Programmes & Portfolio Manager – CRLM

About Us

Choose Love supports refugees and forcibly displaced people worldwide, ensuring they have what they need when they need it. Our support ranges from lifesaving search-and-rescue boats to hot, nutritious food, clothing, and legal advice. We’re a small, agile, ambitious team driven by our vision of a world where everyone chooses love and justice every day.

The Collective for Refugee Leadership in the Middle East and North Africa (CRLM) works to build a refugee-led ecosystem in the Middle East and North Africa. The aim is to shift power to refugees and mobilise complementary resources to strengthen refugee-led organisations (RLOs) across MENA to advance the rights, well-being, and security of refugees and their communities.

Role Purpose

This role will report to the Programmes Head, MENA Region. The primary focus of the role is to support the coordination and management of the CRLM programme, which includes oversight of the grant portfolio and partnerships, the provision of efficient and flexible support to CRLM partners throughout the grant cycle, coordination with donors and prospective funders, monitoring of contextual developments affecting the refugee communities in Lebanon, and supporting the coordination and governance of the CRLM collective.

This role will also support our wider portfolio and grant management within the MENA region, as required.

Core Responsibilities

Primary Responsibility of Role: CRLM Management and Coordination (85%)

Grant-making and Partner Engagement of CRLM partner grants

Grant-making

To deliver quality grant-making and grant management across the CRLM grant cycle in support of CRLM partners, from: To kick off and complete the new phase of the CRLM grant-making process and the transfer of funds to partners in 2027, To conduct a timely and thorough review of partner reports, including those from previous phases To maintain an accurate financial overview of CRLM grants. Key tasks include: Support the initiation of and completion of the grant-making process in 2027, including the effective transfer of funds to CRLM partners Lead the first review of due diligence information (as per Choose Love’s Due Diligence framework) provided by partners and ensure minimum standards are met, or key gaps or risks are identified Ensure any grant amendments or addendums have correct and accurate information and that the correct processes are adhered to; Collaborate with relevant focal points including Risk and Assurance and Safeguarding teams to ensure compliance standards are met in all documentation, as well as due diligence reviews of new and existing partners Lead on the effective close-out of all grants and capture any lessons learnt To keep fully up to date on existing and new grant management systems used by Choose Love as they develop, including a new reporting platform on Airtable Support the timely submission and in-depth review of partner reports from previous phases, including seeking clarification or providing feedback where required, reviewing reporting data and financial information for accuracy and ensuring compliance with any grant conditions to close out grants. Escalate any serious incidents or safeguarding concerns reported by partners in accordance with organisational procedures Maintain an accurate financial overview of CRLM grants through the CRLM financial management system To keep fully up to date on existing and new grant management systems used by Choose Love as they develop, including a new reporting platform on Airtable Thorough review of reporting received from partners (quarterly, interim and end of grant reports) to assess implementation of grants (including financial reconciliation), ensure compliance with any grant conditions and to close out grants in line with the standard closeout checklist.

Partner Engagement

Sustain ongoing partner engagement throughout the grant cycle, including monitoring of progress, impact, challenges, risks, and contextual developments, and lead on regular partner interaction through calls and site visits Provide partner capacity-strengthening support where appropriate and needed, including through the proactive sharing of relevant knowledge, tools, resources, good practice, and technical guidance Identify and share funding opportunities, training programmes, peer-learning initiatives, and professional development opportunities that may enhance partners’ organisational and programmatic capacities Ensure that formal and informal partner conversations, meetings, and check-ins are appropriately documented to support continuity and institutional knowledge Subject to context, security, and risk assessment, undertake field visits to support partner engagement and monitoring activities, where agreed as part of the work plan Use a networked approach to connect partners and build relationships, as and when is appropriate

Context Development and Needs Assessment

Act as the core focal point for the CRLM portfolio and partners, be up to speed on the latest developments and context analysis and be able to articulate this concisely to required audiences; feeding into internal and external situational overviews. Support the Programmes Head to conduct funding needs assessments and ongoing tracking of contextual developments; Lead on updating internal and external information sources (e.g rolling docs, programmes weekly snapshot) to inform wider audiences of key context updates and needs Write agendas for meetings, keep minutes and take down actions to share across appropriate team members

