Position: Country Head of Programmes Lebanon

Reporting to: Country Representative

Collaborating with: Head of Departments and Project Managers

Location: Beirut, with frequent field visits

Starting date: ASAP

Application deadline: 09/09/2025

Family Duty Station: YES

R&R: NO

Contract Type: Expatriate (International)

Working Context

WeWorld started operating in Lebanon in 2006 with a LRRD approach, supporting the reconstruction and development of the rural socio-economic fabric. Since 2012 and the onset of the Syrian crisis, WeWorld has provided humanitarian assistance in WASH, Shelter, Protection, and Basic Assistance to refugees living in the Governorates of Baalbek-Hermel and Akkar. To alleviate the stress on the host communities’ infrastructure and services and to prevent social tensions, WeWorld interventions compounded support to Lebanese institutions in their delivery of public services (education, waste collection, water services) to both the local and refugee communities. With the deterioration of the socio-economic situation in Lebanon, WeWorld increasingly focused on strengthening the population’s resilience, enhancing the communities’ capacity to find, within their fabric, the skills and resources necessary to grow in a self-sufficient manner adopting a Nexus approach.

WeWorld’s current interventions focus on:

• Promoting rural economic development, and livelihood opportunities, focusing on the most promising agricultural value chains, supporting Cooperatives, SMEs and local institutions, and adopting a holistic territorial approach
• Improving access to water resources and sector governance, contributing to the strengthening of the four regional Water Establishments and to the efficient organization of potable water services and irrigation
• Increasing social stability and resilience, improving the conditions of access to public education through the renovation of school buildings and the implementation of non-formal education activities
• Fostering protection of vulnerable populations, providing MPCA, vouchers and in-kind assistance (Food Distributions, Basic Assistance, etc.) to the most vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian households

Purpose of the Role

Under the direct supervision of the Country Representative, the Head of Programmes (HoP) is responsible for leading the implementation and strategic development of WeWorld’s programme portfolio in the country (or countries) of operation. The HoP ensures the quality, relevance, and impact of ongoing and future projects, aligned with WeWorld’s strategy and local contexts. This includes coordination with project teams, budget oversight, donor compliance, and effective programme monitoring.

The HoP supports strategic planning, leads the design of new interventions, fosters partnerships with stakeholders and institutional donors, and ensures harmonized approaches across sectors. In contexts involving consortia, the HoP may also coordinate multi-partner initiatives. The role also plays a critical part in institutional representation, human resources oversight, and learning and accountability processes.

Main Functions and Duties

1. Programme and Quality Management

• Provide leadership and oversight to ensure high-quality implementation of all programmes in line with WeWorld’s strategy and contextual needs.
• Supervise and support Project Managers, Grants and Programme Advisors, and technical staff in planning, monitoring, and reporting of activities and results.
• Ensure programme implementation complies with internal policies, donor regulations, national legislation, and international standards.
• Coordinate with the Finance Manager and Country Representative to oversee the financial management of the country programme portfolio.
• Ensure timely and quality preparation of internal and external reports, donor submissions, briefing notes, and other reporting requirements.
• Lead coordination and integration across programme sectors (e.g., education, protection, livelihoods, basic assistance, civil society).
• Lead the integration of cross-cutting themes such as gender, inclusion, climate resilience, and accountability.
• Directly manage or support project implementation in the absence of a dedicated Project Manager, based on needs and guidance from the Country Representative.
• Facilitate harmonization of tools, methodologies, procedures, and guidelines across projects.
• Ensure quality criteria and indicators are monitored and used for evidence-based decision-making.

2. Strategic Planning and Fundraising

• Collaborate with the Country Representative to define and implement the long-term country strategy.
• Identify and assess programming and funding opportunities aligned with country priorities and WeWorld’s global strategy.
• Lead and coordinate proposal development, engaging technical and support teams, and liaising with HQ technical coordinators and the regional unit.
• Ensure proposals are competitive, technically sound, and responsive to donor requirements and contextual realities.
• Promote synergies between humanitarian response and development programmes.

3. Representation and Institutional Relations

• Represent WeWorld in strategic fora, donor meetings, technical working groups, cluster coordination mechanisms, and consortia.
• Build and maintain relationships with institutional donors, UN agencies, INGOs, national and local authorities, and civil society actors
• Provide strategic input into communication and visibility activities, including documentation, lessons learned, and programme capitalization.

4. HR Management and Capacity Building

• Line manage programme and technical staff, ensuring performance objectives are set and regularly reviewed.
• Promote a supportive environment that encourages accountability, learning, and professional growth.
• Identify capacity-building needs and coordinate appropriate training for programme teams.
• Foster transparent, inclusive, and equitable recruitment and staff management in accordance with WeWorld policies and national labor laws.
• Ensure strong internal communication and collaboration across departments (e.g., MEAL, Admin, Logistics, HR).
• Promote staff well-being and uphold WeWorld’s values and standards of conduct, emphasizing diversity and inclusion.

5. MEAL and Accountability

• Oversee the design and implementation of MEAL systems across all projects.
• Ensure monitoring tools are in place and data is used to inform programme planning and decision-making.
• Coordinate with the MEAL Officer/Manager to support evaluations, learning, accountability mechanisms, and quality reporting.

The responsibilities outlined above are not exhaustive. The HoP may be required to perform additional duties as assigned by the Country Representative, particularly in line with the evolving needs of the country programme or in emergency response situations.