Program Support Coordinator (Applications will only be accepted if submitted through the URL link provided below)

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps is committed to generating positive opportunities for women, men, boys and girls from Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian communities, with a strong focus on engaging youth.

• Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping build secure, productive and just communities. We do this through:
• Addressing the humanitarian and protection needs resulting from crisis situations for the most vulnerable communities
• Enabling local communities, civil society and government to better prevent and respond to conflict, address needs and deliver sustainable development solutions
• Promoting economic growth and catalysing economic opportunities for vulnerable, under-employed groups in Lebanon

The Mercy Corps Lebanon team consists of over 100 staff working across five offices throughout Mount Lebanon, South Lebanon, Tripoli and the Bekaa Valley.

The Program / Department / Team

The BASATINE Program (Bolstering Agriculture Systems’ Ability to Invest, Nourish, and Employ) is a 42-month AFD-funded program implemented with a consortium consisting of 6 partners in North Lebanon and Bekaa. CARE International is the consortium lead while Mercy Corps is the lead on two of the five components. The intervention aims to immediately address food insecurity and provide needed income and technical support to farmers to survive the current crisis in the short-term, and to improve the capacity of food systems to maintain employment and growth over the longer-term via stronger domestic production and system linkages. Mercy Corps will lead on improved market linkages within the agricultural sector by working with input suppliers and with SMEs within the agro-food industry, and on the generation of evidence through research and regular MEL activities to promote evidence-based sector development.

The program seeks to strike a balance between short-term urgent and ever-evolving humanitarian needs of agricultural producers, and the longer-term building up and facilitation of more efficient market systems supporting the sector. It seeks to address barriers and challenges to increased domestic production along the agriculture value chain(s) that are operationally and financially sustainable. It seeks to identify and scale up potential import substitutes for domestic market consumption and increased food security, while also identifying and addressing barriers to access export markets for improved trade and hard currency generation. The intervention will mainly focus on wheat and vegetables value chains, while also integrating segments of other value chains (poultry, potatoes, trees, etc.) to ensure that it follows a territorial approach. The program will have a strong MEL, research and learning agenda to provide ongoing evidence-based adaptation internally and the generation of actionable, contextualized research for humanitarian and development practitioners, donors, local and national level public sector, and private sector actors.

The Position

The Program support coordinator will be based in Beirut and is responsible for coordinating all procurement and financial aspects of BASATINE Program with the Operations and Finance departments. Working closely with the BASATINE program teams in Zahle, Tripoli, and Beirut, the Program Support Coordinator will be the focal point for all procurement and financial services. This is to include the reception of field administrative and grant documents, following up with field suppliers as needed, and responsible for all BASATINE grant processes in coordination with the Mercy Corps Operations and finance department in Beirut.

Essential Responsibilities

PROCUREMENT

• Daily coordination of BASATINE procurement activities from both field offices, Bekaa and Tripoli including tracking all procurement and payment in coordination with finance and operation departments
• Attend Mercy Corps Program and Procurement planning meetings as needed in order to remain at all times up to date on the status of all BASATINE purchases
• Agree with procurement department on an adequate reporting tool to be regularly updated
• Submit all purchase requests as per the process and requirements. Act as a focal point on all Purchase Requests submitted to the procurement unit.
• Prepare procurement plan as per AFD requirements in coordination with the program team.
• Review and suggest changes as needed to the Purchase Requests documents such as specifications and ToRs before submission to procurement in order to ensure smooth process.
• Understand program targets and objectives as well as MC procurement policies and formats.
• Prepare all Tender initiation requests and Coordinate with the procurement unit and program team on site visits and online Q&A sessions.
• Lead on technical review committees  to score proposals in accordance to criteria set and in compliance with MC FP3 policy.
• Keep tracking of all procurements and payments related to the program by reviewing and updating related tools.
• Coordinate with the procurement department on payment terms for new contracts to be issued.
• Lead on gathering and preparing the required documentation following the delivery of supplies and completion of services as per MC standards.
• Coordinate with suppliers/service providers on deliveries of equipment/services once contracts are signed and update the program team on the progress.
• Maintain a detailed track for all consultants timesheets to ensure accurate payments.
• Ensure goods are received in accordance with Mercy Corps standards.
• Assist on drafting internal MEMOs/Note to files when needed in compliance with MC regulations.
• Lead on Asset tracker for all program equipment.

FINANCE

• Maintain and update  the coded budget under supervision of the Program Manager.
• Maintain a program-led budget tracker to ensure accurate tracking of all purchase requests, payment requests and cash advances, which will assist in feeding into the Budget v. Actual report programmatic expense projections
• Lead on all cash advances for BASATINE program in coordination with the program team and ensure closing as per MC rules with all supporting documentation.
• Assist the Program Manager in the end of month review to ensure proper coding( GL and line codes) of all transactions and highlight any discrepancies
• Assist the Program Manager in updating Budget vs. Actual reports for BASATINE budget.
• Lead on cost analysis of grants to maintain an accurate budget control and notify the program manager in case of any variance.
• Check all reports and supporting documents so they are prepared and filed according to Mercy Corps procedures, including grant correspondence.
• Organize the service provider, supplier and consultant files within the program g-drive per Mercy Corps' minimum standards and procedures.
• Submit payment requests after ensuring all requirements are met and ensure receiving is completed on Prosource with all supporting documentation.
• Coordinate with Finance department to ensure payments are facilitated in a timely manner
• Follow up on credit notes and respective contract amendments in case of changes in activities.
• Responsible for maintaining an updated tracker for supplier statements and to submit with each payment request.
• Responsible for Reconciliation of voucher systems and highlight any discrepancies between supplier’s statement and Financial service provider

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.

Organizational Learning 

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve.  We expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: BASATINE Program Manager 

Works Directly With: BASATINE Program team, MC Support Departments (MEL, HR, Finance, Operations), suppliers, service providers, other consortium partners.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• 3 or more years of experience of bookkeeping, banking and/or financial reporting.
• A university degree in finance, accounting, or auditing is required.
• Familiarity with major international donor rules and non-profit accounting. AFD experience is a plus.
• Experience with budget control and analysis is a must.
• Excellent written and verbal English and Arabic.
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel.
• Strong analytical skills coupled with a solid understanding of grant management rules.
• Strong organizational skills, and ability to work independently and take initiative under pressure in a rapidly changing, multi-cultural context, whilst adhering to strict deadlines.
• Ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel.
• A demonstrated ability to multi-task and process information into action so as to not delay program activities.
• Must work well as a member of a team.
• Positive attitude and passion for your work
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly to the field.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with a capacity to promote new approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. 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 humor.

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, color, 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.