Project Manager – Trócaire Syria Response hosted by Caritas Lebanon

DUTIES:

Programme Cycle Management:

• Support partners and provide capacity building assistance in every aspect of project management, including work-planning; implementation and tracking of activities; monitoring, evaluation and learning; budget monitoring, protections and revisions; and project adaptation.
• Coordinate closely with the Trócaire’s Head of Programmes and Programme Accountant to ensure effective cooperative management of project work plans that align with project logical frameworks, timely implementation and tracking of project activities, and close monitoring of project budgets.
• Conduct regular field visits to project sites to monitor programme quality and support partner field-based staff in project implementation and build their capacity to effectively implement and monitor the project.
• Review and assess project progress, including through regular partner meetings and follow up.
• Take a lead role in working with partners to ensure programme quality, including provision of technical and practical support on project implementation and financial management, in coordination with the Head of Programmes and Programme Accountant.
• Take a lead role in working with partners to ensure partners are delivering on Trócaire’s integration, women’s empowerment and accountability commitments; including Trócaire’s safeguarding commitments.
• Support partners to comply with both Trócaire and donor requirements, including reporting requirements and policies relating to procurement, logistics and financial management. This includes ensuring that partners provide timely and quality reports to Trócaire, both narrative and financial, according to formats and schedules provided by Trócaire.
• Work with the Head of Programmes to develop personal monthly work-plans, including TORs for field trips, and report on work plans and field travel.
• Work with partners to develop new interventions, including provision of technical and practical support on project design and budget development.
• Ensure that interventions are based on analysis (contextual/poverty/ power etc.) that informs appropriate project strategies, location and target population.
• Ensure that new interventions designed, implemented, monitored and evaluated within the Trócaire Programme Management and Accountability Framework (PMAG).
• Support the Head of Programmes in the design, development of high quality Institutional Donor Funding (IF) programmes in line with the country strategy and programme frameworks.
• Work with the Head of Programmes to design and participate in grant inception meetings, grant review meetings, and grant close out meetings.

Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL):

• Work in close coordination with Trócaire’s MEAL Advisor to provide ongoing technical assistance to partners to ensure that the project is implemented in accordance with accepted international humanitarian standards, including those for SPHERE, HAP and protection mainstreaming.
• Work with partner counterparts to develop and implement M&E Plans, report on findings and integrate learning into project activities.
• Ensure that learning regarding programme quality (resulting from M&E and from other sources) is acted upon and incorporated into future programming, through facilitating learning and reflection amongst partners.
• In coordination with the MEAL Advisor, support partners to ensure that accountability mechanisms are embedded into partner programme, with functioning communication methods and feedback handling mechanisms in place.

Programme Finances & Donor Compliance

• With support from finance staff, oversee and manage programme budgets including monthly tracking sheets of disbursements to partners.
• With support from finance staff, monitor the financial management of ongoing partner projects to ensure there is compliance with standard financial norms.
• With support from the Head of Programmes, ensure the submission of timely high quality donor reports and adherence to donor procedures and requirements.
• With support from the Head of Programmes and partners, prepare contract amendment documentation for IF, ensuring HQ is aware of and has oversight of any contract amendments.
• Provide input into IF proposals and budget development, review and revisions.
• Ensure that supporting documentation is uploaded (key IT platforms include Agresso, Sales Force, Box).

Partner Relationships & Capacity Building

• Foster a relationship of accompaniment, close mentoring and mutual respect with Trócaire’s implementing partner organisations.
• Constructively support partners’ management capacity in the various stages of project cycle management.
• Consider new partnerships which ensure a creative and dynamic programme through new contacts and field visits.
• In coordination with the partners the Head of Programmes, develop capacity building plans for partners and organise (and facilitate as appropriate) training and accompaniment in various areas of project and financial management.

Representation, Coordination and Advocacy:

• Represent Trócaire, and the work and perspectives of our partners, at relevant cluster and coordination fora.
• Help to build and maintain professional relations with relevant organisations including Caritas, UN working groups, Government Departments, humanitarian organisations and donors as appropriate.
• Accompany donors, monitoring trips and visitors to project sites and carry out promotional work as required, in consultation with the Head of Programmes.
• Ensure close coordination and proactive communication with the Head of Programmes and Trócaire’s wider humanitarian team on all aspects of programming.
• In close coordination with the Head of Programmes and MEAL Advisor, support the collection of data and lessons learnt, and lead in the development of case studies that contribute to the evidence base for advocacy within the humanitarian programme.

Other:

• Fulfil other reasonable duties and responsibilities, as requested by the Head of Programmes.
• Respond to internal Trócaire requirements, such as developing communication materials, as required.
• Contribute to the revision/updating of Trócaire’s Syria Response Strategy.

