Protection Project Manager

Basmeh & Zeitooneh is a registered Lebanese organization, committed to serving refugees and vulnerable communities in Lebanon, through four community centers across the country. The organization runs educational, relief, livelihoods, and protection programs, and aims to serve as an inclusive and supportive focal point for the entire community.

Basmeh & Zeitooneh has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation, abuse, and child abuse—also, fraud, bribery, and corrupt activities.

Basmeh & Zeitooneh (B&Z) is committed to maintaining the security, confidentiality, and privacy of your personal information.

Basmeh & Zeitooneh is committed to safeguarding the well-being of children and upholding the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Basmeh & Zeitooneh maintains a zero-tolerance policy on child abuse.

Job Purpose :

The Protection Project Manager will oversee the implementation and management of a protection project in Akkar, Tripoli Beirut, and Mount Lebanon. They will ensure that project activities are executed on time, within budget, and meet quality and accountability standards. The role involves coordinating with program teams to deliver protection services, maintaining relationships with partners and stakeholders, and contributing to periodic reporting and monitoring of project outcomes.

Key responsibilities include ensuring compliance with donor and organizational requirements, supervising project staff, and providing technical guidance to support the effective delivery of protection interventions. The Protection Project Manager will also work to identify operational challenges and propose solutions, ensuring projects align with both organizational goals and beneficiary needs.

Report To : 

Directly to: Head of Programs

Technically To: Protection Coordinator

Major Activities:

Program Management (Implementation and Reporting)

• Provide direct supervision to ensure successful implementation of the project(s); act as the primary point of contact about the implementation and overall management matters. This includes but is not limited to, empowering and supporting staff to make decisions within their level, taking leadership to resolve issues at the level of a Project  Manager, and collaborating with the Protection Coordinator and Head of Programmes for the resolution of issues at a higher level or if assistance is requested.
• Develop clear project mobilization and work plans with specific timeframes and ensure they are properly communicated with the Protection Coordinator Head of Programmes and team members to provide needed guidance.
• Ensure timely drafting and follow-up to finalize required Quarterly Reports and/or other project performance reports to the donor regularly.
• Provide progress reports to the Head of Programmes and Protection Coordinator every month while highlighting risk areas that might affect deadlines or quality of tasks, and provide needed solutions to ensure effective and efficient program supervision and implementation relevant to each project.
• Ensure satisfactory management of project budgets.
• Ensure compliance with B&Z and Donor’s regulations as they apply to the projects within the job-holder's purview, and work closely with other departments to facilitate and provide needed advice accordingly.
• Prepare and ensure submission of all required reports to external stakeholders as required.
• Ensure proper implementation of  Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and tools to support implementation and monitoring.
• Ensure high-quality closeout of projects.
• Ensure that project files are regularly updated.
• Work closely with other departments in B&Z (Finance, HR, and Operations) to ensure grant compliance with relevant  Donor policies and regulations.

Technical Direction

• Review the short- and long-range plans for the delivery of project services, and guide the B&Z staff and/or local partners to improve planning, management, and delivery.
• Implement monitoring systems and record-keeping methods that support routine country-level and donor reporting as appropriate.
• Propose and support the implementation of capacity-building activities aimed at enhancing the skills of local staff and/or partners in the delivery of education activities.
• Mainstreaming all B&Z policies among all project staff including (SGP, PSEA, CP, Gender Policy, etc.

Contribute to Program Development

• Assess the Protection needs of populations affected by the conflict;
• Stay up to date with all country-specific response plans by donors active in the Protection sector, and other key actors;
• Contribute to proposal writing through the provision of technical input, writing, and budgetary input for new program design. 
• Interface with key donors regarding protection programs.

Internal and External Coordination       

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with local partners and local authorities.
• Keep the Head of Programmes and Protection Coordinator, well-informed regarding developments and emerging issues related to the implementation of the project, including participation in Interdepartmental meetings, and regular follow-up.
• Stay updated regarding relevant protection policies and guidelines; and communicate necessary updates to all relevant staff while ensuring the presence of appropriate improvement or changes in implementation accordingly.
• Attend Protection Working Groups and technical meetings intended to build technical and managerial capacity, and other relevant meetings as needed or requested by the regional technical manager; and maintain a positive, continuous, and visible presence for B&Z.
• Participate actively in Inter-Departmental Meetings on a bi-weekly basis as scheduled, coming prepared to the meeting to maximize usefulness for project implementation.
• Ensure positive field visits from donors, government, or other important external stakeholders, including ensuring a well-organized visit and responsiveness to any questions.

Team Management and Employee Supervision

• Closely follow up on the recruitment of project staff within the relevant projects in cooperation with HR.
• Manage the staff of the project teams, including but not limited to: employee relations, task delegation, capacity building, teamwork and collaboration, completion of performance evaluations in a comprehensive and timely manner for all staff; and leaves management. Issues faced in any of the above-mentioned tasks should be reported to the HR Manager and all decisions taken should be in alignment with B&Z ‘s policies and procedures.
• Plan and organize training and orientation activities in developing capacity for project staff.

Work Coordination:

Internal direct reporting, dotted line work coordination, and external coordination

Reports directly to the Head of Programmes and technically to the Protection Coordinator.

Under the supervision of the Line Manager and the Technical Manager and Protection Coordinator, coordinate closely with internal support departments: Operations, HR, and Finance to ensure accurate spending, compliance, resource allocation, and planning.

Decision Making

Take decisions related to the accountabilities outlined above seeking approval/ coordination from the Head of Programs, HR Manager (related to recruitment and performance evaluations), and Finance Manager (related to budgeting and spending) as appropriate.

• A University Degree or Higher in a relevant field is required.
• 3-5 professional experiences in humanitarian programming including in livelihoods, protection, and emergency lifesaving response or equivalent combination of NGO sector experiences and education.
• Grant reporting experience is essential.
• Experience in line management is required.
• Experience in humanitarian training and facilitation – including desirable knowledge of designing and/or adapting curriculum relevant to target groups.
• Commitment to local capacity development and experience in engaging and working with local stakeholders in project design and implementation.
• Proven ability to work cooperatively with colleagues from other departments in a team environment, and to lead a diverse group of people.
• Good organizational and project management skills.
• Working understanding of procurement, administration, and finance systems.
• Demonstrated familiarity with the MS Office software (i.e., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) is required.
• Show great initiative and be able to work well in a team and independently.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the context and understand project needs.
• Commitment to a high level of confidentiality with sensitive information.
• Proficiency in Arabic and English language written and spoken is essential. Excellent written English is desired.

Competencies:

Functional: 

• Positive communication and effective listening to the needs of the beneficiaries.
• The ability to effectively network services to provide beneficiaries.
• Accept and respect the cultural context in which we work.
• Continuing career development through work-related training.
• Empathy and empathy with beneficiaries.
• Flexibility at work and with the stress of work and place.

Behavioral:

• Presenting a good image of the Basmeh& Zeitooneh Foundation through active presence in meetings with other institutions.
• Receiving beneficiaries in a humane way that is good for dignity.
• Work as a team while maintaining hierarchy.
• Keeping the beneficiaries' information confidential.
• Fluency in the Arabic language, and finding English speaking and writing at the beginner level