Director of Programs - Yemen

Programs Aden, Yemen

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Description

ABOUT MERCY CORPS

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.
 

THE PROGRAM 

Mercy Corps seeks to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression around the world and has worked in the Middle East since the 1980s. In response to acute and increasing humanitarian needs in Yemen, Mercy Corps opened its office in Yemen in 2010. More than 22 million people are in need and reliance on humanitarian assistance continues to grow. Mercy Corps is focused on meeting urgent humanitarian needs across the country while building support for the recovery of economic market systems, resilience and social cohesion elements in its programming strategy. Strategies to enhance the resilience of communities to the harsh environmental and social conditions in the country cut across the portfolio. 
 

THE POSITION 

The Director of Programs (DoP) will provide overall leadership, technical oversight, management and strategic vision of the multi-sectoral portfolio that spans humanitarian and development programming while managing staff and resources to ensure that the program meets its targets and deliverables on- time, on-scope and within budget. The DoP will ensure high program quality while ensuring adherence to internal Mercy Corps policies and procedures as well as donor rules and regulations. The DoP will also have representation duties to donors, relevant government entities, other local and international NGOs, interagency coordination platforms and other external stakeholders. The DoP will ensure the different sectors are effectively coordinated in their planning and implementation of activities and allocation of resources including staff and vehicles. The DoP will supervise Program Managers, the Grants and Program Performance and Quality Teams across the country to ensure effective program implementation.
 
The DoP is part of the Senior Management Team and represents Mercy Corps at the highest level and will develop, articulate and deliver a strategic vision in line with the rapid evolution of the context and the strategic decisions made by the organization’s executive leadership.
 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

 
Strategy & Vision
 
  •  Follow analysis of the Yemen crisis and the impact of policy, political, and military changes on the context, ensuring that this analysis is recognized and incorporated in planning for both short-term humanitarian and longer-term recovery and resilience programming;
  •  Contribute to countrywide strategy development and prioritize and organize actions and resources to achieve objectives set through those processes;
  •  Provide leadership in the development of a coherent strategy for the implementation of the multi-sector program activities: humanitarian, early recovery and resilience. Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve program objectives and contribute to the delivery and development of the countrywide Resilience Strategy, in line with both the evolving contextual needs and MC Global Strategy and Vision for 2030
  •  Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed and considered;
  •  Ensure that Mercy Corps strategy is developed as a collaborative process with MCY team, well communicated and guides decision-making.
                         
Program Performance and Quality
 
  •  Communicate a clear vision of program goals and strategies to program team members and stakeholders, translating into concrete work plans;
  •  Provide leadership to increase coordination, collaboration, communication and harmonization of Mercy Corps programming and operations in Yemen, ensuring adherence to the highest technical program standards;
  •  Building a supportive and accountable pathway for Program Managers to fully be responsible for meeting PM@MC standards with minimal oversight from the DoP;
  •  Liaise with the regional and global teams, including regular updates with the Deputy Regional Director for Programs and regional heads of TRAQ and evidence and learning units to ensure MC Yemen remains on track with regional and global objectives and gets the required support to maintain program performance and quality at the country level;
  •  Support the PaQ Team in ensuring the planning and proactive implementation of high-quality data collection (assessments, evaluations etc…) along with the development and implementation of a learning agenda across programs;
  •  Build consensus around a common vision of what shared success looks like, including developing and tracking appropriate indicators;
  •  Ensure programs meet donor and internal obligations on scope, time, and budget, including efficient coordination of program, operational, and financial issues;
  •  Engage program leadership in ongoing context analysis that enables programs and teams to adapt to significant changes in the geopolitical/conflict environment;
  •  Create and maintain systems to ensure efficient and transparent capture of program data for management decision-making and timely and informative internal and external reporting;
  •  Oversee the establishment of systems, policies, and approaches necessary to ensure and demonstrate the quality of programs and ensure technical coherence and promote creative programming across the portfolio;
  •  Ensure that all the program staff have received training in line with their level of responsibility and receive technical support relevant to their programs;
  •  Ensure all program management minimum standards are met (including risk management, and issues management) in line with PM@MC 2.0, and with different sectors;
  •  Coordinate all program units for the timely preparation of quality internal and external reports that flag contractual challenges where necessary.
 
Strategic Business Development
 
  •  Track and review new program development opportunities and identify opportunities that match Mercy Corps’ strategic interests in Yemen on a coordinated and timely basis;
  •  Ensure each opportunity is fully staffed with a lead writer, coordinator, technical advisor and other required positions, proactively taking on these roles as required;
  •  Coordinate with partner organizations and field program staff on proposal development and design, including gathering information for concepts and proposals and serving as primary drafter/editor of proposals and needs assessments;
  •  Apply the agency’s best practices in donor cultivation, pre-positioning, and proposal development efforts for institutional donors.
 
