Director of Program Implementation

CARE established its presence in Lebanon in 2006 and has been responding to the Syrian Crisis since late 2012. Among CARE’s key imperatives is putting people it serves first through implementing cutting edge programming in areas it operates. CARE currently carries out activities in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Akkar, North Lebanon, South Lebanon, and the Beqaa Valley. CARE implements both emergency and development projects contributing to livelihood, food security, protection, gender, shelter, and water, sanitation and hygiene. It targets the most vulnerable people and populations, both host communities and refugees. Over the course of 7 years, it has supported over than half a million beneficiaries.

In Lebanon, CARE’s program strategy for the upcoming years will focus on strengthening and expanding its emergency response and capacity to provide basic assistance services while pursuing development projects in areas of food security and livelihood support, gender and protection. CARE intends to maintain its presence in all areas of Lebanon.

CARE Lebanon has scaled up rapidly over the past few years and today it has about 90 staff members, with more than 15 different local/international partner organizations. 90% of the team is composed of national staff, with a symbolic number of international members.

Over the forthcoming period CARE Lebanon will undergo major important processes which involve Country Strategic Presence, Partnership Programme Oversight and scaling up operations in different parts of Lebanon working in area of Gender, Protection, Livelihoods, and most importantly emergency response and with concept of durable Solution.  CARE Lebanon has already worked on its key functions for the forthcoming years and Partnership Program Oversight is one of the key fundamentals. So, it is expected from this post holder to undertake massive changes in ways of working when it comes to the actual implementation of the programs.

2. Reporting Lines

(Indicate whom the employee reports to)

Country Director

3. Organizational Relationship

All PMs

4. Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibility #1: Programme Delivery

• Support the development of an organisational culture that reflects our full spectrum programming, promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and frees up our people to deliver outstanding results for girls/women/refugees/host communities and excellent customer service for our CARE International Members and donors
• Helps design and implement a coherent organizational structure that is consistent with CARE practices and appropriate to program needs
• Help establish, maintain, and improve active and regular working relationships with: host government authorities, donors, partner agencies including major institutional donors, and local and international NGOs
• Ensure that the required support is provided promptly, at scale and in line with the rules and principles during emergencies

Responsibility #2: Oversight and Management of Program Operations

• In close coordination with the Implementation team and the Program Development Team, participate in program proposal process and  ensure that all programs progress in accordance with grant agreements, are completed within time and on budget
• Working with Program Development team, participate in conceptualizing and designing cost effective, innovative and high-quality programs to serve the most vulnerable/marginalized among girls and women in particular. 
• Serve as overall budget holder for most programming
• Ensure programs are implemented in ways responsive to the communities, in need in line with CARE International principles, values and strategic plan and following CARE International Lebanon compliance procedures. This includes working with government and national NGO-partners to strengthen national capacity
• Contribute to preparation of timely and high-quality progress reports, program reports, and donor reports
• Support and oversee the management of any field presence/office
• Ensure that the project cycle management is in direct interaction with both PROG (CARE Fr grants) and OP (other CMP) departments, and in respect of the established workflows and LM accountability responsibilities.
• Ensure strategic projects are carried out in direct connection with operations, which, depending on the subject, mobilize other headquarters departments.

Responsibility #3: Engagement with Partners to develop effective partnerships

• Assess the current partnerships portfolio identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, to inform strategic decision-making
• Develop CARE International Lebanon Partnership strategies based on CARE’s Programme strategies and consultation with partners and CARE staff
• Facilitate partner involvement in CARE proposals and input directly to ensure partner design and costs are appropriately represented and adequately resourced
• Propose, design and pilot innovative approaches to working in effective partnerships to deliver upon CARE programmes and partnerships strategies
• Support, guide, and oversee a full menu of capacity assessment and building support for partners as identified/requested by partners.
• Provide support to partners’ proposal development from an organizational and operational standpoint

