Job Opportunity in Lebanon as a Director of Programs at Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps offers a job opportunity in Lebanon as a Director of Programs. You will work closely with the Country Director (CD) and the program teams to lead new programs development and strategy, and ensure effective program coordination and technical support, monitoring and evaluation, quality assurance, and accountability in close collaboration with the operations, human resources, finance, and internal control teams. You will help represent Mercy Corps programs to donors, major stakeholders, relevant government authorities, and other program partners such as other NGOs. You will be part of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) with supervisory and managerial responsibilities and will ensure appropriate representation of Mercy Corps at all levels.

You will be responsible for:

• Strategy and vision:

1. Maintain a central role in shaping and implementing Lebanon’s country strategy, ensuring that existing programs contribute to strategic goals, objectives, and targets and are relevant to the evolving context in the country.
2. Actively lead and support the expected process of developing a new country strategy in light of Mercy Corps Global New Strategy and Vision.
3. Serve as an active member of the Senior Leadership team and contribute to setting program strategy and priorities.
4. Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve program and agency objectives.
5. Lead the identification of new initiatives and opportunities that respond to identified needs and contribute to the objectives of the country's strategy.
6. Lead and oversee the development of solicited and unsolicited proposals and concept notes.

• Coordination and representation:

1. Establish close and productive relationships with donors, national government authorities, private sector actors, and other Local and International NGOs in close coordination with the Country Director, Program Managers, and Technical Coordinators.
2. Represent Mercy Corps at all relevant external meetings.
3. Coordinate with other NGOs to consolidate Mercy Corps’ strategic niche and comparative advantages, while identifying strategic partnerships with both Local and International actors.
4. Ensure Mercy Corps’ active and influential participation in a variety of external forums, workshops, conferences, and sector coordination meetings to share best practices and findings with the government and humanitarian and development community.
5. Represent Mercy Corps in Country Director’s absence on relevant issues.

• Program Implementation and Management:

1. Provide leadership in all aspects of program coordination to ensure consistent quality, including the incorporation of cross-cutting themes, lessons learned, and best practices.
2. Facilitate the coordination between different programs and ensure that program managers and technical coordinators for cross-cutting themes are able to work together effectively according to program work plans.
3. Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners, and aligned with Mercy Corps principles, values and strategic roadmap, and country strategy.
4. Work with Program Managers to ensure adherence to grant agreements, Mercy Corps’ policies and procedures, and relevant external rules and regulations.
5. Support Program Managers to oversee the performance of partners, sub-grantees, and technical contractors.
6. Conduct frequent field visits to all project sites for monitoring, quality control and program staff mentoring and coaching.

• Team Management:

1. Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
2. Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
3. Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary.
4. Provide team members with information, tools, and other resources to improve performance, and reach objectives.
5. Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem solving options, and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
6. Ensure that robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) and program performance and quality (PaQ) systems are in place, adhered to, and used as a decision-making tool, encouraging consistency and best practice across programs.
7. Ensure that program managers have adequate understanding of MEL, PaQ, communications and research.
8. Provide ongoing training and guidance to staff on best practices.
9. Ensure all programs adhere to all Mercy Corps’ program management minimum standards.
10. Oversee the Program Performance and Quality team.
11. Oversees the Media and Communication Manager and ensures that an effective communication strategy is developed and implemented.
12. Ensure that a comprehensive reporting schedule and quarterly planning process are maintained and adhered to according to requirements.

• Program Support Operations:

1. Assist the Country Director with adequate financial and staff forecasting, and ensure that available funding is in alignment with staffing plans.
2. Work closely with the Operations Director and Finance Director to ensure that operational and financial management systems are responsive to program needs and that program staff are adhering to both donor and Mercy Corps procedures and regulations.
3. Work closely with the Finance team and the Program Managers to identify, manage and track co-financing.
4. Work closely with HR Manager to ensure all staff contracts and Human Resources procedures and requirements are in place and up to date.
5. Ensure adequate performance reviews are done on time, and that staff are given constant feedback on work performance and key priorities.

You must have:

• BA/S or equivalent in relevant field required; MA/S preferred.
• From 7 to 10 years of field experience in international relief and development programs, including demonstrable success in managing large, transitional development programs.
• At least 2-3 years of senior-level leadership and field management experience, including building, managing and leading a team of professionals.
• Experience with Economic Development, Resilience, Governance, and Humanitarian programming; in particular, in displacement, economic challenges, and social stability context; preference is also given to candidates with a background in the Middle East region.
• Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGO, NGO partners, and other stakeholders in complex environments.
• Excellent writing skills and experience with proposal development processes with prior experience with USAID, UN, EU, and other bilateral funding agencies.
• Proven skills in financial and grants management; prior experience with UN, USG, and European grant management.
• Successful and proven negotiation, communication, and organization skills.
• Excellent oral and written English skills are required; proficiency in Arabic is a plus.
• Experience managing national and international staff.
• Previous work experience in the Middle East is preferred.

Success Factor:

• A deep commitment to humanitarian principles and values and the willingness to learn new skills and methodologies while driving an innovative and impactful program strategy.
• The ability to work under pressure, independently, and with limited supervision and demonstrate creative problem-solving skills.
• Highly developed interpersonal communication skills and demonstrate decision-making and leadership skills and excellent time management capacities.

Living Conditions/Environmental Conditions:

• The position is based in Beirut, Lebanon, and is an accompanied position. The country is currently going through an important economic crisis that has some effect on living conditions, access to basic services, and infrastructure.

Ongoing Learning:

• In support of the belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities the organization serves, it empowers all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

About Mercy Corps:

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, It knows its teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. It welcomes diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that it can be stronger and have a long-term impact.

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