Lebanon: Assistant Country Director Programmes - Lebanon
Country: Lebanon
Closing date: 21 Aug 2013
Assistant Country Director-ProgrammesReference: MM/ACDP/LBCountry: LebanonJob Title: Assistant Country Director (ACD) ProgrammesContract Grade: CContract Length: 2 yearsDate Needed By: As soon as possibleNew Post or Replacement: NewAccompanied / Unaccompanied: UnaccompaniedExact Job Location: Akkar, North LebanonReports To: Country DirectorResponsible For: Direct line management of all programme managers. Currently these include WASH and Shelter Project Managers and Accountability Officer (4P and HAP).
Liaises With: Country Management Team (CMT), Dublin staff (Desk Officer & SAL advisors), relevant donors and coordination bodies, including UNHCR and local government (Unions, Municipalities etc.)
Job Purpose:Responsible for the management of the programming response in the country programme, including new proposal development, implementation of existing programming, M&E and quality (including P4 and HAP adherence).
Specific ResponsibilitiesLeadership and Overall Programme Strategic Direction • Promote Concern’s values and commitments and engage the programme team in following them;• Participate in country strategic development as a full member of the Country Management Team (CMT);• In consultation with the CD and with country team participation design programmes and strategies in line with Concern’s mission, guidelines and priorities.
Programming and Implementation • Manage the implementation of existing donor grants against the relevant log-frames, work-plans and donor general terms and conditions to ensure results orientated outcomes;• Develop and apply an appropriate M&E framework for the country programme; • As much of the programming will include contracting, ensure that Concern’s tendering procedures are strictly adhered across all programmes and as guided by the ACD Systems;• Contributing to the development of a country level funding strategy through the delivery of high quality proposals to seek donor funding.
Programme Financial Management • Ensure strict expenditure and budget tracking by the programme budget holders;• Oversee the preparation of donor budgets to ensure that the timing and cost of planned programme work and systems support is accurately reflected, while taking relevant donor requirements into consideration;• Work closely with the budget holders in the budget revision process as well as quarterly financial reporting to Dublin;• Rigorously manage all programme related finances e.g. budget expenditure tracking and analysis with key budget holders.
Management of donor grants • Ensure effective donor grants (currently UNHCR, UNICEF and Concern GDs) management and maintain high quality narrative reporting in a timely manner;• Ensure strict compliance with donor contract requirements/ reporting deadlines etc.;• Facilitate the preparation and development of new funding proposals or project/budget realignments in collaboration with the CD, ACD Systems and Country Financial Controller (CFC);• Ensure high quality proposals and reports are prepared and submitted to donors in a timely way.
Programme Quality Control • Support the on-going development of participatory monitoring systems, including accountability downwards with communities and full compliance with the roll out of 4P and HAP standards.• Oversee the Complaints and Response Mechanism pilot and follow it through for learning and replication to the overall programme when proven successful;• Promote appropriate innovation in programme development.
Partnership approach to programming• Undertake an assessment of the potential for partner based programming in context of Concern’s Lebanon emergency programme;• Subject to the results of the assessment apply the CLOSAT and CLOFAT assessment tools to identify initial partners.• Design appropriate partnership relationships as necessary.
Representation, coordination and advocacy• Ensure Concern liaises with other agencies and networks that can enrich and enhance the quality of our work;• Ensure that relationships and formal agreements with the government are maintained and updated as appropriate; • Represent Concern and/or ensure Concern is represented at regional and district level coordination fora as appropriate;• Participate and represent Concern in relevant Sectoral Coordination meetings and technical working groups (Twigs);• Contribute to the development of an advocacy strategy for Concern in Lebanon through the CMT.
HR management• Provide direct line management to Project Managers (2) and Accountability Officer and through them support the management and development of all programming staff;• Identify appropriate in-country training opportunities for programme staff;• Ensure that a regular staff Performance and Development Review (PDR) system is established and maintained and that PDRs are undertaken for all staff in reporting line;• Demonstrate support, encouragement, and coaching of staff as a role model for staff who aspire to and have the capacity to assume more senior posts;• Assist in the recruitment of international and national staff.
Other:The Lebanon country programme is in the early stages of development, therefore there is a need to develop an initial strategic planning framework which may include new area assessments. The ACD Programmes will be expected to fully contribute to these developments.PERSON SPECIFICATIONEducation & Qualifications Required:Essential: Degree level education in development or relief related field.Desirable: Programme management related qualification.Experience Required:Essential:
• Programme management experience of at least 5 years (overseas) in similar or related senior management experience with Concern or other INGOs;• Experience in managing programming in the context of refugees and/or IDPs;• Significant experience of emergency response programming responses;• Experience of programme development, proposal writing and donor reporting; • Knowledge of HAP;• Proven leadership ability, including ability to motivate and develop skills of others; training, capacity building and facilitation skills.
Desirable:• Work experience in the Middle East;• Experience of working/living in insecure and sensitive environments;• Experience of managing major donor grants such as UNHCR, UNICEF, ECHO and US Government (BPRM);• Experience of Shelter, WASH and Education programming;• Recent experience in programme start-up or early post-start-up operations.
Special Skills, Aptitude or Personality Requirements:• Excellent interpersonal skills• Knowledge of Arabic and/or French an advantage • Demonstrated training and capacity building skills• Ability to work on own initiative• Flexible and adaptable approach to working • Ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines• Ability to contribute to a small team environment.
Concern Worldwide is an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries. Concern has a Staff Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organization, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context staff have a responsibility to the organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct candidates acknowledge that they have understood the contents of both the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and the Programme Participant Protection Policy and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these two documents.Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year. Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer do not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List). Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant. For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office.Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
How to apply:
All applications should be submitted through our website at https://jobs.concern.net by closing date CV’s should be no more than 4 pages in length. All candidates who are short-listed for a first round interview will be notified via email after the application deadline
