Employability Officer (Applications will only be accepted if submitted through the URL link provided below)

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Program / Department / Team

In 2019, Mercy Corps, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Oxfam in Lebanon and Al Majmoua established the Consortium “Linking Vulnerable Populations and Inclusive Market Networks to Advance Sustainable Economic Development in Lebanon” - or “LINKED” - to contribute to sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic development in Lebanon. DRC is the consortium lead.

With support from the European Union’s MADAD Trust Fund (MADAD), LINKED intends to deliver an integrated livelihoods package comprising a series of mutually reinforcing and sequenced activities. On the one side, it will aim to ensure vulnerable households have enhanced capacities to identify and pursue decent livelihoods pathways and improve access to employment opportunities for vulnerable job seekers through enhanced marketable skills and linkages with employers. In parallel, it will seek to strengthen capacities of selected local businesses to provide decent, inclusive and sustainable income generation opportunities.

The €14.5 Million programme will be delivered in Bekaa, Tripoli and Mount Lebanon governorates most affected by displacement for a period of 32 months and will target Lebanese vulnerable populations and refugees. The action is designed so that each agency will serve as thematic lead for various elements of each output – DRC for employability, Mercy Corps for Business Support, Oxfam for Advocacy and Decent Work conditions, and Al Majmoua for financial inclusion – while DRC and Mercy Corps will be delivering the bulk of employability and business support activities in their own geographical area of implementation.

The Position

The Employability Officer (training) is responsible for the implementation of the skills training component at the field level. S/he will follow-up on the day-to-day tasks related to the component, carrying out the activities, and ensuring proper monitoring and follow-up is made at the field level. S/he will ensure that activities in this component contribute to achieving key deliverables, including improved access to quality vocational training and work-based opportunities for vulnerable populations and improved capacity of TVET institutes to deliver training in line with market needs.  The Employability Officer will also follow-up on outreach activities and coordination with partners and municipalities when needed.

Essential Responsibilities

Programme Implementation

• Support the Livelihood Coordinator in planning and implementing project activities to meet programme deliverables based on timeline and scope agreed with the donor;
• Carry out the employability and training activities;
• Follow-up with service providers on the training implementation and carry out timely monitoring visits;
• Contribute to data collection, assessments and mapping reports, monitoring, and outreach activities;
• Conduct field assessments and follow-up with beneficiaries;
• Implement day-to-day activities including administrative, financial and logistical support; Troubleshoot any administrative problems and report any challenges;
• Participate in team planning and coordination meetings and trainings;
• Support monitoring and evaluation efforts to document project outputs, outcomes, and impact to inform donor and other internal reporting;
• Responsible for the filing and record keeping of project activities related to employability activities;
• Prepare weekly reports to be submitted to the Programme Manager;

• Follow-up closely with all key stakeholders in the TVET sector;
• Conduct the assessment and selection of TVET institutes as per agreed criteria;
• Conduct follow-up and assessment meetings with TVET institutes;
• Collaborate closely with other components of the programme to enhance linkages between job seekers, training institutes, small and medium enterprises and job platforms;
• Ensure that all training related interventions are in compliance with international norms and standards, national laws and policies, technical standards and organizational policies;
• Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation (M&E), accountability and learning systems;
• Support the Livelihood Coordinator in the development of strategies to meet the programme’s job placement targets through market-oriented solutions

Coordination and Representation

• Liaise with local officials, including municipalities, Chambers of Commerce, local NGOs and INGOs, key community leaders, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure successful deliverables;
• Build relationships with local authorities to introduce the programme and facilitate access to information related to project activities and scope. Arrange for meetings as requested;
• Develop and maintain working relationships and coordinate with relevant international and local agencies active in the livelihoods and economic development sector;
• Represent Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings, where relevant.

Team Management

• Provide oversight and technical support to the employability assistant;
• Develop and implement a comprehensive plan for staff capacity building.

Other

• Ensure all activities are gender sensitive and follow Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy;
• Apply Do No Harm standards to ensure activities do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable communities;
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission in Lebanon;
• Participate in internal office coordination, planning meetings, and workshops;
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility

Employability Assistant

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Livelihood Coordinator

Works Directly With: LINKED Programme team, MC Support Departments (MEL, HR, Finance, Operations), other employment programming within Mercy Corps Lebanon

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• BA/S or equivalent in social science, management, economics, or other relevant field;
• At least two years of progressive experience and proven high level of competence in working in economic and market development;
• Proven ability to successfully implement economic development programming, including vocational training and capacity building to TVET institutes;
• Proven ability to liaise with a network of government officials, NGOs, and potential implementing partners;
• Problem solvers with the ability to analyse and prioritize to meet objectives;
• Deep knowledge of Lebanon, in particular its economic challenges;
• Great communication skills and sense of humour;
• Proficiency in English essential.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have a passion for supporting and facilitating access to vocational training and education. S/he will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results.  Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humour.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.