Search in Lebanon

SFCG first worked in Lebanon in 1996, and opened up Beirut office in 2008. Since then, SFCG Lebanon activities and capacities have grown significantly. SFCG Lebanon rely on local staff as well as local partner organisations in order to ensure work is culturally sensitive, sustainable and well grounded in the Lebanese context.

The issues SFCG Lebanon address are multiple, such as conflicts arising within Lebanon’s diverse society, tensions resulting from the increasing influx of Syrian refugees, security sector reform, as well as women’s socio-economic empowerment. In each project SFCG Lebanon seek to engage all stakeholders and strengthen local capacities in order to create sustainable change and increased social cohesion.

SFCG Lebanon use various innovative peacebuilding tools to bring change at multiple societal levels: from TV productions aimed at transforming social attitudes of the masses, to videogames used to build youth’s conflict resolution skills, to town hall meetings that rebuild shattered relationships between police and local communities. An example of SFCG Lebanon work can be seen in attempts to counter mounting tensions between Lebanese host communities and Syrian refugees. SFCG Lebanon facilitate dialogue aimed at identifying common issues, which are then addressed by both communities through collaborative projects.

The participants in SFCG Lebanon peacebuilding activities are as diverse as the conflicts addressed, including children and youth, police forces, refugees, women’s organizations, journalists and the media, community leaders, teachers, and religious leaders.

Team Summary:

The Program Implementation team has oversight for the implementation of Search’s programs and projects in its country offices, in accordance with Search and donor policies and procedures. The Program Implementation team works on the full life-cycle of the project, from the start-up phase to the full close-out. This involves designing work plans, implementing activities, reporting, financial management, and staffing management The Program Implementation team collaborates with other departments, including Finance, Institutional Learning, Programs, Global Affairs and Partnerships, Human Resources, and Information Technology.

Responsibilities:

– Oversight for Program Implementation of the Lebanon portfolio across the country.

– Leadership for staffing, operations, and employee development Lebanon program.

Contributions:

• provide strategic input and guidance on implementation strategies/approaches
• Enforce processes to ensure internal policy and donor compliance; oversee management of organizational legal issues and compliance
• Oversee development of country operational budget; ensure accurate forecasts and revenue projections; enforce finance policies and procedures; ensure program-finance team coordination
• Develop country Quarterly Management Report (QMR); oversee development of country annual report
• Supervise Director-level staff including Head Office Monitor senior-level team management and address management issues
• Develop country staffing plan
• Ensure implementation of HR policies and processes
• Participate in Executive/Director-level recruitments
• Lead engagement with international actors and donors in the region
• Lead government engagement and relationship building
• Represent Search at national and international events
• Ensure Search’s reputation remains strong and relevant to position Search as an excellent potential partner
• Ensure that program portfolio reflects best practices, codified methodologies and embraces reflective practice and adaptive management
• Monitor program quality, reflection, and learning initiatives
• Advise on areas to improve program quality, reflection, and learning
• Amplify outcomes of program quality, reflection, and learning through external engagement
• Make go/no-go decisions
• Lead identification of unsolicited opportunities
• Coordinate input from program teams for new project design and proposal development
• Ensure new project budgets support the country office needs
• Lead Senior Management Team (SMT)Member of the Leadership Management Team (LMT) for conflict geography structure groupLead strategy development and planning
• Lead country Objectives and Key Results (OKR) development
• Ensure strategy is supported by operational structures and across functional areas
• Ensure projects support strategy implementation
• Adapt operations and logistics systems to fit the needs of the country
• Ensure systems can support quality program implementation
• Ensure safety and security protocols are in place and followed
• Initiate development of new safety and security measures
• Management of the operational presence of country team
• Infuses organizational Values into all work.
• Other duties that are broadly in line with the above key contributions as assigned.

Competency Behavior Indicators (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities):

• Motivates colleagues and direct reports to develop while resolving problems within the context of a proactive and broad vision set by the organization.
• Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with vendors, organizations, professional associations, partners, funders, and Search’s network of experts to facilitate work intended to provide a service to Search.
• Manages and contributes to both routine activities and initiatives while also making progress on continuous improvement efforts.
• Juggles multiple demands and adapts to new situations with fresh ideas or innovative approaches.
• Contributes to the development and implementation of the departmental strategy based on organizational goals and objectives.
• Confirms and socializes standards across functions globally within or in collaboration with Shared Services teams while allowing for thoughtful collaboration in an international context.
• Practices ethical behavior to meet Search’s expectations for conduct, minimizes ambiguity, and sets an example for others.
• Builds a framework and sets in motion a plan to overcome challenges by making sense out of complexity and an uncertain future, staying cognizant of the implications of a choice for the department, and being decisive while also applying flexibility for further change as needed and with changing work plans to meet environmental factors.
• Sets up procedures and team building to ensure high quality of work (e.g., review meetings).
• Seeks out creative solutions within a complex and international environment while working within an organizational framework of compliance, ethics, best practices, and standards.
• Shares information, advice, and suggestions to help others to be more successful; provides effective coaching.
• Sought out as an expert to provide advice or solutions in their technical or functional area.
• Convenes groups or teams through problem-solving and creative thinking processes, leading to the development and implementation of new approaches, systems, structures, and methods in a Shared Services environment.
• Involves team members in thought leadership discussions and decision-making to lead to continued growth and development for team, department members, and Shared Services colleagues.
• Fluency in French and English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is an added advantage.

Type and Nature of Contacts:

• Routinely coordinates with colleagues and consultants on-site and in the field and resolves problem situations with tact. Has multiple and regular high-level external donor and partner contacts. Is externally branded and visible.
• Represents, as assigned, selected programs or projects and other organizations, including donors, vendors, and international and local partners.
• Interacts with the country office and regional staff and Global teams as required.

Education and Experience:

• Typically BS/BA in Humanitarian development, Project Management or relevant field with minimum 16 years’ experience, or Master degree with 14 years of experience.
• A minimum experience of Senior leadership (Chief of Party, Program Director, Country Director) is required.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Usual office environment conditions; ability to travel domestically at least 20%. Occasional international trips in the region and/or to the headquarters in Brussels and Washington DC may be necessary.

Supervisory and Budget Responsibility:

• The Country Director leads the Senior Management Team and supervises the Leaders of Lebanon (about 7 direct reports).
• The Country Director is also the Budget owner of the Lebanon / Syria Program.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary and allowances according to salary scale and profile of the incumbent.
• Yearly employment, renewable depending on funding and performance.
• 25 days of annual leave per year.
• All Lebanon public holidays.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.