Private Sector Engagement Officer

Cesvi has been active in Lebanon since 2001 in different areas: North, South and Mount Lebanon, Nabatieh and Beirut. Funded by institutional donors and private foundations, Cesvi's projects cover a broad range of sectors - such as livelihoods, food security and emergency assistance - all with a crosscutting focus on protection. Since 2013 Cesvi has been responding to the spillover of the Syrian Crisis, paying special attention to Livelihood and Protection sectors, in close collaboration with local authorities, partners, CSOs, international agencies and other stakeholders.

Brief project profile

The Alliance2015 Partnership, represented by lead agency ACTED, Cesvi, Concern and Hivos, is running a program that aims to address root causes of conflict and instability in Lebanon, through the creation of sustainable income-generating and livelihood opportunities for vulnerable populations. Over three years, Alliance2015 partners will work directly with 1,800 individuals, 18 Social Development Centers (SDCs) and at least 27 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Lebanon. The integrated program targets vulnerable communities with economic inclusion activities through three main pathways:

(A) Building the capacity of SDCs leads to an improved delivery of livelihood-related services;

(B) Improving the technical and soft skills of vulnerable individuals to ensure increased participation in the private sector job market; and

(C) Improving the capacity of the private sector leads to growth and job creation.

Activities include providing livelihood-related resources, assets and renovations to each targeted SDC; offering TVET and soft skills training, paid apprenticeship programs and job-matching services to vulnerable individuals; and providing businesses development services and value chain support to MSMEs. The participation of local stakeholders at different levels is vital for Cesvi, as it guarantees the relevance of its interventions and ensures that local authorities and communities are informed about its activities and embrace them. In particular, private sector engagement proves crucial for the promotion of market linkages and creation job opportunities for vulnerable beneficiaries.

Position: Private Sector engagement Officer

Purpose of the Assignment 

The Private Sector Engagement Officer will be responsible for creating market linkages between targeted beneficiaries and employment opportunities in the private sector. The Private Sector Engagement Officer will support the Livelihood Program Manager in a wide array of tasks, such as: conducting thorough market assessments, establishing strong partnerships with private companies, coordinating internships/job placements, verifying the application of minimum decent work standards and providing follow-up job counseling. The Private Sector Engagement Officer will also contribute to the collection and analysis of market data for the development of technical reports, case studies, articles and other publications.

Major Responsibilities

1. Identify linkages between technical and vocational training programs for vulnerable beneficiaries and employment opportunities
2. Liaise & coordinate between different project stakeholders (private & public sector, beneficiaries & field staff) ensuring successful job matching
3. Identify, select and cooperate with private companies and other employers able to absorb interns and/or provide longer-term employment 
4. Share job market information with project stakeholders and Cesvi Livelihood Program Manager 
5. Support job/internship placement activities, follow-up on with companies and beneficiaries
6. Collect and analyze marketplace data and information
7. Develop reports, case studies, articles based on market data
8. Perform other duties as required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• University OR diploma related to social sciences and/or commercial fields (economics, business administration, marketing, social work)
• Proven ability and experience in Managing partners’ relations
• Demonstrated expertise in market assessment, market analysis, market research or related role
• Good drafting and reporting skills
• Fluency in English and Arabic languages
• Advanced skills in MS Office (Powerpoint, excel, word) and database applications
• Knowledge of Lebanon’s job market
• Two years of experience in Marketing, partnership Management position
• One year of experience in a small or medium enterprise business preferred

Personal Attributes

• Be proactive, creative and with excellent communication skills

• Initiative-taker with solid interpersonal and marketing skills
• Be honest, trustworthy and respectful
• Possess cultural awareness and sensitivity to needs of vulnerable populations
• Demonstrated ability to work independently under tight deadlines