Team Management
 
  •  Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence;
  •  Promote accountability, and ownership, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews;
  •  Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary;
  •  Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes;
  •  Create a work atmosphere of mutual respect conducive to professional growth and development of excellent personnel at all levels;
  •  Implement, and ensure all staff members are effectively using, the performance planning and management system, establishing performance expectations and regularly providing constructive feedback to their direct reports;
 
Finance and Compliance Management
 
  •  Recognize the high level of donor scrutiny in Yemen programming and ensure continuing effective, transparent and responsive compliance mechanisms are in place;
  •  Maintain oversight of overall program budgets ensuring appropriate allocation of resources to meet program objectives;
  •  Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations;
  •  Ensure all internal control procedures are adhered to and that necessary measures are put in place to ensure high standards of accountability and compliance;
  •  Create and maintain systems for regular review and implementation of corrective measures based on regular budget variance analysis in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies.
 
Influence and Representation
 
  •  Represent Mercy Corps programs with external stakeholders;
  •  Work with formal and informal governance structures and representatives, maintain and develop relevant and productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders;
  •  Maintain productive relationships with internal and external constituents such as private sector partners, local NGOs, civil society organizations, and academic institutions;
  •  Participate in shaping policy positions and advocacy messages pertaining to the overall humanitarian situation in Yemen.
 
Security
 
  •  Maintain oversight of access provisions to ensure Mercy Corps’ continued ability to access our most vulnerable and hard-to-reach participants;
  •  Coordinate with the CD on crucial events, high-risk periods, incident reporting and any security policy changes;
  •  Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies;
  •  Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies;
 
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
All program teams including: Program Managers and technical teams, Grants Department, Program Performance and Quality Department (inclusive of MEL and CARM).
 

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports Directly To: Country Director
Works Directly With: Senior Management Team including HR, Operation and Finance team members and Regional and HQ Program Teams and Technical Support Unit.
 

ACCOUNTABILITY TO PARTICIPANTS AND STAKEHOLDERS

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, and other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION & TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

Posted as an open recruitment for Yemeni and other nationalities – Qualified Yemeni candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
 
  •  MA/S or equivalent in relevant field;
  •  At least 5 years experience in a management role including in humanitarian settings;
  •  Experience in the Middle East preferred;
  •  Experience managing a portfolio of both humanitarian and development programs across diverse sectors, including MPCA, food security, nutrition, WASH, Market System Development, Social Cohesion, Peacebuilding and Good Governance, among others;
  •  Proven experience building up the capacity of national team members to be fully accountable Program or Portfolio Managers;
  •  Excellent oral and written English skills are required; proficiency in Arabic is a plus;
  •  Proficiency with MS Office software required (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint);
  •  Strong management, mentorship and leadership skills with a proven ability to build the capacity of program teams;
  •  Strong verbal and written communication skills with exceptional ability to articulate technical issues with colleagues at different capacity levels;
  •  Understands donor regulations and compliance (USAID, BHA, ECHO, EU, FCDO, UN, etc.);
  •  Ability to work under high pressure with multiple deadlines in a challenging, hardship location;
  •  Excellent representation abilities with proven experience interacting with authorities, donors and other partners to advance strategic objectives;
  •  Strong program management skills, promoting innovation, collaborating effectively across sectors and departments and adopting a solution-oriented attitude at all times;
  • Ability to adapt and work effectively in a multi-cultural context and remain culturally sensitive and appropriate at all times.
 

SUCCESS FACTORS

A successful Director of Programs will combine exceptional leadership and management skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships while being able to be hands-on and very operational. They will be able to develop, implement and manage a large, multi-sector program. They will have the ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel and experience in building and/or strengthening the capacity of individual staff and teams. The DoP will have a demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of adaptive management whenever deemed compliant and necessary. The successful candidate will have outstanding communication skills, a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability and will thrive in evolving and challenging environments to make effective communication and decision a priority in all situations.
 

LIVING CONDITIONS / ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Yemen is an unaccompanied duty station. When in Yemen, regular travels to field offices are expected. The position is eligible for hardship and R&R breaks. Housing is in group housing. Security conditions in the country are volatile, with a range of violence and insecurity, requiring close monitoring and vigilance. Conflict and corruption have also badly damaged the country's infrastructure. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other, though the road network is good, the security situation often precludes travel by road. There is a landline telephone system, a relatively reliable cellular phone system and internet is available in the residences and offices. Candidates must be able to work in an environment with energy, transportation, and communication challenges. 
  
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours and as such staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

 

ONGOING LEARNING

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.
 

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

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