Head of Delegation – Lebanon

Position Start Date : September 1st, 2023

Duration : 24 months

Location : Beirut, Lebanon

Status : accompanied

Terre des hommes does not set closing dates for this position; recruitment is on-going until the position is filled

Tdh :

Terre des hommes (Tdh) is the leading Swiss organisation for children’s aid with Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. Since 1960, Tdh has helped build a better future for deprived children and their communities, making an impact with innovative and sustainable solutions. Active in around 40 countries, Tdh works with local and international partners to develop and implement field projects which improve the daily lives of over 4 million children and members of their communities, in the domains of health, protection and emergency relief. This engagement is financed by individual and institutional support, with administrative costs kept to a minimum.

Context :

Terre des hommes (Tdh) has operated in Lebanon since 1977. With a population of 6.8 million people, of which 1.2 million are refugees, Lebanon is a country with formidable challenges.

In recent years, the country has been affected by compounded crises—specifically, a political crisis coupled with an economic and financial crisis, followed by COVID-19 pandemic and the explosion at the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020.

The multiple ongoing economic, social and political crises plunged over 80% of the population in Lebanon into poverty, with Syrian and Palestinian refugees among the most affected. 91% of Syrian refugees live below the extreme poverty line and humanitarian assistance is their main income source.

The deterioration of the economy and devaluation of the local currency leads to families being unable to access basic services, such as transport, sanitation, education, and health. Limited access to health services increased the risks of spreading diseases suchas Covid-19 and, Cholera.

As a consequence, the child protection situation has deteriorated and negative coping mechanisms are increasing. Child marriage and violence against children increased during the last year, while Child labor became the most common child protection risk.

Responsibilities :

• Under the supervision of the Deputy to the Operations Manager, he/she ensures the proper functioning of operations at the national level; as such he/she represents the Foundation in the assignment country.
• He/She directs and supervises all activities connected to the Tdh projects in his/her assignment country in line with the SP (Strategic Plan) and strategic orientations.
• He/She represents Tdh (including legally) and promotes the entirety of its remit in the assignment country.
• He/She demonstrates ethical and exemplary leadership in order to maintain the Foundation’s good reputation and leads all the delegation’s collaborators in a shared vision in compliance with the Foundation’s strategic orientations. In collaboration with the programs and expertise, he/she develops the Strategic Plan of the Delegation’s operations in compliance with the general reference framework.
• He/She develops and guarantees the implementation of the Delegation’s Annual Operational Plans (AOPs) in compliance with the Strategic Plan and internal processes (budgetary management, HR and logistics management, quality and accountability).
• He/She guarantees the implementation of an operational risk-management system for the Delegation.
• He/She supervises and supports all staff attached to the Delegation.
• He/She ensures the Delegation’s internal and external communications.
• He/She feels accountable to the beneficiaries, collaborators and donors.
• He/She makes sure that his/her teams and partners have learned the security policies and the general code of conduct and comply with them at all times.
• He/She is responsible for the security of the Tdh teams under his/her responsibility and is in charge of the security rules and the contingency plans of the country or countries under his/her responsibility.
• Manages and assumes ultimate responsibility for the risks and access aspects of the mission.

Profile :

Education :

Master in relevant field or training / experience considered as equivalent

Experience & Competencies :

• At least 5 years previous experience of seniority in an NGO at a management position in the field (expatriation) and in a similar context.
• Successful track record of developing humanitarian strategies and securing high levels of funding from institutional donors (USAID, DFID, ECHO, EU, UN, etc.).
• Extensive project management experience (management, budgeting, grants management, planning, staff development and training skills) in emergency and or development context.
• Management experience (including management of large expatriate teams) and strong team leadership qualities.
• Knowledge on Child protection.
• Ability to work well and punctually under pressure,
• A commitment to excellence, attention to details,

Languages :

Excellent written and spoken English

Knowledge of French and/or Arabic an asset

IT know-how :

Full proficiency with Microsoft Office Environment.

Salary :

Expatriate contract under Swiss regulations between CHF 5’000.- and CHF 5’700.- Gross/month according to experience x 13 times, Vacancy: 25 days annual leaves local accommodation and transportation, Health insurance, accident and medical repatriation insurance, return flight.

Tdh Global Code of Conduct and Risk Management Policies :

• Fully complies with Tdh’s Global Code of Conduct and systematically reports any breach to the Code through the whistleblowing procedure: raises awareness within the Foundation on abuse and violence and the rights deriving therefrom, respecting the rights and dignity of children, members of the communities and our own Staff
• Commits to respecting Risk Management Policies including: Safeguarding Policies (Child Safeguarding Policy, Policy on the Protection against Sexual Exploitation and the Directive on Staff Misconduct at the Workplace), Safety and Security Policy and Anti-Fraud/Corruption and Prevention of the Financing of Criminal Activities Policies
• Commits to reducing the risk of abuse and harm by developing a culture of open and informed leadership within the organization and in our work with children and the communities in which we intervene in.

We offer an exciting and varied work, useful and meaningful, in a team that wants to make a difference for vulnerable children.

Are you interested? Do you want to face this challenge?