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 / DEPARTMENT / TEAM

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 to 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 Market System Development (MSD) Project Manager (PM) will oversee the first pilot of MSD in Yemen for Mercy Corps. The pilot will take place between mid-November 2024 and March 31, 2025 – pending notification of funding. They will be responsible for all aspects of project management on a fast-paced project to test solar cold chain technology in the fisheries sector for small-scale traders, as well as design a Phase 2 multi-year MSD program. The MSD PM is responsible for ensuring all activities of the project are completed on-time, on-scope and on-budget at a high level of quality. The MSD PM will direct liaise with key stakeholders, such as financial service providers and government ministries to increase knowledge and buy-in for the MSD approach. The MSD PM will lead a small team supplemented by external MSD expert consultants.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

●        Provide effective leadership in the management of Mercy Corps’ MSD Pilot.

●        Responsible for ensuring the project meets targets, is on time, on scope and on budget. This responsibility includes collaborative work planning that keeps all team members accountable, ensuring accurate budget forecasting and analysis of monthly budget vs. actual reports, and proper procurement planning in collaboration with the Operations team.

●        Ensure project meets Program Management @ Mercy Corps (PM@MC) minimum standards.

●        Lead day-to-day donor communications on status of program activities.

●        Prepare high-quality project reports.

●        Ensure close collaboration with all departments to implement program activities on time and on budget, including close follow up and anticipation of procurement needs.

●        Ensure backstopping for all team members, including by managing a portion of the programs directly when needed, in particular market research, intelligence, assessments and feasibility studies; building private sector partnerships and engagement plans; liaising with labor market actors to find strategic leverage points for co-investment; and designing systemic interventions in response to root causes of market ineffectiveness.

TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

●        As the MSD technical lead at the organization, ensure assessment, design and implementation of MSD programming meets the standards of an MSD or Markets in Crisis approach.

●        Support MSD related fundraising initiatives as required.

●        Represent Mercy Corps in relevant clusters and working groups at the national and sub-national levels as required.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

●        Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

●        Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance discussions and strong performance management protocols.

●        Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary.

●        Train and mentor staff in MSD approaches to ensure successful program implementation.

●        Effectively manage MSD consultants to ensure the implementation of the project.

BUDGET MANAGEMENT

●        Lead the development of financial management tools and the monitoring of MSD budgets.

●        Cross-check detailed transactions and review budget versus actual (BVA) spending reports to determine status of program burn rates.

●        Work with the Senior Finance Coordinator to ensure spend-down plans and cash projections are developed and monitored.

●        Lead program input on any budget revisions or programmatic input for financial reports.

PROGRAM MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING

●        Work with the MEL team to ensure the finalization of the project-specific MEL plan and any relevant procedures with clear designation of roles and responsibilities between the Project and MEL teams.

●        Ensure MEL products are designed to serve the overall objective of showcasing results of the pilot to further advance advocacy for MSD in Yemen.

●        Ensure that robust monitoring and evaluation, quality data collection and analysis systems are in place, adhered to and used as a decision-making tool, in coordination with MEL team.

●        Ensure appropriate attention to program learning and integration of lessons learned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

MSD Project Team, MSD Consultants

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director of Programs

Works Directly With: Country Director, SMT, Program Managers, PAQ Coordinator, MEL Manager, and Regional and HQ 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, 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

●        MA/S or equivalent in international development, business management or other relevant field highly preferred;

●        3-5 years of field experience in MSD programming with a focus on thin markets; At least 2 years of experience in management roles;

●        Experience directly building partnerships with the private sector, preferably in the Middle East;

●        Experience managing teams in complex environments;

●        Strong strategic thinker with demonstrated capacity to translate concepts into action, with proven ability to be accountable for all components of the project;

●        Ability to think diversely from ensuring all aspects of a workplan are complete to talking strategic visioning with a donor partner;

●        Competent in building networks, strong problem-solving skills, and ability to influence with effective listening, persuasion, negotiation and other techniques;

●        Persuasive written and oral communication in English, including report writing; Arabic speaking and writing skills highly preferred.

●        Prior work experience in the Middle East highly desirable.

SUCCESS FACTORS

The successful candidate is expected to be a high performer in fast-paced MSD project cycle management, MEL, quality assurance and team and budget management. The PM will have a strong technical understanding of MSD in thin markets. They will have excellent writing and analytical skills. They will be able to meet deadlines with minimal effort. The PM will have an entrepreneurial attitude to figure out challenges as they come up in a way that fully engages the wider team. They will take energy from solving program implementation challenges. They will have a strong ethical center and a commitment to safeguarding. They will be an influencer, able to connect with diverse audiences from a young petty trader to a private sector employer to a high-ranking government official.

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. There is 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.

SAFEGUARDING & ETHICS

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.