Protection Officer (Applications will only be accepted if submitted through the link provided)

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Mercy Corps has worked in Lebanon since 1993, running community development programs focused primarily on promoting agricultural and economic development, environmental sustainability, and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities.  At present, Mercy Corps is implementing programs funded by US State Department, the United Nations, and private donors

Program / Department Summary

Mercy corps will provide through partners services of psycho-social support (PSS) activities for children, youth, adolescents and their families and specialized case management support of child protection cases, while also building community and national capacities toward a Child Protection System for effective identification and response. It builds on the Mercy Corps’ significant experience with children and youth in the region and previous successful work through Psychosocial Response Support for Vulnerable participants. Mercy Corps will support local partners and community actors to directly implement PSS activities themselves as well as to empower the case management and referral system to provide specialized support. Mercy Corps and through partners will channel protection data and lessons learned to share with other service providers and child protection actors, as well as to inform specialized technical support to partners.

General Position Summary

The Protection Program Officer will ensure day-to-day field management, supervision and coordination of all the activities taking place during the lifetime of the project. The Protection Program Officer will work closely with partners’ teams (including case managers, officers, focal points) to ensure that day to day activities are implemented according to schedule, and required quality. The Protection Program Officer reports directly to the Protection Program Manager with written and oral activity. The Protection Program Officer will maintain impartiality and neutrality in dealing with all stakeholders.

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Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support. 

Program Management

• Support the Protection Program Manager and MC technical team in implementing project activities;
• Provide day to day supervision of local partners including administrative, financial and logistical support;
• Maintain close regular contact with local NGO partners to provide support and trouble shoots any administrative problems;
• Attend team coordination meetings and maintain regular contact with consultants;
• Oversee program startup and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations. 
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.
• Develop partners’ MoUs and contracts & oversee a training program for program partners.
• Develop program implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, beneficiary targeting and distribution process as well as psychosocial and capacity building of partners.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Assist MEAL manager and program management in filing and record keeping of project activities and data entry of program statistics as requested;
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• Ensure the close coordination and sharing of information between the various activities of the  program staff including programs, finance , MEAL, Compliance.

Influence & Representation

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
• 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;
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Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

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 toward 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.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility

NA

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Protection program manager

Works Directly With:  MC team members, partners, partner organizations.

Knowledge and Experience

•  BA/S or equivalent in social science, management, international development or other relevant field.

• One to three years of experience in a coordination position.
• Understanding of emergency response.
• Strong management and communication skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.
• Positive, respectful attitude and collaborative approach to problem solving.
• Demonstrated attention to detail; ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently as well as cooperatively with team members.
• Written and oral communication skills in Arabic and English.
• Significant knowledge and understanding of the current political, economic, cultural and historical context of Lebanon and Middle Eastern crisis.

Success Factors

The successful Protection Program Officer will combine coordination skills and experience in mobilizing partners’ groups. S/He will have an outstanding ability to prepare, implement and manage innovative activities within the current and future programme structure of Mercy Corps. S/He will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and community mobilization, communication, and strong analytical skills. Able to learn about: emergency response, child protection and Gender Based Violence in addition to other topics. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.