinator in developing and maintaining positive relationships with local authorities in Akkar which facilitate NRC's mission in Lebanon; Host Communities and Beneficiaries Assist the ICLA Project Coordinator in ensuring that ICLA in Akkar identify and maintain positive relationships with focal points in host and beneficiary communities through timely and clear sharing of information; Work cooperatively with the beneficiaries and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen the project. Context and Needs Assessments Provide inputs to the ICLA Project Coordinator on changes in the operating context in Akkar, as applicable; Support the implementation of stand-alone assessments by ICLA in Akkar, and, as relevant across Lebanon, by facilitating introductions and inputting into the design of assessments, as required. Strategy Responsible for developing his / her understanding of the strategy of the ICLA programme in Akkar and across Lebanon, under the guidance of the ICLA Project Coordinator and ICLA Management. Technical Quality and Consistency Be receptive to, and where necessary proactively seek, technical advice from ICLA Management, in liaison with the ICLA Project Coordinator; Provide technical guidance to the ICLA team in Akkar, under the guidance of ICLA Management; Assist the ICLA Project Coordinator in documenting technical issues and questions and report to the ICLA PCs with suggested ways of addressing them. Protection Assist the ICLA Project Coordinator in ensuring that protection principles are applied to ICLAs work in Akkar and by the ICLA team in Akkar, under the guidance of the NRC Protection Focal Point; Responsible for ensuring that he / she understands and applies protection principles and NRC guidance to daily activities. Operations and Administration Assist the ICLA Project Coordinator in the administration of the ICLA programme in Akkar, in liaison with the Field Manager in Akkar and colleagues in other departments, particularly finance, administration, logistics and security; Undertake administrative tasks, as requested by the ICLA Project Coordinator; Maintain a procurement plan for the ICLA programme in Akkar, and prepare procurement requests in accordance with NRC procedures; Maintain a movement plan for the ICLA programme in Akkar, and work closely with NRC Logistics in Akkar to ensure the transportation needs of ICLA in Akkar are met; Assist the ICLA Project Coordinator in ensuring that ICLA activities and staff are conducted in accordance with NRC security procedures; Responsible for ensuring that he / she understands and follows NRC security and safety guidance at all times; Responsible for maintaining an organised and up-to-date filing / archiving system in Akkar, in accordance with the ICLA filing structure and principles of confidentiality and protection. Other Perform any other duties as required by the ICLA Project Coordinator for Akkar and by ICLA Management. QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE Educational Requirements A Bachelors degree in Law, International Relations or Social Sciences  Experience and Skills Requirements At least 3 years' experience of progressive experience working in similar positions  in the humanitarian / development sector Experience in legal and / or protection work (essential) in a humanitarian context (desirable) Experience of providing information and counselling services (desirable) Experience of community sensitisation (desirable) Ability to analyse information and apply legal / protection principles (desirable) Experience of preparing reports (desirable) Experience of managing staff                                                 Additional Skills and Qualities Ability to work under pressure and to be flexible Ability to work independently, and to be proactive in seeking support when needed Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing in both English and in Arabic Strong organisation skills, and an ability to prioritise and plan work in order to meet deadlines Proficiency in use of computers and Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Team spirit and a sense of humour