Chief of Party

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee’s mission is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded over 80 years ago, the IRC is a leading humanitarian and development organization with presence in more than 40 countries. Across contexts, the IRC is committed to delivering innovative, high-impact programs tailored to the needs of communities affected by crisis.

IRC’s Education Unit works across the globe to ensure that children, youth and adults in crisis and conflict contexts have access to safe, relevant, quality learning opportunities. We support government as well as community-based, non-formal or alternative education that provides sufficient spaces for all out-of-school children, including those in remote or difficult to reach areas, and that promotes learning outcomes according to children and youth’s development potential.

Scope of work

The IRC seeks a Chief of Party (COP) for an anticipated five-year USAID Basic Education activity in Lebanon. This $50-99 million activity will improve reading, writing, math and social and emotional learning skills for primary school aged children in Lebanon. Based out of Beirut, Lebanon, the COP will provide overall leadership, management, and technical direction of the project in accordance with USAID rules and regulations. The COP is responsible for ensuring the compliant implementation in accordance with USAID award’s terms (cooperative agreement), USAID regulations, IRC rules and guiding principles, and internationally recognized quality of assistance standards. The COP is the primary representational link with USAID staff. The position is based in Beirut, Lebanon.

Recruitment is contingent upon successful award of the project, and selection of final applicant is subject to USAID approval.

Job responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and technical direction for the project, ensuring timely completion of project activities and production of quality project deliverables.

• Be responsible for the overall planning, implementation, administration, and financial management of the project, as well as the achievement of all impact goals and objectives.

• Manage project staff and consortium partners to ensure proper reporting, financial management, and compliance

• Oversee the development, review, and monitoring of the implementation of yearly work plans and project strategy documents to ensure long- and short-term priorities are on track.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for USAID, the Lebanon Ministry of Education, relevant MoE technical services and implementing partners.

• Report to USAID through annual and semi-annual reports, and formal and informal debriefings.

• Coordinate with in-country stakeholders, including Government of Lebanon representatives and other relevant stakeholders to ensure project activities complement ongoing plans and initiatives, and comply to country and global standards.

• Represent the project and the organization at regional, national, and international forums, including technical conferences and policy briefings on non-formal and formal education, social emotional learning, resilient education, and share information about project achievements and lessons learned within the organization and wider development community.

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of experience designing, implementing, and managing large, complex projects aimed specifically to prove access to learning opportunities (including literacy, numeracy, social emotional learning (SEL)/soft skills) for out-of-schools adolescents and youth, particularly young women, girls, and those affected by conflict and crisis.

• Minimum five years of senior project leadership experience on USAID activities; preferably previous experience as COP of USAID-funded programs.

• Master’s degree or higher in Education, International development, or any other related field.

• Significant previous experience working in the MENA region is required. Lebanon is preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with a wide network of partners and stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to liaise with senior Government officials, dignitaries, executives of international and local NGOs, and senior members of the donor community.

• Demonstrated success incorporating innovation and participatory, flexible, and gender-sensitive programming into project implementation.

• Experience working to incorporate issues of Government accountability, transparency, and equity in non-formal and formal Education programs, including gender, ethnicity, and disability inclusion.

• Demonstrated experience in policy dialogue and education reform working with government and civil society organizations.

• Capacity to work well under pressure, and the ability to communicate appropriately and effectively cross‐culturally is critical.

• The candidate must be fluent in English; Fluency in Arabic preferred.

• Lebanese candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Standards of professional conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

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