ROLE PURPOSE:
The Humanitarian Manager will provide strategic leadership and implementation oversight for Save the Children’s comprehensive humanitarian portfolio and Emergency Multi-Area Awards as delegated by the Director of Programme Operations (DPO). This role ensures the effective execution of emergency response activities addressing the evolving needs of children and communities in Lebanon. The humanitarian manager will work closely with Area Managers and the DPO to align efforts with the Country Office’s country strategic plan and global humanitarian priorities, and will represent Save the Children with external stakeholders including national and local authorities overseeing emergency response. The post holder will play a lead role in ensuring that Save the Children remains prepared to respond to new emergencies across the country and, in the event of a major humanitarian emergency, will be expected to lead coordination of Save the Children’s response efforts under the direction of the DPO.
Currently the humanitarian portfolio includes programs in Education, Child Protection, Shelter, WASH, Food Security and Livelihoods, Nutrition, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), and Child Rights Governance/Youth Participation.
CHILD SAFEGUARDING:
Level 3: the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; ore because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Director of Programme Operations (DPO)
Number of direct reports: 1 Programme Officer and 1 Cash Operations Coordinator
Budget Responsibilities: As delegated by the DPO
Role Dimensions: The Humanitarian Manager is responsible for ensuring the high-quality and cost-effective implementation of humanitarian programmes, in full compliance with Save the Children and donor policies and procedures. The role requires close coordination with Area Managers and the Director of Programme Operations (DPO) to represent humanitarian priorities within the Extended Senior Management Team (ESMT)
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Strategic Planning and Coordination:
Under the guidance of the DPO:
- Act as the primary focal point for humanitarian response within the Country Office ensuring Save the Children’s global policies, standards, guidance, tools and good practices are well understood and disseminated
- As a member of the ESMT, contribute to the development of the country strategy and plans and key humanitarian decisions affecting the country office
- Provide oversight and strategic leadership to Save the Children’s emergency preparedness and response work in Lebanon
- Produce timely reports and situational analyses on ongoing humanitarian situations and programming to inform decision-making and strategic planning.
- Build and maintain relationships with relevant networks, Disaster Risk Management / Reduction Units and key stakeholders and Line Ministries overseeing emergency response
- Represent Save the Children effectively in external coordination forums as required and liaise with national and local authorities, INGOs, LNGOs, donors, and other key stakeholders to ensure coherent and collaborative efforts.
- Programme Operations
- Ensure all delegated humanitarian programmes are delivered on time, within budget, in compliance with SCI and donor policies, and in line with technical quality standards.
- Lead the proper planning, kick-off, implementation, and close-out phases of delegated humanitarian projects, using Save the Children’s project management methodology and project management system (PRIME).
- Ensure detailed implementation plans, procurement plans, HR plans, MEAL plans, phased budgets, and budget vs actual (BvA) reviews are in place and followed up for all delegated projects.
- Collaborate with the Supply Chain Manager to ensure sourcing plans reflect humanitarian programme priorities and participate in procurement committees as delegated by the DPO
- Oversee cash operations for key humanitarian projects through supporting the Cash Operations Coordinator to strengthening systems, overseeing CTP operations, and provide operational support to field teams and programmatic staff throughout the project cycle.
- Ensure quality programming in all humanitarian interventions in alignment with tools and approaches developed by the PDQ team and in coordination with Area Managers and Programme Managers at the Area Office level.
- Apply a safe programming approach, ensuring child safeguarding risk assessments and mitigation plans are in place for all delegated projects.
- Work closely with the MEAL team to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of programmes, and accountability measures, incorporating feedback to improve implementation.
- In coordination with Area Managers conduct regular field visits to project sites and area offices to ensure the humanitarian programmes are well-supported and implementation quality is maintained.
- Identify humanitarian programme gaps and take appropriate action to address them effectively, escalating issues to the DPO as necessary.
Emergency Preparedness and Response:
- Support the DPO in developing and regularly reviewing Save the Children’s emergency preparedness plans and anticipatory actions ensuring preparedness actions are implemented by all departments
- Work with the HR team to identify Emergency Response Teams in each office and ensure a system is in place for internal deployments to support emergency response
- Ensure that staff and partners access relevant training and learning opportunities to enhance emergency response capacities.
- Work with Supply Chain to proactively plan for SCI readiness, including the pre-positioning of essential stock.
- In the event of a new emergency, activate preparedness plans and lead coordination of the scale up in collaboration with the DPO and identified emergency response team. This may include deploying as surge capacity, launching rapid assessments and developing initial response plans.
Localization and Partnership:
In collaboration with the Localization and Partnership Manager:
- Provide ongoing support to partners, ensuring their preparedness for emergencies and supporting effective implementation of humanitarian programmes
- Conduct proactive assessments to identify and maintain a pool of qualified local partners to support SCI’s humanitarian response operations across the country, in coordination with Area Managers.
- Support in the completion of partner assessments and work closely with partners on development of proposals and budgets for their sub-award agreements.
- Programme Development and Resource Mobilisation:
- Collaborate with the Area Managers and PDQ team to assess needs, identify gaps in humanitarian services, support fundraising efforts, and contribute to the development of high-quality concept notes, proposals, and budgets.
- Ensure completion of high-quality donor reports for delegated emergency response projects with the support from relevant staff members in accordance with compliance requirements.
- Under the guidance of the DPO, oversee, track and monitor Save the Children’s internal emergency response flexible funding (the Humanitarian Fund) and lead the development of requests for new allocations of flexible funding.
Team Management and Capacity Building
- Lead, manage and motivate staff under direct and indirect line management, ensuring that they have clear objectives and receive meaningful feedback on their performances.
General
- Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant subject or equivalent field experience
- Fluency in written and spoken English and computer literate.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
- 5-7 years of progressive experience of humanitarian/emergency programming; with significant experience in project/programme implementation, monitoring, review and evaluation.
- Significant knowledge of international humanitarian systems, institutions and donors, and of procedures, accountability frameworks and best practices in emergency management.
- A strategic thinker with ability to analyse information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically and a solid understanding of the Lebanon context.
- Solid understanding of at least two of SC Lebanon’s humanitarian programming areas – education, child protection, FSL, basic assistance, WASH, shelter and child rights governance.
- Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, with the ability to organise a substantial workload and remain detail-oriented while maintaining strategic oversight.
- Substantial programme management experience and a thorough understanding of all phases of Project Cycle Management; including budget development and donor reporting.
- Experience developing emergency preparedness and response plans.
- Understanding of MEAL frameworks.
- Ability to write clear and well-argued proposals and reports in English.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate at all levels, able to work within a matrix management structure.
- Representational, political awareness and advocacy skills.
- Experience of working with partners and a participatory approach.
- Previous experience of working in complex and volatile contexts.
- Ability to take initiative and work with limited supervision from line manager.
- Commitment to and understanding of SCI’s aims, values and principles.
Desirable
- Previous leadership experience in the first phase of an emergency response
- Experience and skills in training and capacity building
- Qualification or training in humanitarian response
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
Safeguarding our Staff:
The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.
