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. Having established a team and significantly strengthened the programme, a key short-term priority now will be to access institutional funding in Lebanon and in Syria.
The position of Country Director provides an opportunity for an experienced, dynamic and innovative individual to lead the next phase of Trócaire’s response to the humanitarian crisis, with a focus on further growing the programme.
For the candidate with the required experience and passion for the role, Trócaire offers a competitive package of salary and benefits. (Note: The package on offer is unaccompanied.)
Reporting to Head of Portfolio (Fragile & Conflict Affected States), this is a fixed term contract type for two years and is based in Beirut, Lebanon. The incumbent will manage the Head of Programmes along with the Support Services & Finance Manager and the Business Development and Grants Manager.
Safeguarding Programme Participants
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
Strategic Leadership
· Provide strategic vision and direction for the country team and Trócaire’s response to the Syrian crisis.
· Create and maintain a shared vision among staff of Trócaire’s country and organisational objectives and their role in achieving these.
· Lead the rollout of the country strategy, in line with the new organisational strategic plan, and informed by needs, opportunities for resourcing and Trócaire’s added value.
· Maintain a strong and constructive relationship with Caritas Lebanon and Caritas Syria, and with other caritas member organisations present in the region.
· Lead on in-country networking and representation with government, donors, NGOs, INGOs and networks.
· Lead on advocacy at a regional level and support defining advocacy messages for use internationally.
Funding
· Ensure Trócaire is actively engaged in, and has visibility and profile, with relevant donors.
· Actively participate in relevant coordination networks and ensure they are appraised of Trócaire’s priorities.
· At a strategy level, ensure Trócaire’s programming can be resourced and programme direction is cognisant of donor priorities.
· Revise the Institutional Funding Strategy and Stakeholder engagement plans along with Business Development and Grant Manager.
· Ensure optimal cost recovery, based on sound systems for budgeting, monitoring, reporting and compliance.
· Lead on high level negotiations with donors and partners during contracting, monitoring and reporting.
· Support the Business Development and Grant Manager in identifying, targeting and managing all donor proposals and contracts, ensuring high quality and timely communication.
Programme Development and Management
· Support the programme staff to deliver high quality programming and partnerships in line with Trócaire’s country and strategic objectives, strategies and policies.**
· Ensure that Trócaire, and its partners, strengthen their humanitarian programming, security management and preparedness and response capacity.**
· Ensure that effective results based monitoring and evaluation systems are implemented in line with Trócaire’s policies, systems and guidelines.
· Provide leadership and foster collaboration with other actors (NGOs, INGOs, networks, donors, host government etc.) in order to increase networking and collaboration.
· Organise and maintain monthly team meetings together with all programme team members, and ensure an overview of programmes and partners.
· Organise a quarterly senior management meeting with partners to maintain relationships and discuss overall direction.
· Ensure that internal and external reporting is carried out in a timely manner, to a high standard and in line with agreed objectives and targets (including annual Programme Reviews and Results Monitoring Frameworks).
· Ensure the team fully engages with and complies with Trócaire’s cloud based Salesforce/Box software as the organisational platform for partner, project and grant management.
Human Resource Management
· Ensure that Trócaire attracts and retains high calibre staff by providing a sense of clear purpose to staff, development opportunities and competitive packages, in line with Trócaire’s policy and in coordination with the Human Resources Unit in Ireland.
· Ensure effective implementation of human resources policies and procedures at country level, in line with Trócaire’s global human resources policies, procedures and guidelines and with all local labour laws.
· Ensure consistent implementation of strong performance management systems throughout the country team, in line with organisational policy.
· Ensure that there are regular staff forums and meetings for discussion and coordination of strategic, operational and administrative initiatives.
· Support measures that address the wellbeing of staff and contribute to a positive working environment.
Safeguarding (prevention & response to exploitation and abuse) & Complaints Management
· Ensure that Trócaire’s commitment to safeguarding is delivered through policies and practices that support the prevention of abuse and exploitation and create opportunities to raise and respond to concerns as outlined in Trócaire’s policies.