QUALIFICATION:

University Degree in Humanitarian or Development Studies, International Relations, Human Rights, Social Work or similar.

EXPERIENCE:

• At least 3 years’ experience in the delivery of humanitarian programmes, including experience working in insecure or unpredictable environments. Experience in humanitarian relief, protection and PSS, and livelihoods is an asset
• Programme cycle management experience, including experience in programme/proposal development, results-based management, work planning and other aspects of grant management
• Experience implementing Institutional Donor Funding (IF)
• Experience working with partners and ability to work through a local partnership model
• Experience of distance/remote management and monitoring, or of programming in areas where access is limited, is preferred
• Experience working on the Syria Response and/or knowledge of the context

SKILLS

• Knowledge and understanding of humanitarian issues, particularly those related to the Syria Response
• Knowledge of minimum standards in humanitarian programming, including Sphere, HAP and those for protection mainstreaming
• Excellent understanding and experience of project/programme cycle management and methods of assessment that prioritise community participation
• Good understanding of financial management systems and budget monitoring and reporting
• Excellent understanding of Monitoring & Evaluation processes, as well as of accountability requirements – both to donors and affected communities
• Excellent analytical, planning, organisational and leadership skills, including ability to show initiative, set priorities, manage work plans and evaluate progress
• Strong communication, facilitation and training skills
• Demonstrated capacity for team work and coordination
• Fluency in Arabic and excellent written and oral English
• Solid IT and data entry/analysis skills – especially in the use of Excel
• Ability to support and build capacity of partner organisations
• Highly developed relationship, negotiation and interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written to team members and partners
• Able to work independently being a strong team player
• Strong organisational skills, initiative, ability to prioritise work
• Strong ability to multi-task and respond to unanticipated requests quickly
• Ability to perform essential functions under stressful and changing conditions and represent the department in a professional manner
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to show initiative and take responsibility

QUALITIES:

• Commitment to, and understanding of, Trócaire’s aims, values and principles, including a commitment to principles of partnership, rights-based approaches, social justice and development
• An understanding of accountability to programme participants in humanitarian programming, including requirements around safe programming and a do-no-harm approach
• Diplomacy and negotiation skills, and ability to lead and influence
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Ability to work productively in multi-cultural environments
• Capable of working in challenging, unstable and/or high stress contexts and environments, including volatile crisis situations

DESCRIPTION - Trócaire

Trócaire is one of Ireland’s top INGO’s, having over 40 years’ of experience in international development. Trócaire works with partners and is a member of worldwide networks such as Caritas and CIDSE. This is an exciting time in the history of the organisation as we deliver upon our new strategic plan 2016-2020.

Since 2013, Trócaire has responded to the Syrian humanitarian crisis, working remotely from Ireland and supporting local caritas and other partners in Syria and Lebanon. The Strategic Plan and programme has focused on the provision of humanitarian relief, protection and psychosocial support, and in strengthening livelihoods, and has an approx. budget of €1.5-2m.  Working with local partners, and realising the values of partnership, continue to be an important approach for the organisation. 

Trócaire has recently decided to establish a presence in Beirut to facilitate and manage our ongoing response to the humanitarian crisis. The country strategic plan (2016-2020) continues to provide programme focus, however, it is expected to further grow the programme and strengthen partnerships. The Project Manager will be expected to provide close support to the Head of Programmes in the coordination and management of ongoing humanitarian programming – a role which requires excellent project management, coordination, planning, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting skills – as well support in the development of new programme opportunities.

The post holder will liaise closely with relevant counterparts from partner organisations, ensuring high levels of programme quality, effective project management and compliance with donor requirements; while at the same time strengthening Trócaire’s capacity to support and mentor partner staff, providing technical/administrative support in every aspect of project management, organising and facilitating trainings for partners and helping partners to identify, prioritise, and address  gaps in partner capacity. He/she will also have overall responsibility for supporting partner M&E, including data collection, analysis and reporting.

As Trócaire works in partnership, this role will include accompaniment to local organisations, as well as building strong relationships with partner organisations and other relevant stakeholders, including humanitarian agencies and networks. 

Please note: this position is only open to national candidates. For the candidate with the required experience and passion for the role, Trócaire offers a competitive package of salary and benefits based on the Trócaire national staff Grading and Salary Structure.

Safeguarding Programme Participants Policy:

Trócaire is committed to Safeguarding people within our programmes from Exploitation and Abuse and has specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct) which outlines the expected behaviour and responsibility of all staff, consultants and other organisational representatives. Any candidate offered a job with Trócaire will be expected to sign Trócaire’s Safeguarding Policies and Global Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.