Information Management (GIS) Project Manager - Lebanon

Role and Responsibilities

Develop, lead, monitor and evaluate the GIS project; effectively manage and report on projects with a focus on technology development, training and coordination with other implementing partners and external stakeholders. Represent Medair as lead agency for mapping in Lebanon, championing GIS best practice and innovation for Information Management (IM) in the sector. Manage and train staff in data collection / management, liaising with other stakeholders. Anticipate, plan, and contribute to the development of Medair’s IM capacity in Lebanon by working with other Medair teams.

Project Overview

Medair’s GIS project started in October 2012 to support the initial distribution work being done in Informal Settlements using ESRI GIS software. More recently IM tools such as ODK and LMMS (Last Mile Mobile Solution) were added to manage assessment and distribution data.  The GIS data was used to support Inter-Agency coordination, and as such Medair were asked to expand their project over more of the Bekaa Valley and to capacity building and oversee other implementing partners  carrying out the same GIS work over the whole of Lebanon using common tools and operating procedures tracking informal settlements. 

Medair

Medair is a humanitarian organisation inspired by Christian faith to relieve human suffering in some of the world’s most remote and devastated places. We bring relief and recovery to people in crisis, regardless of race, creed or nationality. As signatories of the Red Cross Code of Conduct, we believe that aid should be given to everyone who is in need, regardless of political, social or religious viewpoint. We save lives in emergencies and then stay to help people recover from crisis with dignity—working side by side with communities to leave a lasting impact. We provide a range of emergency relief and recovery services: health care and nutrition; safe water, sanitation, and hygiene; shelter and infrastructure.

Workplace         

Zahle, Lebanon. Take a look at Medair’s work in the Syria crisis.

Starting Date

As soon as possible

Initial Contract Details

Full time, 12 months

Key Activity Areas

GIS and IM Project Management

• Manage the assigned GIS and IM projects in order to meet the various project objectives within budget and within the allotted time frame and report promptly any operational concerns to line manager (e.g. projected failure to meet objectives, increased beneficiary needs, over / under spend on budget).

• Within the field of GIS, IM and Medair’s overall country strategy, develop a practical but challenging vision to collect, analyse and represent data linked to geographical references to better serve refugees and host community alike.

• Provide strong leadership of the assigned GIS project, working to ensure both short and long-term positive impacts and outcomes for the beneficiaries, coordinating bodies and other NGOs.

• Set clear objectives and indicators, and continuously monitor and supervise GIS and IM activities, evaluating progress through outputs and impacts, involving the GIS and IM team in analysis and taking appropriate action as needed to ensure continued progress.

• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of activities according to Medair, donor and other applicable timeframes and formats.

• Develop new proposals, linked to the assessed needs and gaps and the Medair country strategy, in conjunction with the relevant field managers and the HQ technical officer.

Staff Management

• Line-manage staff of the data information management team, including day-to-day management, development and training, appraisals, etc.

• Facilitate regular meetings to assist information sharing between project staff, to ensure all staff members are aware of project objectives and work plans.

• Provide coaching and technical supervision to staff in order to develop ownership and full responsibility for all activities. Assess the training needs of staff and ensure that appropriate training is conducted.

Partner Organisation Management

• Provide initial / refresher training for partner orgs. (INGO’s) using GIS in other regions of Lebanon.

• Facilitate opportunities for communication for GIS partners, including regular meetings and lessons learned feedback. Develop SOPs for GIS and IM processes. Monitor data received from partners.

Financial Management

• Manage the budget for the project(s) and ensure all expenses are according to budget and meet the Medair standards with regard to financial management, including accountability and good governance.

Communication and Coordination

• Champion GIS and IM best practice, representing Medair at local and national coordination levels in the IM sector (and possibly extend to regional) and to maintain Medair’s position as lead GIS agency in Lebanon for tracking informal settlements.

• Contribute to development and implementation of an appropriate and effective Information Management (IM) strategy within Medair.

• Coordinate with other Medair teams developing GIS and IM resources ensuring integration of solutions.

• Develop and maintain appropriate, regular, transparent and supportive communication structures with the assigned team, Medair in-country and HQ managers and advisors and other relevant stakeholders (e.g. beneficiaries, community leaders, local and national government officials, UN agencies and other NGOs), with the objective of ensuring good cooperation and partnerships.

• Participate in IM coordination meetings, Medair internal trainings, and other working groups or meetings, representing Medair and feeding back to the staff and project managers on relevant issues.

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in Information Management Technology related subject

Languages

• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written)

Experience / Competencies

• At least 2 years post-qualification professional experience

• Experience working in humanitarian emergency context and GIS data and programmes desirable

• Experience in GIS development, knowledge of the ESRI ArcGIS package, and experience of ODK (open data kit) or other data collection tools

• Experience in training / mentoring / coaching staff; aptitude for community mobilisation and capacity-building; data Management expertise; good numerical, report writing and administration skills

Medair Standard Working Requirements for the Field

• Experienced professionals in a relevant field; Overseas intercultural experience

• Committed Christians; commitment to the Medair values

• Strong working knowledge of English, spoken and written

• Working knowledge of French, spoken and written, for French-speaking field programmes

• Single or married (with no children under 18). If married, your spouse must also apply.

• Successful completion of Medair Relief & Recovery Orientation Course (ROC)

• Reflect the vision and values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, external contacts

• Able to live and work in a multicultural team under difficult conditions

• Strong character traits, including emotional stability, adaptability, ability to handle stress, cultural and gender sensitivity, honesty, and physically fit

Benefits

• A salary based upon the grade of the position and the experience of the position-holder

• Comprehensive briefing at our Swiss headquarters, as well as an in-country briefing

• Security training for those going to particularly insecure environments

• Accommodation, food, and transportation in-country

• Return flights to and from the country programme (one return flight for every year of service)

• Rest and recuperation (R&R) leave (including travel, accommodation, and food allowance)

• Annual leave; Death and disability allowance

• Contribution matching programme for retirement savings (for experienced relief workers)

• Additional contract benefit allowance for those who commit to longer contracts

• Comprehensive medical and emergency rescue insurance, with up to 60 days post- assignment coverage, including debriefing

Working Conditions

• Working and living conditions may be very different to that previously experienced and occasional insecurity may cause periods of restricted movement.

Application Process

• Follow this link: www.medair.org/work-with-us, check if you are an Experienced or New Relief Worker and that you fit our standard working criteria, then:

1. apply for this vacancy (or another position that matches your profile), or

2. apply for a Medair ROC (where we can try and match your competencies to our vacancy needs).

Please do not make multiple applications. We will not review email applications. Only English-language applications / CVs will be reviewed. Medair does not set closing / deadline dates for applications; recruitment is on-going until the position is filled.