Head of Programmes – Lebanon and Syria

Trócaire is a social justice organisation working in partnership with local organisations and communities to tackle the root causes of poverty, injustice and violence. We support people to use their own power to create positive and lasting change. Trócaire works in up to 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

We have 5 Goals: Defend Human Rights; Achieve Climate & Environmental Justice; Ensure Women & Girls’ Protection, Voice & Influence; and Mobilise the Public on the island of Ireland to achieve Global Justice. This is an exciting time in the history of the organisation as we deliver our new strategic plan 2021-2025.

Since 2013, Trócaire has responded to the Syrian humanitarian crisis, working remotely from Ireland and supporting local caritas and other partners in Syria and Lebanon. The Strategic Plan and programme has focused on the provision of humanitarian relief, protection and psychosocial support, and in strengthening livelihoods. Working with local partners, and realising the values of partnership, continue to be an important approach for the organisation. Trócaire established a presence in Beirut in early 2019 to facilitate and manage our ongoing response to the humanitarian crisis and a team of six staff is now in place. A new strategic plan was developed 2021, in line with the wider organisational strategic plan.

The Head of Programmes will lead in the development and management of Trócaire’s programming in Lebanon and Syria. As a member of the Country Management Team, they will contribute to the management of the country programme with specific responsibility for programme design, development, management, funding, integration, advocacy, accountability and impact.

For the candidate with the required experience and passion for the role, Trócaire offers a competitive package of salary and benefits.

Reporting to the Country Director, this is a Fixed Term Contract of 2 years and is based in Beirut but with frequent travel to programme locations. The position will directly manage the programme team (which is currently comprised by 2 Project Managers of which 1 is remote, 1 MEAL Manager, 1 Protection & Accountability Manager, 1 Programme Finance Manager). The Head of Programmes is also part of the Country Management Team, together with the Country Director and Finance and Administration Manager (FAM).

Safeguarding Programme Participants Policy: Trócaire is committed to safeguarding people within our programmes from exploitation and abuse and has specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct) which outlines the expected behaviour and the responsibility of all staff, consultants and other organisational representatives.
Any candidate offered a job with Trócaire will be expected to sign Trócaire’s Safeguarding Policies and Global Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. All offers of employment will be subject to pre-employment checks including satisfactory references and appropriate screening. Trócaire also participates in the InterAgency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and all employees will be subject to this as part of contract of employment.

Key Duties & Responsibilities
Programme Development
• Manage and develop the current programme which responds to the local context and contributes to a clear strategic country vision and theory of change in line with Trócaire’s new Strategic Plan 2021-2025 and the Trócaire Lebanon and Syria Country Strategic Plans.
• Ensure that Trócaire in Lebanon and Syria has a clearly identified niche and that our added value contributes to our partners’ work.
• Work with the Project Managers and partners in the design, development of high-quality programmes and projects in line with the country strategy and programme frameworks.
• Provide technical support to Project Managers and partners in the development of high-quality protection, basic assistance, and livelihoods projects, in line with organisational and global best practices.
• Support Project Managers to identify and establish new partnerships in line with Trócaire partnership approach and core values.
• Support the country team to raise institutional donor funds by coordinating with Business Development & Grants manage (BDGM) and advising on the development of good quality well designed funding proposals for submission to institutional donors. This will involve close liaison and joint working with institutional funding staff in Trócaire head office as well as the BDGM in Country.
• Provide technical support to the Project Managers and the Projection & Accountability Manager to ensure that the programmes are designed, implemented, monitored and evaluated within the Trócaire Programme Management and Accountability Framework (PMAG).
• Provide the necessary support to the country team to undertake analysis (contextual/gender/ power etc.) that informs appropriate programme strategies, location and target population.

