Programme Manager MENA

Job location: Tunis (Tunisia) or Lebanon (for candidates with an existing right to work in Lebanon)

Start date: As soon as possible

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) is a worldwide organization of judges and lawyers united in affirming international law and rule of law principles that advance human rights. Its strategic goals for 2021-2025 are: (1) to develop, defend, and strengthen international institutions, instruments, and standards on rule of law and human rights; (2) to improve domestic implementation of, and compliance with, international law and standards; (3) to bolster the effectiveness and independence of judges and lawyers; and (4) to improve access to justice for all and accountability. With its Headquarters based in Geneva, Switzerland, ICJ has a presence in Africa, Latin America, Asia & the Pacific, Europe & Central Asia, and the Middle East.

To help ensure the successful implementation of the ICJ’s work in the MENA region, we are seeking a full time Programme Manager. The ideal candidate has worked for NGOs and is familiar with human rights and rule of law programming, preferably in the MENA region; has a background in grant management and operations, and is able to lead programme development efforts.

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Working under the supervision of the Director of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Programme, and in close co-operation with the MENA team and with ICJ headquarters’ financial and administrative staff, the Programme Manager will lead the effective planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of relevant Programme activities, and contribute to the development of human rights and rule of law projects in the MENA region.

The Programme Manager tasks and responsibilities will include :

• Monitor the implementation of project activities and ensure that project outputs are achieved in a timely manner;
• Develop and monitor implementation of project work plans, adjusting them as needed, and consolidating and processing results data;
• Manage administrative aspects of projects, including human resources, logistics, financial matters, organising conferences, meetings and similar events;
• Track donor requirements and ensure consistency and compliance with them;
• Ensure effective liaison with donors and respect of donors’ regulations and organizational policies and guidelines, including the usage of programme management tools so that project outputs are achieved in a timely manner;
• Anticipate donor reporting deadlines, coordinate inputs and contribute to drafting narrative reports, provide support developing financial reports and ensure consistency between narrative and financial reports;
• Lead on the development of fundraising proposals, working with legal advisors and finance officer, to ensure complete and coordinated narratives and budgets;
• Monitor programme budget spend and coordinate any budget adjustments or realignments, working with the finance officer.
• Liaise with the Finance team and implementation teams to ensure consistency between programmatic and financial information.
• Contribute to the implementation of activities (press statements, publications, missions, capacity building activities) and attending activities and meetings whenever required;
• Update ICJ grants in the central grant management tool (‘grant tracker’) in coordination with the DOT team.
• Liaise with, provide required information to, and support the negotiation of funding agreements / contracts with donors;
• Support the preparation for, organization of, and follow-up on fundraising trips, events and other donor cultivation activities.
• Contribute to represent the ICJ externally, including to governments, foundations, individual, and other potential supporters.

PROFILE

The successful candidate will have:

Education & Experience

• A degree in development, international relations, management, human rights or a related subject; further academic studies in management, international law or international relations and qualifications in project management desirable.
• Knowledge of legal and human rights issues, including international law, independence of the judiciary and access to justice is desirable.
• A minimum of 54 years’ experience in project management and administration, including project design, work plan development, implementation and monitoring, reporting and budgeting, ideally involving human rights, rule of law or justice sector-related projects;
• Experience in working on European, US and a range of complex, donor funded projects desirable.
• Knowledge of rule of law and human rights issues in the MENA region highly desirable.

Language skills

• Professional fluency in English. Knowledge of oral and written Arabic and/or French is an asset.

Essential Skills / other competencies

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint;
• Excellent project management skills and ability to develop and maintain a programme;
• Demonstrated analytical and writing ability including substantial report-writing experience as well as budget and log frame development;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as a part of a multi-cultural team;
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral): sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners and staff;
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and to adjust priorities flexibly in response to external events;
• Willingness to work from and travel in the region; and
• Demonstrated commitment to human rights and the rule of law.