TIF - Tourism Lead

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Lebanon Trade and investment Facilitation (TIF) Activity will facilitate the export of Lebanese goods and services to generate foreign exchange through investments and business enabling environment reform that simultaneously promote job creation, income generation, and improved livelihoods throughout the country. TIF has three objectives: 1) increased exports of Lebanese goods and services, 2) investment facilitation leading to increased domestic investment, and 3) improved business and investment enabling environment. Communicating results through outreach and sharing knowledge with private and public sectors is a crosscutting objective.

Purpose:

The Tourism Lead provides technical direction for business development in the tourism sector. S/he leads developing activities to be implemented under the activities pool and partnership fund and oversees implementation of grants in close collaboration with the Director of Finance and Operations and grants team to ensure quality and timeliness of deliverables.

Responsibilities and Key Tasks:

• Oversee development and implementation of tourism strategies and activities to increase revenue for the tourism sector.
• As part of TIF Core Management Team, contribute to decisions related to technical strategy; review, and approval of disbursements under the TAHWIL Facility; and programmatic collaboration, learning, and adaptation.
• Lead development of sector strategies/action plans through co-creation exercises with key partners.
• Play key role in initiating sector-level partnerships and building partnership network.
• Coordinate with the private sector to diversify and expand market access and networks.
• Lead implementation of sector- and firm-level activities to strengthen Lebanon’s ability to meet buyer cost and quality requirements.
• Oversee strategic efforts to build capacity of trade support institutions and service providers, providing technical assistance and positioning trade support institutions and BDS providers deliver these services beyond the life of TIF.
• Score and evaluate Development Plans of potential partners.
• Use analytical and business writing skills to promote Development Plans to USAID.
• Identify and articulate short- and long-term benefits of Development Plans and activities, during and after the life of the project.
• Other tasks as required.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in management, business, finance, or other relevant field. Master’s degree preferred.
• At least 12 years of professional experience, international donor experience is a plus.
• Minimum of six (6) years of recent relevant experience related to private businesses, including engagement in sector-level growth in tourism and hospitality, network facilitation, business consultancies, and others with demonstrated business results.
• Strong interpersonal, managerial and written communication skills.
•  Strong communication skills - both written and oral – in English and Arabic. French language skills also an advantage.