Lebanon: Senior Grants and Partnership Coordinator

Background/IRC Summary:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) 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, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

In the fall of 2012, the IRC's Emergency Response Team carried two rapid assessments - one focusing on the risks and violence faced by women and girls among the Syrian refugee population within Lebanon, and an emergency livelihoods assessment. On the basis of findings from these two assessments, the IRC launched a Women's Protection and Empowerment program as well as an Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) program. IRC subsequently initiated large-scale Child Protection and Protection Monitoring programs, and a significant Community-Based Education initiative. IRC Lebanon currently delivers a range of integrated Protection, Livelihoods and Education services to Syrian refugees and host communities across Lebanon.

Job Overview/Summary:

Based in Beirut with occasional travel to the Field Offices in Zahle, Qobayat, Tripoli, and Tyre, the Senior Grants and Partnership Coordinator is responsible for the grants and partnership unit in IRC Lebanon. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Programs, this position will work closely with sector heads, finance and operations on proposal writing, reporting, donor compliance, and other portfolio management tasks.

Major Responsibilities:

New Business Development:

• Support opportunity identification. Perform monitoring, research and analysis into donor strategies and share with program staff.
• Maintain an efficient system for proposal development - with clear responsibilities outlined for management, programs, finance and operations departments - that yields timely, high quality submissions.
• In collaboration with program leads, be the lead writer/coordinator/editor for all concept notes and proposals.
• Provide expertise in the development of budgets and ensure communication between all departments (finance, programs, and operations) in drafting of budgets.
• Assist senior management in donor liaison and communication as requested.
• Act as focal point for the proposals, programs and projects in use of the IRC's OTIS (Opportunity Tracking Information System) database;
• Ensure that all proposals comply with the IRC's Outcomes and Evidence Framework.

Partnership:

• With support from the DDP and Regional Partnership Director, oversee the Partnership Unit's strategic direction to ensure that partnership processes are compliant and efficient;
• Support the Senior Partnership Manager (SPM) to ensure effective and responsive partnerships that are in line with IRC's partnership principles;
• Support the SPM to oversee sub-grant administration, ensuring compliance of partner proposals, budgets, and sub-agreements with relevant donor requirements and deadlines. Ensure that sub-grant related administrative processes and procedures are standardized and consistently implemented throughout the program, including pre-award compliance checks, agreements, disbursements, reporting and partner capacity-building. Support program staff in assessing partnership opportunities and ensuring that partners receive appropriate capacity-building support in relation to their needs;
• Support the Senior Partnership Manager to rollout the Sub Awards tool kit.

Grants Administration and Reporting:

• Ensure that all IRC grants or contracts in Lebanon are well-administered (including maintenance of comprehensive grant files) and implemented in compliance with the relevant donor regulations and IRC procedures.
• Oversee all internal and external reporting in collaboration with the programs and finance departments, ensuring high-quality, well-written and timely reports meeting donor and IRC requirements.
• Act as focal point for communications with HQ grants administration and compliance functions in New York and London.
• Ensure quality information management related to grants by overseeing the regular maintenance of grant files, reporting calendars, and updating of internal IRC documentation and Grant Unit tools.
• Build grant management capacity of field staff by facilitating trainings, and providing one-on-one follow up support in report writing, proposal development, budget management, indicator tracking, IRC-specific tools, and other topics as/if needed.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Play a leadership role in the design and running of monthly grant monitoring meetings to ensure that grants are implemented in compliance with the IRC and relevant donor regulations, to ensure strong financial management, to ensure the proper operational openings and closings of grants, and to ensure monitoring and evaluation of programmatic progress. Support the follow-up to action points from these meetings.
• Work closely with the DDP to develop and maintain program monitoring and evaluation tracking tools to ensure all sector indicators report monthly progress. Identify and share gaps with sector Coordinators.
• As needed, assist field staff in monitoring implementation of activities under grants and contracts.

Management Responsibilities

Staff Management and Development

• Direct supervision of the Senior Partnership Manager, Grants Manager and Grants Officer. Manage and build the capacity of staff to ensure a responsive and well organized Grants and Partnership departments.
• Discuss job expectations, set objectives and provide appropriate and timely feedback regarding performance, including timely implementation of the annual staff performance management system.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions including staff development plans.
• As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of a national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by end of assignment
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being; approve and manage all leave requests to ensure adequate coverage.
• Provide leadership support for the successful implementation of and adherence to the IRC Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures
• Lead with commitment, integrity and accountability to the "IRC Way" - Global Standards for Professional Conduct

Other:

• Draft, coordinate, and maintain up-to-date country program factsheets and other external relations materials.
• Engage in the rollout and institutionalization of relevant IRC initiatives such as the Outcomes and Evidence Framework
• Assist program teams and regional communications staff in ensuring appropriate and effective donor visibility at IRC Lebanon program sites.
• Assist senior management in the organization of site visits by donors and senior IRC staff visiting from HQ.
• Any special projects as assigned by the DDP and country director.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Deputy Director for Programs Position directly supervises: Senior Partnership Manager, Grants Manager, Grants Officer

Indirect Reporting: N/A Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: IRC Lebanon Finance Department, IRC Lebanon HR Lead, HQ and Regional grants/compliance teams, Program Coordinators, Regional Partnership Director

External: In-country donor counterparts, especially among UN agencies

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in relevant discipline, Master's degree a plus
• Two to four years international work experience in relief or development programs.
• Demonstrated successful experience developing projects and writing proposals for public and private donors.
• Demonstrated successful experience working with Local partners.
• Demonstrable understanding of project planning and management cycles, and strong program design skills.
• Demonstrable high-level performance management and team-working skills; well developed negotiation skills and ability to communicate effectively in internal and external settings.
• Previous experience working with European and American public donors, as well as UN agencies.
• Ability to work well under unstable security, administrative, and programmatic pressures.
• Highly organized, close attention to detail, and ability to effectively prioritize tasks in a fluid environment.
• Professional fluency in spoken and written English; able to communicate concisely and with impact.
• Very strong English writing and editing skills; strong computer skills.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing requirements.
• Experience in the region preferred.
• Arabic language proficiency is an asset.

Attention Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a national of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Syria Response Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Working Environment:

The working environment is generally favorable. Lighting and temperature are adequate, and there are no hazardous or unpleasant conditions caused by noise, dust, etc. Work is generally performed within an office environment, with standard office equipment available (personal computer, personal desk, printer, etc...) .

Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=YXN0cmlkLm1hdGhldy41NzI5NC4zODMwQGlyYy5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20