Lebanon: Economic Recovery and Development 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.

The IRC has been operational in Lebanon since late 2012, when it conducted a number of rapid assessments focusing on the risks and violence faced by women and girls among the Syrian refugee population, and on the economic impact of the crisis. A livelihoods assessment done in September 2012 followed by an Emergency Market Mapping Analysis (EMMA) in March 2013 found that the crisis in Syria and influx of refugees into Lebanon had a significant economic impact on host communities while the refugee population lived in a precarious situation. Based on the findings of these assessments, the IRC initiated its programming in Lebanon; IRC currently delivers a range of integrated Protection, Livelihoods and Education services to Syrian refugees and host communities across the country. The IRC provides livelihoods support to vulnerable Syrian refugees and host communities, through its Economic Recovery and Development Program. The objective of the program is to assist vulnerable households in the most affected areas of the Akkar, Mount Lebanon and Tripoli in meeting their essential needs and increas their self-reliance;

Job Overview/Summary:

The Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) Coordinator is the technical and management leader for all programmatic and operational aspects related to IRC’s economic recovery and development activities in Lebanon. These include basic assistance and livelihoods programming, delivered through IRC’s Livelihoods Centers, including job counseling, employment support and market-based skills training, conditional cash assistance, and micro-enterprise and private sector development services. The Coordinator will liaise with other technical staff within IRC and in sister organizations, as well relevant Working Groups within the interagency coordination structure, to ensure coordination and complementarily of programming, as well as appropriate technical rigor in project design and implementation. The Coordinator’s is responsible for overall management of ERD staff, providing any and all support necessary to ensure successful implementation of ERD sector programming. The Coordinator also plays a key role in program development through contributions to new concepts and proposals, including design and writing of technical proposal sections, with support from the IRC Technical Unit and relevant departments of the Lebanon country program and HQ.

Major Responsibilities:

Technical Quality and Program Development

• Provides technical and management leadership to IRC Lebanon’s $18M ERD program in accordance with best practice and IRC policy
• Ensures appropriate methodologies and best practice technical approaches are developed for all program activities,., working closely with IRC ERD Technical Units
• Contributes to the development of country sector strategic planning with regards to lbasic assistance and livelihoods programming working closely with Deputy Director of Programs
• Leads strategy development and technical proposal design for market-based and economic development approaches in line with existing and emerging evidence, working closely with IRC ERD and REL Technical Units
• Ensures cash transfers and livelihoods interventions guarantee the maximum level of protection towards the beneficiaries while helping them meet basic needs, working closely with IRC protection teams
• Identifies safe and appropriate transfer modalities and alignment of cash assistance, including the identification of financial service provided and the determination of stipend and payment amounts
• Leads the ERD team in developing innovative approaches to support micro, small and medium enterprises for job creation and private sector growth

Grant Planning, Implementation & Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ensures regular field monitoring and modification to ongoing programming as required.
• Ensures IRC and donor reports as per set schedules (monthly, quarterly and annually) on grant activities, indicators and achievements are produced in quality.
• Works closely and coordinates with IRC logistics, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and compliant program activities and expenditures; including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings. Has significant budget authority to pre-approved limits and responsibility for budget development and compliance.
• Responsible for ensuring the achievement of overall grant deliverables within the agreed timelines
• Together with the M&E Manager and relevant program managers, develops a full monitoring and evaluation framework and related tools, as well as learning strategies, and adapts them to the different program methodologies in line with donor requirements
• Working with M&E Manager, Technical Units and DDP leads the periodic use of data to support program adjustments and course correction
• Provides direction and monitors staff in implementation of their work plans and technical quality of activities

Human Resources Management

• Directly supervises management staff and others within an overall ERD team of over 60 staff.
• Sets specific goals and expectations and provide regular, positive and constructive feedback to staff
• Builds capacity of the team under his/her supervision in basic assistance and livelihoods support methodologies, as well as management capacity.
• Maintains 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.
• Ensures timely completion and submission of interim and annual performance reviews.
• If/as required, identifies staff performance issues and works with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies
• Responsible for adhering to IRC’s Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures

Partner Management

• Oversees IRC’s relationship with implementing partners specific to this project
• Ensures regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set project’s objectives; provide technical support and guidance as needed.

Coordination & Representation

• Develops and maintains effective coordination and long-term relationships with external stakeholders, representing IRC positions, promoting long-term strategy and resolving problems/conflicts
• Actively participates in relevant working groups and sector planning processes, including national-level discussions on the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP)
• Contributes to learning within the sector through involvement in IRC’s research initiatives

Other

• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Deputy Director for Programs Position directly supervises**:** Senior ERD Technical Manager, Senior ERD Operations Manager, M&E Manager, Senior Finance Officer
Other Internal and/or external contacts:**

Internal: Grants Department, ERD Technical Unit, Supply Chain, Finance, HR, Research Evaluation and Learning Technical Unit

External: Basic Assistance Working Group, Livelihoods Working Group, peer and partner agencies, donors

Job Requirements:

· Education:

· BA/BS Degree in international development, economics, business or related field, and/or related certification required; MA/MS a plus.

· Work Experience:

· Minimum of 3 years professional experience in humanitarian response, preferably with specific experience in market-based approaches and economic recovery and development.

· Demonstrated experience managing large teams, preferably across multiple project sites.

· Prior experience working in emergency settings or insecure environments preferred.

· Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

· Strong technical and budget management skills, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills

· Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties.

· INGO experience required; experience working with the interagency coordination mechanisms desirable.

· Must be capable of applying their skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others.

· Personal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.

Language Skills:

• Fluency in English required, Arabic a distinct advantage.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:**

The position is unaccompanied and is based in Beirut with frequent field travel. Modest individual housing is provided. The security phase for Lebanon is yellow, and all employees are required to abide by any security directives put in place.

Returning Lebanese 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 Middle East 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.

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