· Oversee the application of Trócaire’s complaint handling mechanism and directly manage sensitive complaints (e.g. those relating to potential abuse or exploitation – the Country Director will be a member of Trócaire’s Safeguarding Case Management Team).
· Support the country team in communicating Trócaire’s commitment to safeguarding among partners and suppliers including grant agreements, capacity development and technical support.
Financial and Administrative Management
· Take responsibility for overall financial management in the country and ensure that there is optimal use of financial resources, managed in a transparent and accountable manner in line with Trócaire’s systems and procedures.
· Ensure that budgets are prepared, reviewed and monitored regularly and that resources are strategically allocated as appropriate on the basis of need and strategy.
· Ensure effective financial management systems, processes and controls are in place and are fully compliant with Trócaire’s operating standards and the relevant legal requirements in-country.
· Take responsibility for ensuring all staff are familiar with and comply with institutional processes and systems, e.g. Management of Information Systems, use of IT systems etc.
Audit and Corporate Governance Compliance
· Ensure compliance with all host government requirements in relation to regulation, taxation, labour law, auditing, fraud etc.
· Take responsibility for ensuring that internal and external audits are fulfilled in a timely and efficient manner, in line with Trócaire’s, host government and donor requirements.
· Ensure follow-up on recommendations arising out of audits of Trócaire’s, and its partners, operations and take appropriate actions where necessary.
· Ensure full compliance with Trócaire’s fraud policy and relevant donor and host government requirements.
· In coordination with the finance staff, maintain direct links with Trócaire’s globally based Internal Auditor team.
Security Management
· Take full responsibility for the management of security at country level.
· Maintain a security mind-set, while guarding against complacency and actively considering security as part of decision making process.
· Developing and enhancing relationships with key actors while ensuring ongoing engagement with the relevant national fora / UN agencies on security.
· Develop and manage in-country security plans and procedures and ensure that the country team adhere to all of Trócaire’s security policies and directives.
Representation, Communications and Advocacy:
· Represent Trócaire during engagements with the host government, local and international partners, the Church and its agencies, donors and other key strategic stakeholders.
· Increase awareness of Trócaire’s work among supporters and key stakeholders in Ireland, through the provision of communications material, facilitating internal and external visitors and carrying out media interviews upon request by the Communications Unit in Ireland.
· Lead the country team in contributing to the development and implementation of core communications, fundraising, development education and advocacy initiatives at global level.
· Any other duties as assigned by the Head of Portfolio.
Qualification
· Third level qualification in international development or related field of study.
· Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area, or significant experience beyond that outlined below.
Experience
· A minimum of five years’ experience in the management of development and humanitarian programmes of substantial scale.
· A minimum of three years’ experience in running a country office (administration, finance, human resources, security etc.).
· Demonstrable experience in attracting funding in a competitive market, and of managing large and complex donor contracts.
· In-depth understanding of programming in a partnership model, based on at least three years’ experience working in a partnership-based NGO.
· Sound and up to date knowledge of humanitarian and development concepts, methodologies and techniques, including results based management, rights based approach and participatory methodologies.
· Strong understanding of the context and ongoing humanitarian crisis. Previous experience of working in the region is desirable.
· Solid experience of managing teams in a multi-cultural environment and playing a leadership role in ensuring cohesiveness, inclusion and development of staff at all levels.
Skills
· Excellent leadership skills.
· Ability to motivate staff to align behind a shared vision and objectives.
· Demonstrated ability to think strategically and to develop and implement a clear country strategy in the context of an organisational strategy.
· Demonstrated ability to operate under pressure and in a volatile environment.
· Demonstrated ability to manage security in challenging environments.
· Ability to coach and help others develop in their professional lives.
· Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills and demonstrated ability in using these with internal stakeholders (Trócaire staff in different locations) and external stakeholders (partners, Church, donors, host government etc.).
· Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and financial systems on a significant scale, in development and humanitarian contexts.
· Demonstrated ability to meet corporate governance and accountability requirements of host governments, the organisation and donors.
· Highly organised, with excellent planning, prioritisation and problem-solving skills.
· Excellent verbal and written communications skills:
· Competent in Microsoft packages (Word, Excel);
· Fluency (written and spoken) in English.
This vacancy is archived.