Regional Project Officer

SPARK is looking for a Regional Project Officer for the implementation of various projects under our regional jobs and higher education programmes, supporting refugee women and youth in the MENA region as well as Syrian students living inside Syria. The main objectives of the projects are to support access to education and improve their economic inclusion through entrepreneurship, including start up support, technical advisory services to businesses including training, mentoring, and coaching and / or business plan development.

The Regional Project Officer (RPO) will be assigned to work under the supervision of Regional Programme Managers addressing educational and employment needs of students and youth living in Syria and its surrounding countries. Additionally, the RPO will support the implementation of regional projects in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq funded by the Islamic Development Bank. The RPO will also have a functional reporting line to the relevant country managers and support in the overall implementation of other projects as required.

We are looking for someone with a very hands-on and flexible approach who will be able to directly contribute to the timely delivery and implementation of our projects especially and who can bring proven experience with and interest in entrepreneurship and SME support. The Regional Project Officer will also support the liaison and communication with our Gulf donors.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

The responsibilities and tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Support the regional programme managers with the partnership management such as due diligence, contract signatures, drafting of addendums, activity, and budget follow up, inputs to results reports and project closure.
• Provide support on the regional implementation of, amongst others, the ISDB AN and ISDB-Tadamon projects in Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq, leading and supporting country-specific activities and components.
• Prepare related paperwork for the installments/payments to the partners
• the timely implementation of the project within the limitations of the project budget
• Provides inputs to the Regional Communication team on project activities ensuring that SPARK and back donors are visible;
• Ensure that all project documentation is up to date and stored in an effective and confidential way
• Work closely with other SPARK departments (such as Acquisition, ME, Finance and communication, etc.) to ensure
• Provide support on data collection and reporting
• Provide support with donor liaison and communication, including support in the preparation of Steering Committee meetings
• Provide translation and formal writing from Arabic into English and vice versa when needed during events, correspondence, meetings.
• Ensure the SIS and BTS are up to date
• Other tasks required.

Requirements and Skills

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in project implementation. Experience with regional projects is an asset.

· Proven experience or affiliation with jobs and/or entrepreneurship;

· Experience of working with affected populations, especially refugees and displaced populations considered an asset

· Flexible and hands-on attitude, and ability to work independently

· Demonstrated ability to work effectively in politicized and multi-cultural settings with a wide variety of stakeholders;

· Excellent interpersonal, communication, networking, and representation skills;

· Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic;

· Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally.

SPARK Offers

• A challenging and exciting position in an international environment;
• Remuneration based on experience and full-time contract (40h/per week)
• A dynamic working environment and a great team.

About SPARK

*SPARK offers access to higher (vocational) education and supports entrepreneurship development in fragile and conflict-affected states so that young, ambitious people can**lead their societies into stability and prosperity. Over the last 24 years, SPARK has built a* *strong record of accomplishment in over 25 states in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. In* *doing so, SPARK contributes to laying a foundation to rebuild conflict-affected regions, once* *the conflict is over. For example, SPARK is the largest university- and higher vocational* *scholarship provider for Syrian refugees and one of the largest providers of coaching, training* *and access to finance for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMES) in the MENA region.*

By collaborating with local organisations, SPARK builds local capacity to enable sustainability of its programmes. SPARK is a dynamic and growing, international not-for-profit development organisation with 100+ staff members, in more than 12 offices.