Country Representative for Lebanon

BACKGROUND ON IMPACT AND REACH

REACH was born in 2010 as a joint initiative of two International NGOs (IMPACT Initiatives and Acted) and the United Nations Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT). REACH’s purpose is to promote and facilitate the development of information products that enhance the humanitarian community’s decision making and planning capacity for emergency, reconstruction and development contexts. REACH facilitates information management for aid actors through three complementary services: (a) need and situation assessments facilitated by REACH teams; (b) situation analysis using satellite imagery; (c) provision of related database and (web)-mapping facilities and expertise.

IMPACT Initiatives is a humanitarian NGO, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organisation manages several initiatives, including the REACH Initiative. The IMPACT team comprises specialists in data collection, management and analysis and GIS. IMPACT was launched at the initiative of Acted, an international NGO whose headquarter is based in Paris and is present in thirty countries. The two organizations have a strong complementarity formalized in a global partnership, enabling IMPACT to benefit from Acted’s operational support on its fields of intervention.

We are currently looking for a Country Representative to oversee our team in Lebanon.

Position: Country Representative

Contract duration:12 months

Location: Beirut, Lebanon

Starting Date: 01.12.2024

Deadline to apply: 15.11.2024

COUNTRY PROFILE

IMPACT, through REACH, has been implementing programming in Lebanon since 2013 supporting humanitarian decision-making with assessments and information management activities.

Today, REACH is conducting rapid assessments for the on-going emergency response, preparing a baseline study for annual response planning efforts, as well as providing in-depth area-based assessments to better understand natural resource management. IMPACT is committed to remain in Lebanon and scale up its activities to best support and inform the increased needs of the humanitarian response.

FUNCTIONS

Under the management of IMPACT’s Regional Coordinator in Geneva, the Country Representative is responsible for representing IMPACT and managing and developing IMPACT’s programs in Lebanon. He/she leads the IMPACT team to achieve program excellence and ensure the highest level of impact and accountability, while ensuring compliance to IMPACT guidelines, policies and standards across the mission. The CR is in regular contact with HQ, ensuring that organizational risks are promptly and clearly communicated to the Regional Coordinator, the Director of Country Programs and Operations, and other relevant HQ Senior Management. She/he will promote organizational vision and core values across the mission and will actively link with HQ to contribute to the implementation of IMPACT’s global strategies.

In his/her mission, the Country Representative will be hosted by Acted and will fall under the direct responsibility and management of Acted’s Country Director for all Administrative, Security, Logistics and Finance issues. S/he will therefore fully abide by Acted’s Security, HR, Administration and Logistics rules and regulations, and, in coordination with Acted, will ensure that all IMPACT staff abide by them.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Country Representative responsibilities include the following:

1. Strategic Leadership
   1. Develop and execute an up-to-date Country Strategy aligned with IMPACT’s global objectives and Lebanon’s humanitarian landscape.
   2. Identify strategic opportunities, consolidate ongoing initiatives, and explore new program areas to enhance IMPACT’s value to the aid community.
2. Program and Project Management
   1. Oversee program planning, implementation, and evaluation, ensuring all projects meet objectives, timelines, and compliance standards.
   2. Facilitate coordination between IMPACT and partner organizations to achieve efficient project delivery and impact.
3. Fundraising and Donor Engagement
   1. Identify and secure funding opportunities in collaboration with HQ and Acted.
   2. Lead proposal development and negotiate contracts with donors, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities.
4. Finance and Budget Oversight
   1. Manage project budgets and forecast expenses, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting to HQ and Acted.
   2. Mitigate financial risks and ensure optimal budget utilization.
5. Human Resources and Team Leadership
   1. Guide and develop the IMPACT team, ensuring performance standards, capacity building, and adherence to IMPACT and Acted’s policies.
   2. Coordinate with HQ and Acted for transparent recruitment and career management of staff.
6. External Representation and Coordination
   1. Establish and maintain productive relationships with donors, UN agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders, representing IMPACT’s programs and strategic interests.
   2. Ensure proactive contribution to key humanitarian decision-making forums and promote IMPACT’s program visibility.
7. Data Protection and Accountability
   1. Uphold strict confidentiality of all data collected and engage with communities respectfully, ensuring awareness of program objectives and methods.

REQUIREMENTS

• Academic Excellent academic qualifications, including a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (International Relations, Political Sciences, Social Research, Development Studies, or similar).
• Management experience Previous experience in a senior management role in an INGO at field level. Track record in successful management of international and national teams in humanitarian contexts.
• Familiarity aid system Familiarity with the aid system, and the research community.
• Communication/reporting skills Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting, including proven experience in contributing to high level presentations/briefings.
• Years of work experience At least 5 years of relevant working experience.
• Research skills: Experience in assessments. M&E, field research, evaluations an asset.
• Multi-tasking skills Ability to multitask with tight deadlines in complex environment.
• Level of independence A self-starter with a proven ability to work independently.
• Cross-cultural work environment Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment.
• Experience in geographical region Past experience in the Middle East is desirable.
• Language skills Fluency in English required.
• Security environment Ability to operate in a complex and challenging security environment.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• For this position, salary between 3’600 CHF and 4’440 CHF monthly (before income tax), etc as well as a monthly living allowance of 500 USD
  NB – IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary grid depending on the grade of the position and the level of education of staff. A location-dependent security and/or isolation adjustment is then applied as a recognition that some staff are required to work in difficult places where living and working conditions are much more difficult than elsewhere.
• Accommodation and food provided in a guesthouse. IMPACT is hosted by ACTED in this country
• Enrolment in Swiss private pension fund (Swisslife – approx. 9.975% of staff gross salary), health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance
• This base is not a family duty station
• Flight tickets every 6 months & visa fees covered (in-country travel costs and professional expenses are fully covered)
• R&R after 2-3 months (flight ticket up to 500$ + 200$ of living allowance) if duty station allows
• Contribution to the luggage transportation: between 20 and 100 kgs, depending on the length of the contract (+ luggage and personal property insurance)
• Annual leave of 36 days per year. Public holidays of the country of assignment. Family/compassionate leave when applicable.
• Predeparture induction – 3 days at IMPACT Initiatives’s HQ in Geneva + one week pre-departure training in ACTED HQ in Paris, including a 4-days in situ security training;
• Enrolment in IMPACT Initiatives Research Foundational Learning Programme within the first 3 months from the start of contract.
• IMPACT prioritizes the psychological safety of its staff and the health insurance provided covers, among others, up to 1000 € per year of psychosocial counselling fees