Consortium Manager – NRC Lebanon

The Consortium

Natafa3al is a consortium project providing retention support programs for public school students. The project, funded by AFD, applies a community school framework that includes students, parents, community, teachers and school administration to provide the support needed for children to remain and complete their education. The project is implemented in 20 schools throughout the country by the consortium’s four members: Ana Aqra Association (AA), Amel Association (Amel), International Alert (IA) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). The consortium is hosted and led by NRC, which has been working in Lebanon since 2006.

Purpose of the Job

The Consortium Manager heads up the Consortia Management Unit (CMU) – the secretariat servicing the consortia; and reports to the Head of Programmes. This position is responsible for strategic advice on the management and direction of the consortia programme(s), the operational management and implementation of the project(s), including project implementation in terms of coordinating delivery and the inputs from consortium members.

The Consortia Manager will facilitate the strategic development of consortia programmes, responsible for forging strong relationships with and between consortium members, donor(s) and other relevant stakeholders, as well as ensuring compliance with donor contractual requirements, and NRC and/or Consortium internal procedures.

What you will do

• Under the guidance of the Consortium Board and reporting to the NRC Lebanon Head of Programmes, the Consortium Manager is responsible for the overall management and leadership of the project.
• Responsible for delivery of the Natafa3al’s objectives and accountability to consortium members and donors while overseeing the overall programmatic and financial performance of the consortium, including project planning and budget follow-up.
• Leads the coordination between Natafa3al’s members and partners and works closely on a day-to-day basis as well as reporting to the Board who oversee the strategic direction of the project, donor and Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE).
• Recruiting, hiring, and managing consortium-specific staff, consultants, and sub-contractors as needed to carry out activities.
• Represent Natafa3al with MEHE, donors, (I)NGOs, build relationships and actively participate in the coordination of the Lebanon response.
• Project proposal development (future phases/continuation) in collaboration with relevant consortium member staff and coordinate input for reporting to donors.
• Responsible for full grants and proposals management – accountable for compliance in relation to grant management and project cycle management processes.
• Responsible for quality control of donor applications and reports, for content and timeliness, incorporating technical inputs from the Consortium’s Technical Reference Groups to maintain a high level of project quality.
• Develop communication, dissemination and influencing plans and opportunities for Natafa3al learnings to inform advocacy initiatives and represent the consortium in external fora and coordination meetings with the aim of advancing the consortium objectives.

Professional competencies, skills & qualifications required;

• Bachelors Degree in a relevant field of study.
• Minimum 4 years’ senior project management position working in consortia, partnerships or equivalent structures, with responsibility for programming in a humanitarian/protracted crisis or development context.
• Demonstrable experience in communication, advocacy, influencing people and policy making, diplomacy and negotiation.
• Experience in organizational representation at national or international levels.
• Expertise in cash based assistance / programming and specific expertise in monitoring and evaluation, ideally in third party monitoring.
• Experience of working with AFD and other European donors.
• Knowledge of the context in Lebanon and experience working in complex and volatile contexts.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal. Knowledge of Arabic and French are advantages.
• Valid driver’s license.

Behavioural competencies

• Strategic thinking
• Initiating action and change
• Influencing
• Managing resources to optimise results
• Empowering and building trust
• Handling insecure environments

What We Offer

NRC is an equal opportunities employer and aims to have staffing diversity in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality and physical ability.

We offer an opportunity to match your career to a compelling cause and a chance to meet and work with people who are the best in their fields.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply and join our work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility: At NRC we think outside the box. We encourage ideas and give responsibility to all employees at all levels, to help solve the complex issues that we face. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take initiative.

We are also looking for people who share our values:

• To be dedicated in what we do;
• To be innovative with our solutions;
• To act as one unified and inclusive team;
• To be accountable to the donors that make our work possible; the people we exist to serve, and to each other… the members of our NRC family.

Additional Information:

Duty Station: Beirut, Lebanon (Note, this is not a family duty station)

Duration of contract: 24 months fixed term renewable, full-time, in accordance with local labour laws.

Grade 9 in NRC’s grading structure

Travel: Upto 25%

Reporting line: Head of Programmes – NRC Lebanon