Head of mission Lebanon At Secours Islamique France

Created in 1991, Secours Islamique France (SIF) is an international non-governmental relief and development organization (NGO). SIF acts in strict neutrality, without distinction of origin, gender or religion, and is dedicated to alleviating the suffering of the world’s most deprived populations.

Lebanon has been for many years a host country for the Palestinian and Syrian communities fleeing wars and looking for a safe place. According to UNRWA, 49% of the total Palestine refugee population in Lebanon is less than 25 years old and approximately 54% of Syrian refugees are children.

SIF provides aid to more than 25 000 vulnerable people by mainly focusing on food security. Indeed, SIF supply an access to food items by ticket distribution and help increase the local agriculture. SIF also s upports local education and protection systems, in particular to children via recreational, educative, psychosocial and integration activities.

Secours Islamique France is looking to fill a Head of Mission position based in Beirut, Lebanon.

You will be under the supervision of the DESK Manager, as part of the SIF Mission Team and you will be supervising the Human Resources, Finance Officers, Program Coordinator and Logistic Supervisor. You will be in charge of providing the overall leadership and strategic direction of SIF operations in Lebanon.

Your work will consist of:

Leadership of the Country Program
* Developing and maintaining a coherent strategy that contributes to SIF’s global objectives.
* Monitoring the emergency humanitarian situation in the country and advise HQs on the appropriate course of action.
* Assessing and responding as necessary to changes in the external environment ensuring these changes are reflected in the country strategy and project plans.

Program Development
* Developing SIF’s short and medium term strategy for Lebanon.
* Regularly analysing the context, risks, operational access issues and availability of resources, in relation to the program objectives.
* Addressing the feasibility of SIF’s current proposals and realign them in light of the field assessment findings.
* Developing and maintaining SIF’s emergency activities and oversee the scale up of the emergency response.

Representation
* Representing SIF, coordinating and advocating on key issues with local and national authorities, UN agencies, donors and INGOs.
* Managing external communications in collaboration with the HQs communication department. Act as the contact person with press and media.
* Maintaining regular communications with HQs using the established procedures.

Team Management/Human Resources
* Providing leadership and management to the team.
* Participating/overseeing the recruitment process of all staff.
* Interpreting, developing and applying SIF’s HR policies and terms and conditions, national employment law, consistently and effectively.
* Regularly making performance and management appraisals.

Logistics
* Overseeing the timely and efficient planning and implementation of procurement and supply of items in line with project needs.
* Ensuring adequate management of warehousing, compounds, transportation, goods in kind and assets according to SIF procedures.

Safety and Security Management
* Monitoring the security context and act on any deterioration that could affect operations.
* Ensuring the updating of the Security plan and produce a weekly security report.

Administration and Finance
* Overseeing budget preparation and analysis of actual expenditures against the budget.
* Establishing and maintaining SIF field accounting systems.

The employee may be requested to perform other tasks in accordance with its job category, in case of need related to the functioning of the Association or to changes in its policy and it organization, and respecting the pattern of fixed-term contract.

KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS :

• Minimum of 5 years of previous experience in humanitarian work, including previous experiences as Country Director, or Deputy Country Director, or chief of Party with INGOs in similar context ;
• Substantial experience in strategic thinking, including identifying, analyzing, problem solving and responding to opportunities and challenges and the ability to translate these into practical plans of action ;
• Extensive experience of securing substantial external funding. Evidence of understanding the challenges of donor and contract management and the implications for program management ;
• Extenive knowledge and experience of project planning and budget holding ; proposal and report writing ;
• Knowledge and understanding of project management tools (Logical Framework Analysis, Project Cycle Management =, Objctives and Indicators etc.) ;
• Strong leadership skills and a supportive management style of all staff ( experience managing national and expatriate staff) ;
• Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English ( and desirably french) ;
• Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office, especially Word and Excel.

  KNOW-HOW / SOFT SKILLS :

• Ability to understand the cultural and political environment and to work well with partners including local authorities ;
• Experience of working within an insecure environment with responsibility for security planning, montoring and management;
• An understanding of and commitment to SIF’s mission and values;
• Familiarity with the Middle East Working Context ;
• Arabic Speaking is a plus ;
• Knwoledge of Emergency Response Programs.

Conditions :

• Starting date : As soon as possible ;
• French fixed term contract : 6 months (renewable after 6 months) ;
• Remuneration according to our salary grid ;
• Monthly perdiem/guesthouse ;
• Health insurance (SIF contributes to 60% of the insurance) ;
• Rapatriation insurance (100% covered by SIF)
• Break allowance during the 3 and 9 month breaks
• Airfare to and from the mission location to home – paid by SIF at 6 and 12 months