Programme Management
• Support Project Managers, and lead where required, in the preparation of high-quality reports for submission to donors in a timely manner. This will involve close liaison and joint working with institutional funding staff in Trócaire head office as well as the BDGM in Country.
• Support Project Managers and partners in preparing contract amendment documentation for donors such as the EC, Irish Aid, and others, ensuring HQ and CD is aware of and has oversight of any contract amendments.
• Together with Project Managers, Programme Finance Manager (PFM) and BDGM, design and participate in grant inception meetings, grant review meetings, and grant close out meetings.
• Through a regular programme review process with the Programmes Team, ensure that programmes are on track and challenges are dealt with.
• Organise and maintain quarterly finance meetings together with Project Managers and finance colleagues to have oversight of programme budgets and to review and monitor expenditure of all programme partners in close coordination with the Finance and the BDGM.
• Organise and maintain regular team meetings with CD and Project Managers to have oversight of programme.
• Support the Project Managers and partners in delivering on our integration, women’s empowerment and accountability commitments.
• Support Protection and Accountability Manager (PAM) in delivering upon Trócaire’s safeguarding commitments at a country office and partner level.
• Ensure that all projects are being implemented within a clear M&E framework that includes regular monitoring by the Project Managers, supported by technical advice from the MEAL Manager.
• Monitor the standardised reporting system for all programme partners in Lebanon and Syria, in line with organisational policy and any institutional funding requirements.
• Support the delivery of high-quality Annual Programme Reviews that provide clear evidence of progress (or lack of) on an annual basis and that can be used for programme management, and ongoing learning and adaptation, as well as to highlight case studies for communication and advocacy.
• Promote evaluation methodologies that foster internalisation of learning, and where possible promote elements of peer review and evaluation including with partners.
• Take responsibility for Risk Management at a programme level, supporting programme and finance staff to analyse and respond to risk at project and programme levels and that programme level risks are captured and managed as part of a country risk management strategy.

Partner Relationships and Support
• Build strong working relationships with Trócaire’s partners and stakeholders (such as with other Caritas Internationalis Member Organisations).
• Ensure our partnership portfolio aligns with Trócaire’s organisational and country strategies through networking, scoping and transparent performance reviews.
• Ensure a proactive and strategic approach to the management of the Lebanon and Syria Partner Portfolio, developing a diverse portfolio of partners which can be adequately supported by Trócaire.
• Ensure that the Partnership Policy guides Trócaire’s engagement with partners in Lebanon and Syria and that all Programme staff are familiar with and implement the policy.
• Provide guidance to the Project Managers and the Finance staff, in managing their partnership portfolio including accountability, capacity development, financial management, programme monitoring and security management.
• Support Project Managers and PAM to develop Partner Capacity building for Partners. This should be developed using the Trócaire Partner Capacity Building Framework and should have a corresponding monitoring and review element for each partner.
• Ensure that Programme and Finance staff adopt a joint approach to partner support.

Human Resource Management
• Line manage programme team members in Beirut and remotely in Damascus in line with Trócaire’s performance management framework, ensuring that all are clear on the change to which they are contributing and on their roles and responsibilities.
• Implement an effective performance management system in line with organisational policy.
• Support, mentor, and coach the team members as part of their professional development and to help them to be highly effective in their work.
• Ensure close coordination of programme staff with finance colleagues and the BDGM in country on all aspects of partner financial management and grants management.
• Establish a team approach to programming, ensuring that programme staff work together to share learning and to exchange skills.
• Ensure regular team meetings for information exchange and strategic discussions as well as to facilitate rolling out of organisational programme processes and policies within the country team.
• Ensure that all programme staff complete an induction process that equips them to deliver on their role confidently and effectively.

Senior Management
• As a member of the country senior management team, support the Country Director, BDGM and Finance colleagues to develop annual country budgets and participate in regular budget reviews.
• Provide guidance to the programme team on risk identification and management and provide regular updates on risk management to the Country Management Team.
• Represent Trócaire at external meetings, events and networks to share learning and promote our programming in coordination with the CD.
• Along with BDGM and CD, contribute to the country funding strategy including targeting donors, developing communication material and managing donor relationships.
• Support the development and delivery of advocacy activities which address justice and accountability.
• Actively contribute to the Country Management Team.

Other Duties and Responsibilities
• The approval of various related processes, ensuring correct following of procedures and that supporting documentation is uploaded (key IT platforms include Agresso, Sales Force, Box).
• Fulfil other reasonable duties and responsibilities, as requested by the Country Director, including deputising for the Country Director when necessary or appropriate.