SME Relationship Officer

The DFID-funded Subsidised Temporary Employment Programme (STEP) in Lebanon aims to support SMEs to grow their business and create sustained jobs for low-skilled Lebanese workers as well as temporary jobs for Syrian refugees. This will be done through various interventions including the provision of matching grants and business advisory services to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to support their capacity to create jobs. 

The main role for the SME Relationship Officer is to be part of the field-based programme team. The primary responsibilities of a SME Relationship Officer is to conduct outreach to SMEs across Lebanon, maintain relationship with the SMEs, and monitor their progress and job creation. The Relationship Officer will work in close coordination with the programme's financial institutional partners. The SME Relationship Officer will coordinate with the loan officers of the financial institution to follow up on outreach and verify grant requirements have been met. They will manage a portfolio of SMEs, following up on grants and coordinating the provision of business advisory services delivered by STEP's implementing partners. The SME Relationship Officer will also be in close contact with the business advisory providers, who will be serving the SME clients. The SME Relationship Officer will support the programme's adherence to social safeguards of employees hired. They will work to achieve outreach targets and ensure a strong pipeline of SMEs leveraging key networks, local marketing, and communication tools. The SME Relationship will be based in the field.

Primary responsibilities

• Conduct and manage outreach with STEP partners to identify strong SMEs and support SMEs in the application process .
• Oversight of selected portfolio of SMEs and partners reporting primarily to the Portfolio Manager and secondarily to the SME, BDS and Social Protection Leads; driving high quality of delivery, financial inclusion and achievement of programme's targets.
• Support selection and due diligence of SMEs in coordination with implementation partners including management of applications, due diligence and screening process. Conduct a basic and discreet social assessment for the selected SMEs (verify the existence of child labour, gender inequality, unsafety aspects, etc.).
• Provide assistance to the SME grants team for verification of the SME's fulfilment of the conditions and requirements for compliance prior to grant disbursements.
• Coordinate with the financial institutions to monitor outreach activities, and payment performance of SME borrowers.
• Verify the creation and sustainability of the jobs created in the informal sector and monitor/observe the remuneration of the workers at the end of the month according to the initial agreement between the employer and employee.
• Verify the creation and sustainability of jobs in the formal sector and monitor the presence of formal contracts or decent work measures (if employee is hired for part time or seasonal jobs) and contributions by the employer.
• Work in close coordination with BDS Officer to follow up and verify the delivery of business advisory services to SMEs. Coordinate closely with the relevant BDS focal point to ensure communication and easy job matching in the field.
• Verify, capture the data and prepare report that SME client has used their loan proceeds for productive investment per their loan application.
• Field monitoring and reporting of SMEs and grants in coordination with partners, programme team (Grants Officer and MEL Manager) and Independent Evaluator.
• Submit field observations report at inception (related to the dynamic of the work environment, safety at work, decent work conditions, etc.) and relevant progress reports (updates and minutes of meetings) to the SME, BDS and Social Protection technical leads on a regular basis.
• Act as the point of contact for STEP SMEs in the respective region.
• Assist the SME team with inputs for regular reporting including the loan uptakes, loan disbursements, grant disbursements and completion of business advisory services. Coordinate efforts with the team of STEP SME Relationship Officers.
• Provide inputs for the Communications materials such as SME case studies, Infographics, Website, Brochures.
• Other field activities as required by programme in line with STEP's goals.

Qualifications

• BA/S or equivalent in business, international development, or relevant field experience
• At least two years of experience and competence as a field-based officer for an international programme
• Experience with working with small businesses is preferred
• Experience in auditing or monitoring and evaluation is preferred
• Experience in conducting interviewing and collecting and analysing primary data
• Strong communication and relationship management skills
• Strong computer skills especially with grant management databases
• Proficiency in verbal and written English and Arabic