Chief of Party - Niger Resilience Food Security Activity

Position is contingent on new funding

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To create a better world, 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.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps began work in Niger in 2005 in response to the severe food crisis at that time.

Our programming has since expanded to include a focus on early recovery, food security, resilient

livelihoods, peace and good governance, financial inclusion, and youth economic opportunity, along with continued humanitarian response. Drawing on a skilled team of more than 135 colleagues, Mercy Corps has assisted more than one million vulnerable Nigeriens as well as Malian and Nigerian refugees over the years. We currently work in the regions of Niamey, Tahoua, Tillaberi, and Maradi, and implement cross-border programming with Mali and Burkina Faso.

Mercy Corps is seeking a qualified Chief of Party (CoP) to lead the implementation of an anticipated, five-year USAID Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) in Niger. The Activity will contribute to food and nutrition security for households and communities in vulnerable areas of Niger.

General Position Summary

The CoP will provide overall leadership, management, and strategic vision to the implementation of a multi-year USAID Resilience Food Security Activity. S/he will manage staff, resources, and partnerships to ensure that the Activity meets its targets and deliverables on-time and within budget. The CoP will supervise Activity staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps’ policies and donor rules and regulations. S/he will be the primary representative to donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers, and external stakeholders for this Activity.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

●        Provide leadership and strategic vision in all aspects of Activity implementation and management. Ensure that Activity implementation is responsive to communities and aligned with Mercy Corps’ principles, values and strategic plan. 

●        Outline and maintain a strategic plan for the implementation of program activities, including finalizing target areas/interventions, methods of operation, and means of evaluation.

Program Management

●        Oversee Activity start-up and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various country locations.

●        Lead the development of detailed implementation plans, flowing from annual strategic work-plans, and ensure program implementation is on time, target, and budget, using effective M&E systems and adaptive management principles to reach desired impacts.

●        Provide managerial and programmatic oversight to partners and sub-grantees.

●        Document processes and achievements to ensure impact and best practices are captured and disseminated. This will include the continual re-evaluation of program activities and information, with resulting Activity adjustments based on new insight and learning.

●        Create and follow effective stakeholder engagement plans, ensuring sound and proactive communications with Mercy Corps Niger, headquarters, USAID, Government of Niger authorities, partner organizations, and peer agencies.

●        Ensure integration of community approaches, gender, social inclusion, and capacity building into all activities, as appropriate.

Human Resources, Safeguarding and Diversity

●        Support Mercy Corps’ global and regional initiatives for human resources, including safeguarding and diversity, and talent development.

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

●        Oversee the recruitment, orientation, professional development, and ongoing training of staff to ensure they possess the skills and technical capacity necessary to ensure the successful implementation of activities.

●        Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.

Finance, Compliance & Risk Management

●        In collaboration with the Country Office’s operations and finance departments, ensure that the Activity’s financial management, procurement, administration, human resources, and logistics functions support effective implementation and are compliant with Mercy Corps policy.

●        Monitor adherence to the agreement with the donor, Mercy Corps’ policies and procedures, and relevant external rules and regulations, including those of the Government of Niger.

●        Collaborate with country leadership to support preparedness and response to major disruptive events.

Influence & Representation

●          Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO. and other relevant events, in close coordination with the Country Director and Director of Programs. 

●          Ensure close coordination and information sharing with consortium partners, sub-grantees, local government, and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.

●          Establish and maintain relationships with communities, partners and local government.

Security

●        Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members. 

●        Ensure that the Activity is implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

Supervisory Responsibility

Supervises national and international team members working on the Activity, and oversees partnerships with national and international organizations. The number of direct and indirect reports will be determined at a later stage.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Country Director

Works Directly With: Country Director; Director of Programs; Senior Director of Africa Resilience Programs; other Niger CoPs/ Program Directors; Activity team members; Country Office administration, finance, and operations teams; HQ Regional Program Team; HQ Technical Resources and Quality Unit; and international and national partner organizations.

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 projects.

Knowledge and Experience / Qualification and Transferable Skills

●        MA/S or equivalent experience in development studies, international relations, agriculture, nutrition, public health, business administration, or other relevant field.

●        At least seven years of relevant international development experience (or at least 10 years with a BA/S) with positions of progressively greater responsibility, with at least five years based in country programs.

●        At least five years in a senior management role is required with experience managing integrated, multi-sectoral programs of a similar size and scope in developing countries facing complex, volatile, and uncertain contexts.

●        Prior experience managing USAID development or resilience Activities involving Title II commodities and implementation by multiple sub-awardees.

●        Proven success serving in a leadership role for a program addressing issues related to food security, nutrition, resilience, agriculture, natural resource management, livelihoods, or similar, preferably in Niger.

●        Must demonstrate expertise in food, nutrition, and economic security (FNES).

●        Understand and demonstrate commitment to the importance of gender and youth dynamics in FNES programming.

●        Demonstrated experience in adaptive management and learning techniques is highly encouraged.

●        Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded programs, as well as diverse stakeholders, local organizations, and partners. 

●        Experience managing program implementation, financial reporting, reporting procedures and systems, and staff.

●        Demonstrated experience in recruiting and developing program staff.

●        Experience with U.S. Government, and specifically USAID, regulations preferred.

●        Prior humanitarian and/or development experience working in Niger or West Africa. Familiarity with Niger’s social, political, economic, and cultural landscape.

●        Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and French.

●        Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of Microsoft 365 (Office) applications.

Success Factors

The successful COP will combine exceptional management skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships. S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement, and manage innovative programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural teams and capacity building, individual staff development, and strong mentoring and interpersonal skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving, and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Living / Environmental Conditions

The Chief of Party will be based in Niamey with regular travel within Niger. Staff in Niamey have good access to essential services, such as medical care, electricity, and water. This position requires up to 40% travel by road or air to field locations, some with potential security considerations and/ or in climatically harsh conditions. The position is not accompanied but is eligible for R&R and hardship pay. This position requires obtaining medical clearance through the successful completion of a medical assessment by an external third party prior to deployment and following any medical evacuation, if applicable. If you are not medically cleared and Mercy Corps cannot reasonably accommodate a medical condition if required, you may not be able to deploy for/return to this position. This position requires for non-Nigerien, obtaining an entrance visa from the GoN before any deployment in country. 

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's 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.