Programme Manager – Economic Opportunities for Women & Youth

Kindly note that your application will be disregarded in case you used the email mentioned (lb-recruitment@mercycorps.org)
Your application must be sent online through the URL provided ONLY.

* Mercy Corps is looking for an experienced Program Manager with at least 5 years program management experience in livelihoods, women's economic empowerment, and/or business development. Experience with mentoring, community mobilization, and gender integration are an added advantage.

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY

Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently works in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps is committed to generating positive opportunities for women, men, boys and girls from Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian communities, with a strong focus on engaging youth.  Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping build secure, productive and just communities. We do this through:

• Addressing the humanitarian and protection needs resulting from crisis situations for the most vulnerable communities
• Enabling local communities, civil society and government to better prevent and respond to conflict, address needs and deliver sustainable development solutions
• Promoting economic growth and catalyzing economic opportunities for vulnerable, under-employed groups in Lebanon

Our programs focus on four sectors:  Economic Opportunities, Governance and Social Stability, Youth and Protection, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). The Mercy Corps Lebanon team consists of over 180 staff working across six offices throughout Mount Lebanon, South Lebanon, Tripoli and the Bekaa Valley.

The “Market-Based Opportunities and Skills Training for Women and Youth” is a $10 million CAD integrated three-year (anticipated September 2018 - November 2021) program designed to improve livelihood opportunities for women and youth (aged 15-34) from vulnerable populations. The program will target youth between the ages of 15-24, as well as young adults between the ages of 25-34 from Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian families, with a specific focus on women and girls in the target areas.  The overall objective is that women and youth are empowered and valued for playing an active economic role within their households and communities in Mt. Lebanon, Saida, Nabatiyeh, and Tripoli.

The primary objectives of the program are that:

1. Women and youth are gainfully employed or self-employed as a result of program interventions;
2. MSMEs and Startups improve their capacity to develop their businesses and hire women and youth;
3. Women and youth have a supportive enabling environment for their economic activities

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Program Manager is responsible for the planning and implementation of the program through structured oversight and coordination with MC staff and partners to achieve program targets.  S/he will be overall responsible for budget management, and ensuring that the program meets targets, ensures quality, on deadline and within scope.  S/he will be the primary program representative to relevant government entities, private sector actors, local and international partners, and external stakeholders. The Program Manager will be responsible for donor coordination throughout the grant as well as contributing to broader strategic vision to expand and scale Mercy Corps’ Youth, Protection and Livelihood portfolios in Lebanon. 

Program Management

• Manage implementation of the Market-Based Opportunities and Skills Training for Women and Youth program to achieve key deliverables and targets;
• Conduct regular monitoring of program activities and program impact, per Mercy Corps Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) and in accordance with existing related guidelines and donor regulations;
• Overview program budget and complete financial planning to inform programming including monthly projections and budget reviews;
• Write regular donor and organizational reports to highlight program successes and challenges.
• Ensure coordination with other Mercy Corps programs, and assist other programs to mainstream protection into their activities as appropriate
• Ensure the program has appropriate visibility for the donor and for Mercy Corps, and contribute to the development of communications materials that highlight Mercy Corps’ programming. 
• Ensure the program follows Program Management Minimum Standards and has appropriate documentation of activities

Team Management and Capacity Building

• Supervise teams to develop work plans focused on key outputs and outcomes;
• Ensure team to complete tasks as assigned in a timely, professional way;
• Foster a strong team spirit and ensure effective communications both between team members and with partners
• Develop and implement a comprehensive staff training plan to build team capacity
• Ensure staff receives appropriate capacity building to enable them to complete their tasks effectively

Partner Management and Capacity Building

• Facilitate the establishment of partner sub-grants to establish clear and productive partnerships with the local organization that support grant implementation and empower local organizations;
• Coordinate with partnership advisor and sub-grant management team (SGMT) to carry out participatory assessments of local partners using the pre-award assessment
• Develop capacity building plans with local partners, based on the results of the pre-award assessment
• Ensure support is provided to improve the organizational and technical capacity of local partners as appropriate
• Collaborate and guide local partners to inform planning and implementation of assessments and reports, as well as to meet key deliverables;

Thought Leadership

• Lead and contribute to related program design, including concept note and proposal writing to secure future funding, in coordination with senior management
• Contribute to agency’s understanding of best practices in gender and livelihoods programming, and as appropriate, develop research and evaluations to increase our understanding of successful implementation strategies
• Participate in the planning and implementation of Mercy Corps Lebanon Protection and Youth and Economic Opportunities Strategies

Coordination and Representation

• Represent Mercy Corps at relevant coordination meetings in Beirut and in field locations to foster greater coordination and information sharing;
• Serve as primary contact for the program with national and municipal-level officials to explain the objectives and parameters of the programs, as well as local NGOs and program partners, local religious leaders and other community members to ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps;
• Develop and maintain working relationships and coordinate with relevant international and local agencies active emergency response and community development, including donors, other humanitarian organizations, local authorities and local partners;

Other

• Commitment to the implementation of Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards (PM@MC) to ensure all project planning and documentation is completed in a timely manner;
• Ensure interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy and Do No Harm strategies
• Conduct him/her both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission;
• 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: Program Coordinators, Technical Advisors, MEL Officers

ACCOUNTABILITY:

Reports directly to:  Director of Programs

Works directly with:  Operations, Finance, Program Performance, Program Managers, and M&E Focal Points

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Bsc or MA in international development, gender or other relevant fields;
• Demonstrated expertise in participatory community-based programs, with at least 5-7 years of relevant and/or field-based experience including programme management experience;
• Extensive experience in designing and implementing 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 is also given to candidates with protection and gender expertise;
• Proven track record in staff and stakeholder training, mentoring and capacity building;
• 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 the 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 secure 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. 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.