NATIONAL PROJECT MANAGER – LEBANON RESILIENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE (RESLOG) PROJECT

SKL International is looking for an experienced and results-driven project manager to lead the Lebanese component of a project focused on strengthening resilience in local governance. The project is in its second year with likely extension for at least another year. The project is financed by the Swedish Government as part of its regional support for the Syrian crisis. In Lebanon, the project is working with selected municipalities, Unions of Municipalities and other local actors in the Akkar governorate. The project is managed by a national team through a local office in Halba, Akkar.  Overall project management is  carried out through a Stockholm-based project manager, who also oversee a Turkish component.  

The National Project Manager is the senior project representative in Lebanon and responsible for the representation, and planning, management, control and oversight of the project. The position reports to the Project Manager in Stockholm. The National Project Manager will work from the office in Halba at least 3 days per week with frequent travel in the Akkar governorate and on occasion within the country.  

The National Project Manager is responsible for:

• Contributing to the continuous adaptation of the project to the context, including methodological work
• Contributing to planning and reporting in cooperation with Stockholm project manager
• Leading, planning, managing, following up and reporting on project activities in Lebanon. This work will also include some budget-related planning and monitoring, although the main budget management responsibility is placed in Stockholm.
• Responsible for the management of the local project office in Halba
• Leading and coordinating the project team in Lebanon
• Identifying and leading local experts and consultants, including contributing to drafting Terms of References
• Supporting international experts and consultants during missions to Lebanon
• Engaging in dialogue with local and national project stakeholders. This includes leading meetings, workshops, seminars and other forms of consultation.
• Continuously monitoring and reporting on developments in-country, including the national policy and international donor environment, and implications on the effective implementation of the project
• Representing SKL International in meetings, and fostering strong networks and relationships with Lebanese and international stakeholders
• Carrying out other duties and responsibilities as agreed with SKL International.

Profile and qualifications

The National Project Manager should be a Lebanese national with the following personal characteristics:

• Possess excellent leadership skills, able to, motivate and organise teams as well as contribute as a team member within the SKL International context
• Be proactive, structured and take responsibility for achieving results
• Have a high degree of initiative and self-motivation, with an ability to identify risks and opportunities and respond accordingly
• Have high professional and personal integrity
• Own strong analytical abilities
• Demonstrate flexibility, conflict sensitivity and good judgement, and be able to solve issues in consultation with others
• Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

 The National Project Manager should meet the following formal requirements:

• Relevant academic education, minimum Bachelor´s degree, or practical experience proven to be equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience of project management and team leadership in an international development and/or local/regional government context.
• Experience from working with local governance and institutional systems development
• Proven experience of applying results-based management in project contexts´
• Proven experience of leading and managing teams
• Proven experience of applying gender and conflict analysis in project management
• Strong verbal and written command of English and in Arabic, French being an asset.

Additional aspects considered a strong merit for the position include experience of working with:

• International development cooperation – for example, through consultancy work, foreign missions, international organisation or comparable institutions/organisations
• Subject areas such as municipal service delivery, organisational development, leadership & management, local economic development, strategic planning, gender, social stability issues, community mobilisation, citizen participation
• Experience from working in Akkar

The assignment is expected to start in June 2020.

Contracting

The National Project Manager will be engaged as a full-time consultant through a consulting contract. The contract will initially be until 31 December 2020 but is expected to be extended to 31 December 2021 subject to the Swedish Government’s approval of the project extension.