Livelihoods Consortium Programme Manager - Zahle

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Livelihoods Consortium Programme Manager will be based in Bekaa and will lead on the implementation of a Livelihoods Programme implemented through a consortium of local organizations with main focus on the following areas: Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Business Development Support, Vocational Training, Advocacy and Home Based Skills Developments.

The Manager will be under the technical supervision of the Livelihoods Adviser and will be line managed by the Area Manager.

He/She will ensure that the direct and indirect intervention is of the highest technical quality, that monitoring processes are in place, that reporting is high-quality and timely, and that the programme is continually assessed and solutions quickly put in place for any changes in local context.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Area Manager

Reporting to: Livelihoods team

Budget responsibility: As per SoD

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Programme Management

- Responsible for the implementation of Save the Children’s Livelihoods interventions (including employability program, cash-for-work, community support projects, MSME program, conditional cash programme, and youth livelihoods activities), ensuring that the highest technical standards are respected.

- Lead, manage and motivate staff under direct line management, ensuring that they have clear objectives and receive meaningful feedback on their performances.

- With the livelihoods Adviser, and Area Manager, finalize implementation plans for the livelihoods project, and oversee weekly and monthly work plans in line with the implementation plan.

- With the support of the area manager and the partnership manager, lead the implementation of the programme through local partners including identification, assessment, capacity building, monitoring and closure of partnerships.

- Liaise regularly with communities/municipalities and ensure community participation especially children, youth and women in all steps of project cycle, and grant acceptance of Save the Children’s livelihoods programming.

- Participate in training of livelihoods staff for SCI and its local partner (coordinators, officers and assistants) to ensure they have solid understanding of key programme documents and tools, including Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) tools.

- Oversee project budgets, financial reporting and forecasting of direct SCI project and partners led projects.

- Work with logistics/procurement and programming staff to select service provider of livelihoods services including private sector providers and technical consultants.

- With the support of the Livelihoods advisor, develop internal and partner’s capacity in implementing vocational training, life skills, market linkages and entrepreneurship programme.

- Produce timely reports for internal use on the status of on-going programming; and contribute to donor reporting.

- Provide day-to-day oversight and leadership to all assessments, training, and follow-on programs for individuals and organizations.

- Coordinate overall communications between the consortium partners.

- Liaise with local partner organizations, facilitate successful coordination of all organizational and individual training and capacity building activities and ensure transparency.

- Report regularly to headquarters, providing timely updates of all situational and project developments.

- Oversee program administration, implementation, and fiscal management.

- Provide leadership to overall project operations and reporting, ensuring that a team of core experts are in compliance with donor regulations and SCI SOPs.

- Oversee the preparation of work plans and other SCI reporting requirements.

- Regularly update donor on progression of programs.

- Ensure that the project needs are met in the most cost-effective manner possible.

- Manage and supervise team of core experts and consultants.

Programme Development 

- Lead local market assessments to determine supply of essential goods for programming, or appropriate interventions for skills development/income-generation.

- Work with colleagues from other sectors to ensure regular coordination at strategic and programmatic level; and ensure multi-sectorial programming.

- Work closely with local partners to ensure timely and high quality implementation of activities SCI and donors quality standards.

- With other team members (and communities), identify programme gaps and ensure appropriate action is taken.

Monitoring and Evaluation

- With the support of the livelihoods advisor, develop and operationalize monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for Save the Children food security and livelihoods projects.

- Ensure clear plans in place for monitoring and evaluating project activities in relation to Save the Children and donor objectives; and that lessons learnt are shared and capitalized on.

- Ensure that projects are monitored regularly, and that data is collected on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis.

- Analyse and evaluate monitoring data to understand impact of project and identify lessons learned for future programming.

- Regularly visit project sites to ensure that teams are appropriately supported.

External Relationships

- Maintain strategic links with key stakeholders such as governmental bodies, UN agencies, INGOs and other local NGOs and CBOs, identify opportunities and ensure Save the Children’s participation in key activities of the local level.

- Represent Save the Children at appropriate coordination meetings.

Other

- Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES:

Essential

- Degree in Economics, Finance, International Relations, Development studies or similar field.

- Five years of experience of humanitarian food security and & livelihoods programming; experience in vocational trainings, MSME and entrepreneurship programming is essential.

- Demonstrated experience in managing a team in a humanitarian context.

- Excellent time management skills.

- Strong experience in data collection and analysis, experience in Emergency Market Mapping & Analysis (EMMA) is a plus.

- Strong experience in field work and community mobilization; and in training groups of beneficiaries.

- Fluency in written and spoken English.

- Strong computer skills (especially Excel).

- Strength in interpersonal, communication and presentation skills. Previous experience of liaising with the UN, national and donor governments and NGOs is an advantage.

- Flexibility and willingness to change work practices and hours, and capability to work in insecure environment .

- Available and willing to travel throughout Lebanon.

Desirable

- Spoken and written Arabic.

- Economic recovery programming in humanitarian response.