Senior Manager for Livelihoods - Beirut

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Contextual Background:

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Inside Syria, 6.2 million people are internally displaced and 11.7 million are in need of humanitarian assistance. There are 5.6 million Syrian refugees in neighboring countries. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair and has a profound impact on the neighboring countries which are hosting the overwhelming majority of Syrian refugees and find themselves under increasing strain.

Job Overview:

The Senior Livelihoods Manager (SLM) for Livelihoods plays a leading role in ensuring a successful implementation of ERD programming on field and adherence to quality standards.

By providing guidance and support needed to the center managers and to the technical teams, and in close coordination with the MEAL department, the SLM has the overall responsibility of ensuring the deliverable on timely basis, high quality output, and effectiveness of the implemented activities within and outside the ERD centers.

While closely working with the ERD Coordinator, the Senior Manager will contribute to the identification of new opportunities for interventions and to the development of new proposals expanding the portfolio of the department.

Major Responsibilities:

Grant Planning & Implementation

• Coordinate the relevant achievements with the various technical and M&E teams, ensuring timely identification of under or over-performance.
• Conduct regular field visits to ensure proper implementation of activities and identify any potential risk or gaps and propose adequate corrective measures.
• Liaise with partners to follow up on implementation progress and support team members for effective partnership management.
• Coordinate donor reporting as required, including soliciting inputs from field teams on targets and indicators and lead drafting of grant reporting.
• Develop performance indicators for center services, in collaboration with the ERD Coordinator, M&E and technical managers, and track grant targets and milestones throughout implementation.
• Provide summarized reports for lessons learned and opportunities to improve program implementation, program quality, and responsiveness to client needs.
• Support business development efforts, including proposal and budget development.
• Support financial management of the ERD department (budget forecasting, operational budget planning and alignment to implementation plan, etc.) as needed.

Human Resources Management

• Supervision of center managers and Senior cash officer, including monitoring implementation of their work plans.
• Set specific goals and expectations and provide regular feedback to staff.
• Develop the capacity of supervised team through setting individualized professional development plans and directly coach staff to achieve goals.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members and centers staff, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Ensure timely completion and submission of interim and annual performance reviews.

Livelihood Center Oversight and Management

• Develop detailed work plans for all core livelihoods center services, providing clear targets and performance indicators for corresponding staff.
• Ensure the smooth and timely implementation of core center activities, including client intake and registration, procurement of goods and services, project implementation, M&E and client payments.
• Support the integration of livelihood center services, including vocational and on-the-job training, micro-enterprise support, and legal and job placement services.

Technical Quality and Program Development

• In collaboration with the ERD Coordinator and ERD Technical Unit, develop or review tools, processes, guidance, and support materials to successfully implement ERD programs in line with IRC Strategy100 global ambitions.
• In collaboration with technical teams, ensure payment processes and modalities are appropriate to access, security and market conditions.
• In coordination with the ERD Coordinator, represent the IRC at external meetings or forums conducted in Akkar, Mount Lebanon and Tripoli.

Other

• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: ERD Coordinator  - Lebanon

Position directly supervises: Livelihood Center Supervisors (Deir Dalloum, Wadi Khaled, Mkalles), Senior Cash Officer.

Other working relations: M&E Manager, Admin Officer, Senior Program Support Officer; Senior Microenterprises Support Officer and Finance and Operations teams.

Job Requirements:

Education

• BA/BS Degree in international development, economics, business management, food security or related field; MA/MS a plus.

Work Experience

• Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive professional experience in project management, with specific experience in livelihoods promotion and cash programs.
• Prior experience working in emergency settings or insecure environments preferred.
• Strong program management skills.
• INGO experience strongly preferred.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies

• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Strong written and oral communication, effective in representation and liaison with external parties. 
• Must be capable of applying their skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical capacity.
• Personal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.
• Fluency in English required, Arabic a distinct advantage.

Language/Travel

• English and Arabic are required.
• The position is unaccompanied and is based in Beirut with frequent travel to field sites in Akkar and Mount Lebanon.

Professional Standards:

IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.