Impact and Communications

Contribute to CRLM impact reporting, drawing on partner impact reports, programme insights, contextual analysis, and updates on the refugee situation in Lebanon, with timing to be agreed with the Head of Development and Impact Disseminate information about CRLM partner activities and grants to the wider Choose Love team, including through presentations on team calls Capture information on specific contexts and summarise quickly and efficiently to the Communications team, as well as for external stakeholders Contribute to and review CRLM-related communications content, including social media content, to support ongoing awareness of CRLM activities and impact Conduct weekly social media monitoring of partners’ work and share relevant and engaging content with the communications team to support Choose Love’s storytelling approach; support partners with sharing guidance on content gathering; when appropriate, act as a Choose Love representative within our social media or in donor discussions to disseminate information Support the Donor Development and Impact Team with information needed for proposals and reports for donors Work closely with the Regional Head and Communications/Partnerships teams to succinctly capture information on specific contexts or partner highlights for social media and fundraising campaigns.

CRLM Coordination and Governance Support

Coordinate and facilitate quarterly general CRLM meetings during the contract period, including the preparation of agreed agendas and timely circulation of discussion notes Coordinate and facilitate ongoing Managing Committee meetings to support CRLM governance, including preparation of agreed agendas and timely circulation of discussion notes Review the wider CRLM work plan, proactively identify any revisions that may be required, facilitate discussion on proposed changes, and support confirmation and coordination of agreed next steps within the CRLM collective

Funding and Strategic Support

Contribute to prospective CRLM funder engagement discussions and funding proposals as required and agreed as part of the work plan Support discussion and clarification on the feasibility, scope, and timing of any proposed CRLM convening, where requested

Donor Coordination

Support coordination with CRLM donors and prospective funders, acting as a day-to-day point of contact on grant-related matters Help prepare donor updates and briefings, sharing timely information on partner progress, risks, and contextual developments Track donor reporting requirements and deadlines, and help ensure that donor communications are consistent and aligned with the wider CRLM work plan Contribute to coordination with other donors and funders supporting refugee-led and local organisations in Lebanon, to promote complementarity and reduce duplication

Secondary Responsibility of Role: Surge support to Grant-making and Partner Engagement of MENA partner grants

Grant Management

To deliver quality grant management across the project management cycle in support of the partners that we work with, from: Initial contact and thorough due diligence review and documentation in line with minimum standards To efficient grants processing, To maintain up-to-date records, track grant cycles, and manage reporting deadlines. To provide rapid and efficient support to grant-making during an emergency response Key tasks for MENA grants are as per the grant-making tasks outlined above.

Partner Engagement

Support in ongoing relationship management of new and existing partners and lead on regular partner interaction through calls and site visits Participate in partner calls and track key takeaways and action items to share internally Support on check-ins with existing, long-term partners Respond to ad hoc needs arising from partners – including clarification/support on the grant application process and support with reporting. Use a networked approach to connect partners and build relationships, as and when is appropriate Working with the Programme’s Head (MENA) to attend monitoring trips in Lebanon

Essential criteria;

Minimum 2-3 years of work experience in the humanitarian sector, including experience in managing programmes and coordination Fluent in both written and spoken Arabic and English Based in Lebanon, preferably Beirut Passionate, diligent and proactive, with excellent communication and relationship management skills and attention to details Previous experience in grant management with strong administrative skills Interested and engaged in the issues of forced migration and humanitarian response; knowledge of the needs of displaced communities Self-starter with proven ability to take direction and work independently, using initiative Ability and strong desire to work collaboratively Strong knowledge of Google Suite

Desirable Criteria;

Knowledge of civil society, refugee-led organisations (RLOs), and the local NGO ecosystem in Lebanon Experience or familiarity in compliance and due diligence processes, particularly in high-risk settings Experience representing an organisation and its interests to a diverse range of stakeholders, including funders and philanthropists Ability to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders in cross-cultural contexts

Application Process

Closing date for all applications is 13th November 2026 Interviews will take place in the week commencing 23rd November 2026

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to apply by sending their CV and a covering letter stating how they meet the role’s criteria to [email removed - click apply for more details] by 12 pm on 13th November 2026.

Pre-employment checks

Employment with Choose Love will be subject to the following checks prior to your start date:

a satisfactory Lebanese equivalent Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check receipt of two satisfactory references

Choose Love is committed to building an inclusive and diverse organisation and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We especially welcome applicants with lived experience and diverse backgrounds. If you need an adjustment or additional support while applying for a role, please email [email removed - click apply for more details] to discuss in more detail.

The above is a written statement of the job’s essential characteristics and principal accountabilities, including the skills, knowledge, and experience required for satisfactory performance. It is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.