Lebanon – Project Manager Cash for Work at COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale

COOPI is looking for a Project Manager – Cash for Work in Lebanon

COOPI has operated and developed humanitarian projects in South Lebanon in the year 2003-2005. Since 2013, COOPI has been operating in Northern Lebanon to support most basic and pressing needs of Refugees and vulnerable host communities through a multi-sector and integrated approach. COOPI assists the targeted communities mainly by providing WaSH, shelter support, multi-purpose cash assistance and education support.

The impact of ongoing economic crisis and the COVID-19 outbreak continue to aggravate the loss of jobs and livelihoods amongst refugees and host communities. Syrian families are becoming more economically vulnerable, with 91 per cent living in some form of poverty. Many Lebanese families are also struggling to survive and being pushed deeper into poverty. Before the recent crisis, Lebanon was already the country which host the highest number of refugees per capita, influx that has put a huge burden on national resources and has significantly increased the need of humanitarian support in the country.

Description of the project

The intervention promotes the access of the most vulnerable people among the refugee community and the Lebanese community to new income opportunities through Cash for Work activities. Contributing to the economic revitalisation of the area and, at the same time, supporting the rehabilitation of public utility infrastructure for the benefit of the whole community. 228 people will then be selected as direct beneficiaries of the cash-for-work activity, for a period of 60 days over three months.

Purpose of the role

The Project Manager will have direct responsibility on the project coordination and implementation and on the AICS project (Cash for Work):

is responsible for the project’s execution, in technical, economic/financial terms. In terms of resources management on field, and in terms of internal and external reporting in compliance with COOPI and the donor’s procedures;
ensures the expected results attainment in budget management;
ensures the delivery of the project on-time, on-quality, on-budget.

Main responsibilities

Activity planning and management

Plan and monitor the activities’ progress, in cooperation with the project staff and in compliance with the contract signed with the donor and with COOPI and the donor’s procedures;
Prepare monthly reports to the head of mission and regularly organizes project review meetings to identify issues and discuss solutions with relevant heads of department;
Contribute at analyzing possible opportunities of project designing/funding in collaboration with the Head of Mission;
Elaborate, write and prepare all necessary documents to present new projects, in accordance with the organization’s processes and procedures, with particular reference to AICS;
Cooperate with the Communication and Fund-Raising office for all communication, awareness and fund raising activities implemented in and for the country, also supporting the donor’s visibility.

Staff Management

Select the local staff to be employed in projects, in compliance with the country’s rules/laws and with the COOPI’s regulation in the country;
Regularly meet the local partner to organize joint programmatic activities;
Consistently monitor partners’ activities to ensure the upholding of the highest quality standards;
Plan and organize capacity building activities for the local partner;
Evaluate local staff employed for projects and partecipate to the evaluation of the project, upon request by the direct supervisor by making use of the organization’s tools.

Administrative and financial management

Plan all expenditures in collaboration with the Project Administrator/ Administrative Coordinator;
Regularly monitor all incurred expenditures on the project’s budget;
Supervise accounting and the project cash safe/bank account management and, where there was no dedicated staff, directly manage the accounting and the project cash safe/bank accounts, using the instruments made available by the organization.

Logistics

Prepare the Purchases Plan in cooperation with the Project Administrator and in coordination with the HQ Administrative Coordinator;
Ensure the organization and donor’s procedures respect when purchasing goods and services;
Is responsible of the correct management of all goods purchased for the project, both directly and purchased by other offices/field offices. For all goods purchased by the project update the inventory, in cooperation with the Administrative Coordinator;
Contribute to strengthen the security assessment and ad hoc procedures, specifically applying the general country procedures to the specific context of the project.

Reporting and proposal writing

Ensure the preparation, in compliance with the deadlines, of all financial and narrative reports – interim and final – expected by the project in coordination with the Head of Mission and with the Administrative Coordinator;
Is responsible for the preparation of all formal communication and contract modifications requests (ex. budget modification) of the project to the donor;
In coordination with the Head of Mission, contribute to the development of country program and sector project by proposing and writing new proposal and indentifying potential donors.

Institutional relations

Communicate with the donors’ officers, the local authorities which are competent in the aspects related to the project, the project’s partners and beneficiaries, in compliance with the organization’s guidelines;
Will be a focal point, in coordination with the Head of Mission;
Represent COOPI in all relevant clusters and working groups, contributing to raise the organization’s profile and keeping the organization abreast on the latest technical guidance and recommendations;
Will report on COOPI activities on Activity info and participate in the LCRP process as necessary.

Requirements

Education / Experiences

Advanced degree in Business/Economics or Agonomy, International Development or equivalent work.
Minimum 5 years experience in the humanitarian field and in a similar position, with a track record of success and results achieved, including at least 3 year implementing livelihoods programming.
Experience of working in project management on one or more among the main donors (UN, EU, ECHO), with priority to AICS;
Experience of working within an insecure environment with responsibility for security planning, monitoring and management;
Previous experience in CfW project and expertise in FSL sector;
Experience in report and proposal writing.

Hard skills

Proficiency in written and spoken English;
Computer literacy, with high proficiency in the use of standard office software applications (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint);
Ability in project management in a comprehensive way (logistics, programme, reporting, staff management); and to use properly the standard project management tools;
Ability to conduct sectorial analysis and to understand and transform into possible proposal the policies and strategies of the donors;
Ability to organize and supervise a complex team
Ability to organize work efficiently and deliver assignments in a timely manner often under time constraints.

Soft skills

Strong analytical and practical problem-solving skills;
Institutional relations management and cultural context understanding;
Strong supervisory abilities, and demonstrated capacity of teamwork and of coordination with the relevant actors;
Very good inter-personal and writing communication skills.

Plus

Knowledge of Arabic and / or Italian will be an asset;
Professional experience in the country;
Previous experience in agro-livelihood;
Valid driving licence.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the application closing date, once a sufficient number of applications have been received. Please note that only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled, thanks for understanding.