Country: Lebanon
Closing date: 14 Jul 2017
SPARK Project Manager for Talent Beyond Boundaries Project
Vacancy Job Description
Spark and Talent Beyond Boundaries are working on an initiative to connect individuals impacted by conflict with international employment in countries where their skills are needed.
Project Description: Talent Beyond Boundaries is an American NGO working to open a new pathway to help people forcefully displaced from their home countries find work and self-reliance through international employment opportunities. Talent Beyond Boundaries is linking with employers who can use work visas to bring talented refugees to fill skill gaps around the world. Although humanitarian leaders and academics increasingly recognize that labor mobility can help displaced individuals lead productive self-sufficient lives, to date there has been no effective effort to connect this talent pool to private sector employers who recruit globally. Talent Beyond Boundaries' goal is to create a viable labor migration pathway for displaced people around the globe. Talent Beyond Boundaries is currently implementing its Pilot Project through a partnership with SPARK, drawing on their complimentary knowledge and expertise. To learn more, visit www.talentbeyondboundaries.org
Organization Description: SPARK develops higher education and entrepreneurship, so that young ambitious people are empowered to lead their post-conflict society into prosperity. SPARK is a dynamic and growing not-for-profit development organisation with over 100 staff members that helps young entrepreneurs to start or grow their own businesses. SPARK helps displaced youth to access higher education in conflict areas. Moreover, SPARK assists post-secondary education institutions to reform their curricula to better meet the needs of the labour markets. Based in Amsterdam, SPARK has offices in among others Abidjan, Amman, Beirut, Belgrade, Bujumbura, Gaziantep, Erbil, Hargeisa, Juba, Kigali, Mitrovica, Monrovia, Ramallah, Sanaa and Tunis.
Position Summary: The Project Manager will be a contracted employee of Spark, working solely on TBB’s pilot project, in close collaboration with both TBB and SPARK staff. The Project Manager will plan, budget, oversee and document aspects of the pilot project for TBB in Lebanon. The person in this role will work closely with upper management TBB to make sure that the scope and direction of the project is on schedule and amended as needed. He or she will also assist the team in strategic planning to scale-up after the pilot project. The Project Manager will be a key focal point in coordinating outreach activities to refugees for TBB’s Talent Catalog, an online platform where refugees register professional profiles with TBB. The Project Manager will coordinate outreach volunteer and intern activities, liaise with local and international organizations, and work on TBB’s digital outreach to refugees. The Project Manager will play a critical role in managing the dissemination of information regarding TBB’s pilot project, ensuring accurate and transparent communication of TBB’s pilot project and mission. The Manager will also contribute to case management for refugee candidates working with TBB and Spark. The Project Manager will work closely with both TBB and Spark teams on this collaborative effort.
Supervisors: Spark Regional Manager /TBB Executive Director and TBB Regional Program Manager
Supervisees: Several interns and /or volunteers, with potential to recruit as needed and budget allows.
Work travel: This position will be based in Beirut, with some travel to different parts of the country. Must be comfortable navigating Lebanon and have a valid driver’s license.
Working Environment: The Project Manager will work in SPARK’s office as an integrated member of SPARK’s team. The Project Manager will also work closely with TBB’s Regional Program Manager and other team members from TBB both in the country and remotely.
Ideal Start Date: As Soon As Possible
Duration of Contract: 6 months, renewable. The first month of the contract will be a probation period.
Salary: Based on experience
Disclaimer: TBB and Spark reserve the right to adapt this job description at any time during employment according to needs. Any extension of this contract is dependent on performance review, funding availability, and strategic planning.
Candidate Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree mandatory, Master’s Degree is a plus
2-3+ years of professional experience, ideally in an NGO setting and related to project management. Experience in refugee context, development or humanitarian response highly desirable (or other sectors related to TBB’s project)
Fluent Arabic and English: Read, Written and Spoken mandatory. No exceptions
Passion for TBB’s goal to open a new safe and legal pathway for refugees through international employment
Excellent communication skills. Comfortable presenting to a group and conducting information sessions.
Resourceful and able to forge new partnerships and avenues of outreach to refugees
Detail-oriented with a strong ability to time manage and coordinate schedules
Solid organizational skills including respect for deadlines
Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective and working relations with all the types of stakeholders. Strong cultural awareness and tolerance to diversity especially in the details pertaining to the refugee crisis and the Lebanese environment
Adaptability and ability to re-prioritize according to the changing context.
Able to work effectively and creatively independently and within a team. Self-driven and strong ability to work independently and take initiative.
Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information.
Strong budgeting ability to maintain the project budget.
Analytical skills to be able to solve problems that may come up during a typical work day.
Responsibilities & Tasks:
Ensures the evaluation, strategy and development of the pilot program in close coordination with management.
Work dynamically with SPARK and TBB staff as a team player on the implementation of TBB’s pilot project.
Provide case management to refugee participants to assist them through the process of preparing for international employment. This could include coordinating logistics, contacting and meeting with candidates, answering questions, and ensuring updates and developments are effectively communicated.
Manage and implement outreach outreach in refugee communities to professionals who meet criteria based on TBB’s employer partners. This might include building relationships with networks and organizations, giving information sessions to potential program participants, recruiting volunteers, meeting with active community members, and expanding online outreach.
Coordinate logistics necessary to prepare candidates in TBB’s program to move for international employment. This could include helping candidates prepare the necessary documents, take language and skills testing, prepare applications and CVs, access information, and take the steps needed to obtain a work visa.
Coordinate interns and/or volunteers to ensure that the outreach and registration follow-up plan is enacted and they are fully trained to respond to the questions and concerns of program registrants and organizations.
Develop, in collaboration with the TBB team, clear messaging to effectively communicate TBB’s work in a clear and concise manner to both registrants and participants, managing expectations and creating clear understanding of TBB’s role in the process.
Ensure information, challenges, and lessons learned are efficiently communicated with the TBB-SPARK team and documented.
Manage changes to the project scope, project schedule, and project costs in coordination with the TBB-SPARK team.
Develop and maintain administrative and other processes for the project and accountability.
Create and maintain project documentation.
Contribute to the development of operational plan, in terms of reviewing the progress and benefiting from lessons learned.
Actively participate in the strategic planning for scaling-up in 2018 and documenting lessons learned.
Expand TBB’s partnerships that can help refugees prepare for international employment and establish positive relations with refugee communities, organizations and officials; represent TBB and SPARK’s joint work at meetings and working groups.
Stay aware of the situation in the country and how that affects the project.
Contribute to TBB’s Arabic and English content and social media presence.
How to apply:
Please send a cover letter and resume/CV to lebanon@talentbeyondboundaries.org by July 14th 2017 or sooner.
Due to a large volume of applicants, we cannot respond to every applicant. Applications received may be reviewed instantly or there might be a delay before applicants are contacted.