Lebanon: Deputy Country Representative / Head of Programmes Lebanon

Starting date: ASAP

Contract: 12 months, renewable based on performance and requirements

Duty Station: South Lebanon / Beirut. This is a non-family posting.

1.Background

Solidar Suisse has been actively responding to the Syrian Crisis since 2012, assisting displaced Syrian and vulnerable Lebanese families with humanitarian assistance. The Solidar Strategic Framework 2014-2015 was the backbone for the implementation of two strategic objectives: 1) meeting the basic needs of Syrian refugees in Southern Lebanon, and 2. enhancing social stability in the hosting communities in Southern Lebanon. Under the first objective, Solidar delivered emergency aid to Syrian refugees in the sectors of Basic Assistance and Shelter. Basic Assistance included initially the distribution of seasonal NFIs to Syrian refugees and Lebanese vulnerable households but Solidar gradually shifted within this sector to Unconditional Cash Assistance (UCA). In the sectors of Shelter/WASH, Solidar increased access to adequate and improved shelter space through the rehabilitation of unfinished parts of buildings or housing units in exchange for rent-free accommodation for a set period of time. To mitigate negative impacts on host communities and tensions between host communities and Syrian refugees, Community Support Projects (CSP) are used as a mean to improve or expand essential community services and infrastructure. Currently, a process of strategic review is ongoing with the aim to develop the new Strategic Framework for 2017-2019 for Solidar’s response in Lebanon. Within the new framework, and in addition to humanitarian aid to most vulnerable refugees, Solidar Suisse is exploring options to improve the resilience of vulnerable persons of concern and strengthening their capacity to earn an income.

2.Purpose

Reporting to the Country Representative, the Deputy Country Representative (DCR) will lead the implementation of the Country Programme by supervising, coaching and mentoring project coordinators on programme tools and approaches. He/she will be in charge of quality control in Solidar’s programmes by strengthening PCM and M&E tools across all sectors and fostering internal learning. The position holder will contribute to enlarging the donor base by ensuring project proposals are technically sound and reporting efforts meet donor’s requirements. Lastly, the DCR will be responsible for the overall HR management including overseeing the performance appraisal process, staff contract follow-up and staff development. As a key member of the SMT, the DCR will remain abreast of and conversant in Solidar’s operational functions and liaise closely with the finance and logistics departments.

3.Responsibilities

The main responsibilities of the position are:

PROGRAMME DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION AND DEVELOPMENT

• Oversee the design of new projects and proposals, based on organizational learning, best practice, and identified needs/gaps, which are in line with Solidar Suisse’s Strategy for Lebanon
• Provide project management support and guidance to the Solidar programme to ensure the programme departments deliver their projects on time, within budget, to a high quality standard and in accordance with Solidar and donor requirements
• Oversee and facilitate timely progress toward programme objectives, relating to overall project management (project planning, implementation, reporting, monitoring, financial management and evaluation), according to Solidar Suisse’ Strategy and guidelines stipulated in the agreement between Solidar Suisse and project donors.
• Develop and review guidelines and approaches for beneficiary selection, in accordance with Basic Assistance Working Group SOPs, and train staff to ensure selection is undertaken according to targeting approach and criteria and in accordance with humanitarian principles, donor compliance and the Lebanon humanitarian community’s SOPs.
• Contribute to the strategic development and review of the Solidar Suisse Lebanon programme, including sector focus and organizational approach.
• Oversee and prepare high quality narrative reports for Solidar donors ensuring they are in line with donor guidelines and demonstrate sound resource management, judgment, continual improvement and accountability.

PROGRAMME QUALITY ASSURANCE

• Lead in the design, coordination and utilisation of Solidar’s assessment, monitoring and evaluation tools.
• Provide orientation, training and coaching to field teams ensuring they adhere to standardised methodologies, formats and data integrity.
• Oversee the analysis of information gathered through project M&E and ensure the integration of assessment results and learning into ongoing and future programme designs.
• Oversee the implementation and regular review of the Solidar Feedback, Communication and Complaints (FCC) Strategy to ensure Solidar is accountable to all stakeholders, particularly beneficiaries and local authorities.

DATA MANAGEMENT

• Establish and implement tools and procedures which ensure the regular verification of data accuracy.
• Ensure the beneficiary data is collected, collated and stored in a manner which ensures beneficiary confidentially and adheres to Solidar’s Data Protection Agreements.
• Produce regular reports on needs, gaps, and trends based on the data collected through Solidar programmes, and ensure this analysis is shared across Solidar and feeds into new project designs.
• Ensure programme information and programme-related supporting documentation is collected and maintained in accordance with Solidar donor requirements.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND ORGANISATIONAL LEARNING

• Ensure all Solidar staff have regularly set and reviewed personal performance objectives that are relevant to country programme direction and needs.
• Oversee and provide guidance to line managers on the performance appraisal process.
• Manage attendance and leave processes.
• Follow up and coordinate the professional development needs of Solidar staff and proactively identify relevant training and professional development opportunities.
• Proactively seek, receive, synthesise and disseminate programme relevant material to Solidar staff.
• Ensure that Solidar’s Code of Conduct and FCC are fully integrated and implemented across all programme activities.
• Ensure the learning and recommendations of Solidar projects are appropriately recorded and feedback is provided to the programme teams.

COORDINATION

• Represent Solidar within the relevant government, donor, bilateral and interagency meetings and provide feedback to the Solidar SMT on decisions, actions and trends which impact Solidar planning and implementation.
• Perform other related duties as may be assigned

4.Requirements

• At least 7 years of experience in humanitarian, rehabilitation and/or development programmes, out of which +3 years in senior management positions. Preferably geographical experience in the Middle East.

• Programming experience in the fields of resilience / livelihoods programmes and cash transfers.

• Demonstrated leadership and management skills in a complex and volatile operating environment; ability to coach and support staff and cultivate team spirit.

• Applied knowledge in PCM and experience in development of M&E systems and tools

• Excellent written and spoken English language skills with demonstrable experience producing high quality proposals and reports in English

• Demonstrable experience simultaneously managing multiple donor budgets, including analysis, forecasting, monitoring and amendments

• Strong representation, interpersonal and negotiation skills; excellent oral and written communication skills in English

• Empathy with Solidar Suisse’s vision, mission and values

Applications

If you are interested in this position and meet our requirements, please send your application
including detailed CV, motivation letter, and contacts of (2) referees by e-mail before 25^th ofSeptember, 2016, to sekretariat@solidar.ch mentioning “Deputy Country Representative Lebanon” in the subject line.