Responsibility #4: Logistics Oversight

• Ensure that the CO logistics capacity and systems meet the CARE International Minimum Operating Standards and are able to satisfy programming requirements
• Manage the CO Logistics Manager, ensuring that all CO logistics activities (assets, transport, supply chain, etc.) are coordinated smoothly with programs
• Ensure Logistics are embedding customer service approach in their approach
• Ensure procurement ways of working between programs and Logs are clearly defined, with ownership of procurement plans defined.
• Support Logistics in ensuring effective planning and purchasing efficiency
• Ensure Logistics is meeting donor standards when it comes to asset management
• Manage the fixed assets

Responsibility #5: Emergency Response Management

• Strengthen the Lebanon CO organisational readiness to respond to emergencies in line with global CI emergency goal and benchmarks
• Mount appropriate and timely responses at scale to all emergencies consistent with established benchmarks, plans and organizational policies, and in close cooperation with incoming surge teams
• Ensure that all CO staff across program implementation and logistics departments are familiar with, adhere to and implement the procedures and processes detailed in the CI Rules and Principles for emergency response
• Make sure preparation for emergency responses is carried out with the direct assistance of the CARE Fr Emergency Pole and materialized by the EPP process (emergency preparedness plan),
• Will be the focal point and will be assigned a role during emergencies

Responsibility #6: Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development – Program Implementation

• Ensure appropriate staffing within Program Implementation and Logistics
• Ensure that all staff understand and are able to perform their role
• Manage Program Implementation and Logistics team; define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly
• Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of  staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff
• Incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process.  Establish result-based system and follow up
• Manage the performance of all staff in the Program Implementation work area through:
• Effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measurable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations;
  • Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities;
  • Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance;
  • Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/ workplans 

He/ she will be the responsible focal point during emergencies.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AS ASSIGNED BY LINE MANAGER

5. Qualifications / special skills or knowledge

a. Skills & knowledge:

• Experience in staff/budget management, training and coaching.
• Extensive knowledge in INGO programming cycles
• Extensive experience interacting with and relating to gender professionals and international stakeholders at senior level.
• Team player with strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong internal relationships and networks.
• Demonstrated experience in staff/budget management, training and coaching
• Knows well INGO programming cycles and has a sense of hos aid is reshaping.
• Strong analytical skills, and ability to design and direct-action plans
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision and with a strong leadership
• Strong sense of ownership and able to see through the completion of task assigned
• Demonstrated managerial and practical experience
• Excellent time management skills, ability to organize and prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines
• Sense of diplomacy and negotiation
• Ability to operate effectively in a stressful environment
• Flexible and adaptable 
• Ability to improve and institutionalize approved logistics and security  processes
• Adapt to changing environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to ensure logistics and understanding among all teams
• Decision-making skills
• Demonstrate fairness, integrity and impartiality
• More than 5 years’ experience in a similar role working in managerial functions
• More than 10 years’ experience working in INGO programs
• Very good knowledge of Middle East context and its communities
• Very good experience in managing teams, budgets and various portfolios
• Excellent knowledge of donor expectations and delivery on time
• Versatility in terms of inter-changing roles from emergency to early recovery and development
• Strong analytical skills, and excellent documentation and communication skills are essential.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure, excellent planning skills and provide timely quality information and reports
• Ability to work well with a team and establish relationships with other teams/offices
• Cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures with highly developed interpersonal skills and fluency in English

b. Experience:

At least   5-10  years of relevant experience, especially at NGOs, academic organizations, standard-setting bodies, public agencies focused on INGO programs, managerial functions

c. Academic background: 

Master/Bachelor degree in one or several of the following areas: Social Sciences, International relations or related fields

1. Languages: English and/ or Arabic are the working language of CARE International in Lebanon.

1. of other languages is an asset.

6. Other contract elements

Benefits: Social security/Health Insurance & Transport allowance.

The direct supervisor reserves the right to adapt this job description at any time during employment according to needs.

Any extension of this contract is dependent on performance review and funding availability.

PSEA and Save Guarding Child policy

CARE International in Lebanon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

CARE International in Lebanon and its employees and stakeholders abide by the CARE International Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Child Safeguarding Policies.