Program Development Officer

ABOUT SIRENASSOCIATES

We drive innovation at the leading edge of public sector transformation, helping our partners reimagine the possible in the service of safe, just and free societies. Our teams combine cutting-edge research and analysis with tech-infused change management services to help organizations become more responsive and accountable to the communities they serve. Our sectoral expertise lies around peacebuilding and community resilience, access to justice and the rule of law, public sector governance and oversight, and security sector transformation. From e-governance platforms for a citizen-centered COVID response, to community policing in refugee camps, Siren’s dynamic teams mobilize a wide range of expertise in pursuit of our mission, forever pushing ourselves to do better. All our work is under pinned by a philosophy of client-centeredness, where we use our skills to support our partners identify the root causes of the challenges they face and author the appropriate solutions. Siren is a UK-registered on-profit organization with headquarters in Beirut and project offices in both Beirut and Amman. For more information, see: www.sirenassociates.com

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Programme Development Officer will occupy a fast-paced role within Siren’s Strategic and Programme Development Team, working closely with management to identify emerging opportunities and develop new projects in the service of safe, just and free societies. Employing strong research, analysis, and writing skills to secure new funding for high-impact programming and raise Siren’s profile, the PDO will play a critical role in driving Siren’s growth.

Bringing together Siren’s internal expertise and on-the-ground insights with targeted research and analysis, the PDO will assist in designing Siren’s programmatic strategies that address emergent threats and opportunities in our operating contexts – as well as winning new projects aligned with this vision.  Above all, the successful candidate must be an exceptional writer, able to quickly synthesise large amounts of information, understand the complex challenges faced by our partners, and ultimately craft compelling text tailored to our context and funding opportunities. The successful candidate will also draw upon their awareness of the stakeholder landscape to create tailored campaigns that effectively communicate Siren’s successes, research offerings and insights to current and prospective partners, clients, donors and staff.

Siren operates in a highly dynamic environment, balancing long-term yet innovative support for public institutions with adaptive response to emergent challenges, including Lebanon’s rapidly evolving internal crisis. The PDO will be part of a reflexive team that operates collaboratively according to agile methodologies. The successful candidate will be self-driven and capable of solving a range of problems in a fast-paced, flexible and responsive manner. The role offers ample opportunities for innovation and exploration, and candidates are expected to bring their own ideas to the table. The ideal candidate will be capable of conducting desk research (e.g. news, reviews, project reports, academic journals) on any given topic relevant to Siren’s mandate, and producing well-written analyses. They will also have a knack for summarising and translating often highly technical subject matter into crisp, clean English, and clearly communicating its relevance to a wider audience.

Given Siren’s unique approach to delivery and the steep learning curve for the role, we ask that the candidate be willing to commit to staying with Siren for at least two years, following the probation period. For the right candidate, there is not only considerable opportunity for growth, but also for them to ‘make the role their own’.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Programme/Business Development

• Identify potential programme development opportunities, both around existing programming and external offers from established and new donors, where Siren can add value and pursue our mission across the region.
• Support the development of Siren’s programmatic strategies, identifying key priorities, stakeholders, and opportunities and threats to be addressed – expanding Siren’s portfolio under a cohesive, results driven approach.
• Quickly investigate and analyse promising opportunities to develop targeted and responsive briefs that inform programmatic decisions or contribute significantly to the drafting of project proposals.
• Work with, and eventually lead, appropriate project teams and other colleagues to develop proposals and budgets in response to identified opportunities, managing the contributions of in-house technical experts across the organisation, ultimately securing new projects and increased funding.
• Assist in mapping and regular monitoring of current environment in terms of potential donors, partners, beneficiaries, thematic areas, and geographies
• Assist in setting up business development processes (bid go/no go processes, bid tracking database, donor analysis, etc.).
• Develop Siren’s network in Jordan, Lebanon, and elsewhere, networking with donors, state actors, and civil society in order to expand our portfolio and diversify our funding sources.
• Coordinate with RMEL (Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning) Team to ensure lessons learnt are incorporated into project design and projects are designed in order to maximise potential for impact, as well as ensure gender and conflict sensitivity.

Strategic Communications – On A Flexible Basis, The PDO Will Also Support Strategic Communications As Needed

• Generate content to enhance the visibility of Siren’s products and services.
• Work with the Communications Lead, RMEL leads and other colleagues to plan and develop communications outputs (case studies, blogs, impact stories, press releases, multimedia content) around key outputs and activities.
• Support the creation of public-facing reports (e.g. Siren Annual Report, Global Compact Annual Report) that demonstrate the company’s sectoral knowledge/expertise, approach, values and insights.
• Identify proactive and reactive opportunities to further Siren’s reach and influence and follow through on exploiting them in coordination with the Communications Lead.
• Where necessary, assist in quality assuring key Siren products (research papers, public survey summaries, etc.).

 Additional Responsibilities: Pending need and interest, the Programme Development Officer may also contribute to the Strategic and Programme Development Team’s broader functions in supporting, managing, and guiding project and programme delivery to ensure current and future programmes are delivered effectively, in line with our strategic goals, and with an eye towards impact.

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• Demonstrable commitment and alignment with Siren values: Creativity, Commitment, Integrity & courage, Perseverance, Taking responsibility, and Valuing diversity & difference.
• Degree in international development or any related field.
• 4-6 years in the international development sector, including 1+ years in research and analysis, communications or business development with a research institute, think tank in an international development context.
• Demonstrable understanding of the project management cycle.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Strong research, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and perform well under-pressure.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to maintain good internal and external relationships.

Desirable

• Command of written and spoken Arabic.
• Master’s degree in relevant subject.
• Experience with security sector reform, public sector reform, public administration and/or e-governance and technology.
• Experience in business development, donor management, grants management, programme development, or communications.
• Experience with various donor platforms and tendering requirements (e.g. USAID, EC, UK FCDO, etc.).
• Existing networks in the MENA region.
• Project management qualification (e.g. PMI, PMDPRO).
• Familiarity with Agile Project Management methodology.
• An understanding of the political economy in Lebanon or regionally.