Base Manager - Bekaa

Terre des hommes - Lausanne is seeking a qualified Base Manager based in Zahle.

Job description:

About Terre des hommes: Terre des hommes Foundation (Tdh) is the leading Swiss NGO focusing on child rights. It is active in more than 30 countries with development and emergency projects. Terre des hommes Lausanne (Tdh) opened its delegation in Lebanon in 1977. The main coordination office is in Beirut and there are 2 sub-offices, one in Tyre and one in Zahle. A new field office is being established in Saida while the Tyre office is currently closed due to the security situation. Tdh’s main programmatic pillars in Lebanon are Migration, Protection and Justice, and the emergency sectors include basic assistance, site management, protection, WaSH and – potentially – Health. Tdh and its local partners are currently responding in Southern Lebanon, Beirut and Mount Lebanon, and the Beqaa.

The Base Manager reports to the Country Director and is a key leadership position within the Lebanon Country Office, responsible for overseeing the efficient and effective operations of Tdh in the Eastern Governorates including emergency preparedness and response. The role involves managing staff, security risk management, ensuring compliance with regulations, representing Tdh to external stakeholders, coordinating with authorities, partners, communities and other stakeholders, and upholding Tdh’s values. The Base Manager will interface directly with the Senior Management Team, for risk management, operational planning, program strategy, reporting and budget management.

A professional sense of security, confidentiality, and proper representation is paramount. All Tdh employees will conduct their duties in respect of the Charter, Code of Conduct and Child Protection Policy. Terre des hommes expects that its staff’s professional conduct reflects proper behaviour in accordance with local culture and traditions and in the best interests of the organisation. Tdh intervenes without any affiliation for politics, race, religion or financial profit.

Main responsibilities:

1. Leadership and Management

• Provide overall leadership and guidance to the staff based in Beqaa and Baalbek, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.

• Set strategic goals, develop work plans, and monitor progress to ensure the achievement of organizational objectives.

• Leads and manages staff members, encouraging effective teamwork and providing supervision and guidance, provide feedback on performance evaluations, and support their professional development.

• Provide overall leadership and guidance to the staff based in Beqaa and Baalbek, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.

• Set strategic goals, develop work plans, and monitor progress to ensure the achievement of organizational objectives.

• Leads and manages staff members, encouraging effective teamwork and providing supervision and guidance, provide feedback on performance evaluations, and support their professional development.

2. Operations and Compliance

• Manage day-to-day office operations and key Program, Logistics, HR and Finance staff responsible for Bekaa and Baalbek/Hermel.

• Acts as the instrument of management and facilitation for programme activities

• Ensures a strong inter-departmental planning and coordination and a service-oriented, beneficiary-focused outlook.

• Follows and ensures respect of programmatic and project-level action plans; anticipates and flags areas of operational attention and facilitates timely corrective measures

• Ensure the implementation of Tdh-Lausanne policies and procedures for efficient workflow, cost-effective budget and timeline control, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and adherence to internal controls.

• Ensures HR policies and procedures are understood and respected, and supports recruitment and gap coverage processes.

3. Stakeholder Engagement and Representation

• Serve as the primary point of contact for external stakeholders, including government officials, partner organizations, donors, and the local community.

• Represent Tdh at meetings, conferences, and events, advocating for its mission and building strategic partnerships.

• Maintain effective communication and collaboration with internal stakeholders, including Project Managers and the Senior Management Team

• Networks with other NGOs and entities in the interest of information sharing and best practices.

4. Security

• Respects Tdh security procedures in Lebanon and verifies with the security and logistics department regarding readiness in adherence in the area of operation.

• Ensures, in coordination with the Senior Logs and Security Manager and with the support of the Country Director, that Tdh staff are aware of Tdh security procedures and follow them.

• Receives primary indications for security matters from the Security department and a variety of other sources (Inter-agency coordination, INGOs, staff, security focal points, beneficiaries) and shares relevant information with the rest of the team.

• Supports the review and updating of the Lebanon Security plan documents for Beqaa and Baalbek.

• Liaises with local authorities as required in relation to access, movement and project approvals, in coordination with the Security Officer.

5. Programme Strategy and planning

• Manages programming aspects of the operations in Beqaa and Baalbek in line with Tdh and donors’ standards.

• Contributes to the design of program strategies and objectives for improved service delivery and impact.

• Participates in the review and development of the strategy for Tdh in Lebanon.

6. Monitoring and Reporting

• In collaboration with the project managers, ensures daily monitoring of activities.

• In coordination with the Head of Program, monitors and evaluates monthly programme progress and makes recommendations.

• Facilitates evaluations and donor monitoring visits and integrates recommendations in planning.

• Produces a monthly report and submits to the Country Director, and tracks and reports on changes in situation and contextual trends.

Other:

• Agrees to comply with Tdh Code of Conduct and promotes Child Safeguarding policy

• Reports serious cases of abuse on children that she/he would be aware of in Tdh’s intervention locations. Strict confidentiality must be respected.

• Adhere to and enforce current administrative regulations and procedures..

Profile:

This function requires the mastery of Personal, Social and Leadership Competencies (PSLC), Technical and Methodological Competencies (TMC) and Management and Strategic Competencies (MSC). In particular:

o Extensive experience in staff/team management

o Excellent writing, reporting, communication and negotiation skills in English

o At least 4 years’ experience in a similar position/high management position in the field

o Work experience in conflict affected areas

o Significant knowledge and experience in logistics, admin and finance

o Significant knowledge of international humanitarian response and donors

o Advanced IT skills

o Ability to work in an intercultural environment

o Flexibility

o Responsive, motivated, good communication skills

o Ability to work under pressure