Child Protection Project Manager- Zahle, Lebanon (219180-927)

Job Description

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY

Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Libya. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps has been running community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while responding to emergencies as they have emerged. Recently, the program portfolio has expanded in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria, including grants from UNICEF, European Commission, Canadian and American government, and private foundations. The emergency response component of the portfolio will be an increasing focus and driver of programming in Lebanon.

The conflict that began more than four years ago in Syria has resulted in a steady increase in Syrian refugees to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. To date, more than one million refugees have fled their country and the numbers continue to mount. As numbers rapidly increase, humanitarian conditions are deteriorating. The burden on host communities and the financial and emotional stress on refugees and their hosts is tremendous. Mercy Corps is responding to these needs by addressing urgent basic needs, child protection as well as the psychosocial impact of the conflict and displacement. A growing programmatic focus is on mitigating the emerging tensions between hosts and refugees, particularly over economic resources, by addressing both livelihood opportunities and conflict mitigation capacity.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY

The Child Protection Project Manager will oversee the field-level implementation of the UNICEF-funded child protection programming by providing technical support and guidance to program staff and partners as they conduct community outreach, organize psycho-social activities, and build community-level linkages. S/he will be responsible for coordinating with international and national NGOs working at the field-level on child protection and psycho-social support sectors to promote protection standards in policies and program activities.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Team Management

• Supervise field-based teams to develop work plans focused on key outputs and outcomes;
• Ensure field teams complete tasks as assigned in a timely, professional way;
• Coordinating regular internal meetings to review programming and create strong communication between Mercy Corps’ sectors (i.e. WASH, livelihoods, governance) at the field-level;
• Oversee outreach worker and other front line worker orientation and capacity building;
• Ensure all programming follows Mercy Corps’ Code of Conduct and Child Protection Policy by increasing team capacity to disseminate and apply;

Technical Program Management

• Provide technical support for child protection programming through support to field staff and partner organizations;
• Engage local partners on regular basis to oversee work and ensure child protection and psycho-social activities are technically sound and meeting key deliverables;
• Support and conduct training and coaching on child protection and broader humanitarian work for community organizations and leaders, service providers, and municipalities;
• Support development and implementation of community engagement activities in partnership with area managers, local partners and host community leadership to address child protection concerns;
  
• Identify and support mechanisms for effective project monitoring and evaluation efforts and systems for information sharing internally and externally.
• Monitor and train team and local partners on data collection and child protection monitoring tools;
• Collaborate with local stakeholders including municipalities, Social Development Centers, schools and community based organizations to build community-based mechanisms that respond to child protection needs;
• Develop service provision referral mechanisms and case management capacity with local partners, local government stakeholders, and other actors including dissemination of information about service providers to refugee and vulnerable host communities;
• Oversee implementation of self-care sessions for frontline workers;

Coordination and Representation

• Liaise with international and national organizations within Working Group structures to coordinate programming and fill critical humanitarian gaps to strengthen wider child protection mechanisms;
• Coordinate with UNICEF and UNHCR at field-level to provide updates on programming;
• Represent Mercy Corps’ work at Beirut-level, as needed, to foster greater connections and information sharing;
• Participate in workshops and tasks forces, as needed, to inform strategy development and improved service delivery;
• Contribute to development communication materials that highlight Mercy Corps’ programming;

Other

• Fulfill Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide;
• Ensure activities promote gender equity, conflict sensitivity, and environmental awareness;
• Participate in internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops;
• 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;

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.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

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.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Field-based program staff and local partners

ACCOUNTABILITY:

Reports directly to: Senior Child Protection Program Manager

Works directly with:Operations, Finance, Program, and M&E Teams

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• BA/S or equivalent in social science, management, international development, or other relevant field; MA/S in law, international relations, human rights or other relevant field preferred but not necessary.
• At least 3-5 years of progressive experience and proven high level of competence in working in protection-related programs, ideally in relief and/or post-conflict settings.
• Ability to successfully design, implement, and manage community-based child protection programming focused on psycho-social support.
• Specialized background in gender, child protection, and minority rights and other vulnerable groups preferred.
• Experience with humanitarian work and managing aid distributions and emergency response.
• Some knowledge of Lebanon, in particular its displacement context, and protection threats relevant to internal conflict preferred; preference also given to candidates with background in the North Africa – Middle East region.
• Strong knowledge of, and experience with, international humanitarian and human rights law.
• Proven track record in staff and stakeholder training and capacity building.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Ability and interest to work with a multi-ethnic team in a culturally appropriate manner.
• Proficiency in English essential

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. Knowledge of security standards, equipment, precautionary measures, communication protocols, various unstable conditions and familiarity of the Sphere Project’s Humanitarian Charter and Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Pyramid are essential, as is an 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.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

This position is based in Zahle, Lebanon approximately one hour from Beirut. The security situation is uncertain in Lebanon, with a possibility for rapid deterioration, particularly dependent on the Syrian conflict. Though currently secure, all security guidelines and protocols must be closely followed at all times.

This position is located in an accompanied post for partner and/or family.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.