Intern - Lebanon Grants Management

Position Summary

Search for Common Ground (Search) is seeking a professional, motivated, and creative Intern to support with the Lebanon Country Office. The intern will provide support to Search’s program and operational team, while working closely with colleagues in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) office. This opportunity will provide experience and coaching in the field of peacebuilding in Lebanon, and will ensure the development of tangible professional skills and networks. Search for Common Ground provides its interns with a tailored learning environment, focused on skill acquisition and experiential learning. Interns may or may not be enrolled at a University and undertaking an internship as part of their degree, as long as they are available to work full time hours with an agreed upon schedule of leave.

We are looking for an intern to begin in March 2021 for a period of 6 months, based either in Beirut, Lebanon, or remotely if international restrictions do not allow travel. 

Key Responsibilities

Roles and responsibilities include:

Program Support:

• Assist with the upkeep of grants management tracking tools, such as reporting trackers, and start-up and close-out trackers for ongoing Lebanon projects.
• Assist in reviewing donor reports, project evaluations, and baseline assessments for Lebanon projects.
• Provide desk and background research for security, operational, and political updates on Lebanon.
• Edit English-language external communications on Lebanon programming and project team visits, such as event flyers, one-page program updates, and donor communications.
• Assist with online communication updates, including writing new project synopses, project updates, blog posts, compiling success stories, and staff reflections/interviews.
• Organize Lebanon team meetings to collect success stories and staff reflections.

Operational Support:

• Assist with knowledge management tasks (e.g. maintaining contact databases and ensuring the consistent online filing of documents).
• Assist with monthly budgeting meetings and other finance procedures as requested.
• Support with meeting logistics and staff travel planning.
• Performing other supportive, administrative, and minor office management duties as needed.
• Ensure note taking for staff team meetings.
• Perform Arabic translations (desirable).

Qualifications:

Education:

• BA or MA (completed or in progress) in international relations, conflict resolution, Middle East Studies, international development, or a related field;

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:     

• Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills in English.
• High level of analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Prior international or cross-cultural experience.
• Possess in depth knowledge of Lebanon geography and understanding of the various ethnic, religious and cultural groups and their history. 
• Proficiency in Arabic (desirable).
• Ability to maintain professionalism, creativity, and enthusiasm while working in a fast-paced, multi-cultural environment with minimal supervision.
• Self-starter, able to work independently, and willing to take on tasks small and large.

Behavioral Competencies:

Working with People: The ability to respect the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy, listens, supports; consults others and shares information and expertise, builds team spirit and adapts to the team.

Flexibility:  The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities, to tolerate ambiguity, to adapt personal style to different people and situations.

Drive for Results and Efficiency:  The ability to set quality standards, monitor and maintain quality of work, and set goals to achieve continuous improvement.

Relationship Management:  The ability to manage interactions, to provide service and to support the organization while building an effective internal and external network.

Consultation (for managers and up):  The ability to provide guidance to organizational stakeholders while applying creative problem-solving to address business needs.

Leadership and Navigation: The ability to manage and contribute to initiatives and processes within the organization while making progress toward change and continuous improvement.

Communication: The ability to effectively exchange information with others, to effectively deliver critical information, to gather information and communicate with others.

Global and Cultural Effectiveness: The ability to value and consider the perspectives and backgrounds of all parties and be able to work cross-culturally.

Ethical Practice: The ability to integrate Search vision, mission and core values, integrity and accountability throughout all organizational and business practices.

Critical Evaluation (for managers and up): The ability to interpret information to make business decisions and recommendations based on keen analysis, best practices and an understanding of preferred outcomes.

Business Acumen: The ability to understand and apply information to contribute to the organization's strategic plan.

Developing others (for people manager): The ability to provide support to enhance performance and professional growth.

Other Details:

This is a paid Internship:  $250 (monthly)

The Intern is required to work 25-30 hours per week