Head of Mission – Lebanon At INTERSOS

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

Terms of reference

Job Title: Head of Mission

Code: SR-34-2369

Duty station: Beirut, with regular presence in the four (4) field offices established in Mount Lebanon (Beirut), Bekaa (Zahleh), Akkar (Tripoli), South (Tyre)

Starting date: 4/12/2022

Contract duration: 12 months (initial 4 months probation contract)

Reporting to: Regional Director for Middle East

Supervision of: Senior management team (SMT) members

Dependents: Accompanied duty station

General context of the project

INTERSOS has been operational in Lebanon, in response to the consequences of the Syrian crisis, since 2012.

The current program focuses on providing timely support to vulnerable Syrian refugees and hosting community members alike, living in hosting communities and in unofficial camps settings.

The program covers four (4) Governorates of the Country, from north to the south, through activities coordinated by the Coordination office in Beirut, and implemented through the four (4) field offices established in Mount Lebanon (Beirut), Bekaa (Zahleh), Akkar (Tripoli), South (Tyre).

General purpose of the position

Legally and officially represents INTERSOS in the country of assignment – granted with powers conferred by proxy by the Secretary General upon appointment to the post – and acts under the supervision of the Regional Director for Middle East.​

Main responsibilities and tasks

The Head of Mission represents the Organization and is responsible for the planning, management and implementation of the country program on the basis of defined strategies and indications.

The HoM manages and coordinates the operations and human resources in the country and is responsible to:

Representation and external coordination

• Establish and maintain collaborative relations with Local Authorities and Institutions, Donors, International Agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders
• Follow up, guarantee and monitor government recognition procedures for the organization in compliance with the host country formalities
• Provides INTERSOS Headquarters with timely and relevant information on documents that may create legal commitments vis-à-vis third parties

Strategy

• Define, in coordination with the country team and the Regional Office, country priorities based on context and needs analyses
• Monitor donor intervention strategies in the country and design accordingly the fundraising and development strategy of the mission
• Design, promote and elaborate new interventions
• Define strategic priorities for the development and set up of the mission structure

Control of program implementation

• Supervise and validate country level development of project proposals for submission to donors
• Define the general planning and scheduling of activities to be carried out in the country
• Define organizational aspects, coordination and communication/information flows in the mission
• Oversee, check and evaluate key variables concerning project planning and implementation (in relation to formats, INTERSOS and donor constraints and policies; the quality of management processes; the quality of human, technical and instrumental resources; the effectiveness and quality of results and efficiency);
• Verify and ensure at mission level compliance with deadlines and timely and appropriate submission of all documentation required by donors including interim and final financial and narrative reports;

Information and Reporting

• Continuously assess, analyze and evaluate the impact of the country operations, also through periodic visits to the areas of intervention

Finance

• Define the mission financial plan, ensuring self-sufficiency and consistency of expenses, and assume responsibility for the mission funds management, including bank accounts

Risk Management

• Prevent and if needed identify, analyse and manage institutional risks, ensuring timely communication with the Regional Office
• Ensure safety and security management at mission level, including risks analysis, elaboration of security rules, briefing of team members at all levels, monitoring of compliance, security incidents management and communication to HQ

Compliance

• Ensure all departments of the mission are implementing activities in line and in full compliance with INTERSOS Organization Management and Control Model and policies, donors’ rules and applicable legal requirements
• Ensure all team members and contracted persons and entities abide by INTERSOS ethical policies (against fraud and corruption, on PSEA and child Protection) and related procedures;

Human Resources

• Manage, support, build the capacities of all direct reports, and evaluate their performance
• Ensure the SMT manages the teams guarantying support, capacity building and well-being, in line with INTERSOS policies and legal requirements
• Provide INTERSOS Headquarters with duly cataloged photographic and filmed materials on activities carried out in the country of assignment and any other useful documentation for external communications, in accordance with procedures defined

Required profile and experience

Education

Advanced university degree. A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree​

Professional Experience

• At least two years of professional work experience as Head of Mission or five in other management/ coordination positions in humanitarian/development contexts
• Knowledge of the humanitarian coordination mechanism
• Previous experience in Middle East region is an asset
• Proven experience in management of EU (mainly ECHO), UN (mainly UNHCR), and US funds (PRM), AICS if possible
• Experience in security and risk management

Professional Requirements

• Strong and proven understanding of the humanitarian operating context, the humanitarian system, donors and their high demanding, security and financial management in humanitarian context
• Strong knowledge of donor’s procedures notably UN agencies (UNHCR, OCHA, UNFPA), AICS, ECHO, PRM
• Very strong skills in computer (excel) and admin/finance procedures
• Highly able to keep confidentiality
• Able to work independently and under stress
• Organization skills, delegative and empowerment approach of the supervised team, but capacity to be hands-on and pay attention to details
• Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills
• Readiness to commit and adhere to the values, mission and vision of INTERSOS

Languages

English compulsory, Italian is an advantage​

Personal Requirements

• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with analytic approach
• Excellent communication and negotiations skills, both oral and written
• Demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations with staff, beneficiaries and other stakeholders
• Ability to work in a complex environment within multi-ethnic and multicultural teams