Country: Lebanon
Closing date: 31 Oct 2016
We are looking for a highly qualified humanitarian professional with significant experience in coordination, NGO program management and representation to serve in a unique and dynamic leadership role within the Lebanon crisis response.
Who are we?
The Lebanon Humanitarian INGO Forum (LHIF) is an independent network of 34 international NGOs who are working to address the needs of vulnerable individuals, families and communities throughout Lebanon. LHIF provides a platform for members to efficiently and effectively address key issues of common interest, identify strategic issues of concern, advocate for common positions with a unified and consistent voice, collectively engage with external stakeholders, and share information. LHIF also facilitates representation of INGOs in response leadership bodies and works to enhance engagement of NGOs in response planning and coordination mechanisms. LHIFis represented by an elected Steering Committee and supported by a full-time Secretariat. LHIF is administratively hosted by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and funded by ECHO.
About the job
The Country Coordinator is responsible for ensuring LHIF is a well-run, inclusive INGO network that is pro-actively out in front on key humanitarian issues. The Country Coordinator maintains LHIF’s reputation as a credible and leading actor in the Lebanon crisis response, by providing high-level strategic and policy support to the LHIF Steering Committee and ensuring strong INGO representation in the Humanitarian Country Team and other response leadership bodies, as well aswith the Government of Lebanon, UN, donors, diplomats, national civil society, and other external stakeholders as required. S/he leads the LHIF Secreatriat, oversees LHIF’s advocacy for greater international support to and solidarity with refugees and vulnerable Lebanese, spearheads joint LHIF operational initiatives, and works to enhance engagement of NGOs throughout response planning and coordination mechanisms.The Country Coordinator reports to the LHIF Steering Committee, and supervises the LHIF Advocacy & Communications Coordinator and LHIF National Officer.
Duties and Responsibilities
• Lead the LHIF Secretariat, including human resources and budget management, fundraising, donor reporting, and membership processes. Ensure compliance with host agency policies and the LHIF Governance Framework.
• Work with LHIF members, Steering Committee,and Advocacy & Communications Coordinator to develop and formulate common advocacy positions, messaging and strategies;produce high-quality, well-researched policy and position papers.
• Closely follow key issues in the planning and implementation of the response in Lebanon, provide analysis and briefings for LHIF members, and consolidate memberfeedback, inputs and concerns for external representation and communication.
• Spearhead efforts to track NGO operational constraints, and work with members develop strategies to address common operational challenges.
• Support the LHIF Steering Committee to represent LHIF in response leadership bodies and with external stakeholders; represent LHIF in the inter-sector, relevant sector working groups, and with other NGO networks in the region and globally.
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with LHIF members and key external stakeholders (e.g. local NGOs, UN agencies, Ministries, donors/diplomats).
• Oversee smooth operation of regular LHIF Plenary meetings, sub-group meetings, communications, training, and information circulation.
About you
To be successful in this role you must have excellent diplomatic and relationship-building skills, a solid understanding of humanitarian coordination systems, experience managing NGO programs, significant experience with humanitarian and/or NGO coordination, and strong advocacy and policy analysis skills.
• Significant prior experience with humanitarian and/or NGO coordination, preferably in refugee or post-conflict settings. Previous experience with directly coordinating NGO networks or sectors/clusters strongly preferred.
• Experience in representation within HCTs, ISCGs, and other IASC coordination mechanisms, as well as with governments, donors, national civil society, and UN agencies. Knowledge and understanding of the UN system, humanitarian coordination architecture, and humanitarian principles essential.
• Experience developing or managing humanitarian policy analysis and advocacy.
• Diplomatic and inter-personal skills, ability to build positive relationships in a multi-cultural, multi-organizational context.
Required qualifications
• Master’s degree in humanitarian affairs, development studies, public policy, international relations, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience)
• 7 years’ experience in humanitarian programming (ideally in protracted crises, refugee crises, or post-conflict recovery), with at least 2 years’ experience in country program senior management (e.g., country director/head of mission, deputy director/head of programs, chief of party, senior program coordinator, etc.)
• Fluency in English. Arabic a major asset. French a bonus.
Desirable qualifications
• Strong leadership and management skills, including staff management, partner management, and financial management
• Excellent strategic and analytical skills, including ability to synthesize and effectively communicate complex issues
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Editorial and presentation abilities highly valued.
• Experience working in the MENA region and/or with the Syria Crisis preferred
We offer
DRC will offer the successful applicant a 12-month, accompanied contract, renewable dependent on both funding and performance. You must be available to start work from 15th January 2017 and be willing and able to work in Beirut, Lebanon.
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates and Nationals; please refer to www.drc.ngo under Vacancies. This position will be placed at level A11.
How to apply:
Application process
Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button.
All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV only applications will not be considered.
If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk
Applications close 31 October 2016. The interviews are expected to take place in the following week.
Need further information?
For more details on this position please contact Amy Keith at coordinator@lhif.org. Please note that applications sent directly to Amy Keith will not be considered.
For further information about LHIF, please visit www.LHIF.org. For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.ngo