Director of Programs - Africa various Locations

Programs Anywhere, United States

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Description

“This is call for roster applications for candidates that would like to work for Mercy Corps in the future leadership roles”

Position Description

Location: Where Mercy Corps operates in Africa
Position Status: Full-time, Exempt, Regular

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps’ operations in West & Central Africa region consist of 9 countries including Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Central African Republic. This is a region with programming that covers all of Mercy Corps’ strategic pillars including food security, economic opportunities, water security, and peace and good governance. Mercy Corps’ programs in West Africa are undergoing both momentous humanitarian crises and significant development challenges that offer the opportunity to empower people to survive through crises, build better lives and transform their communities for good.
Mercy Corps has to date built robust and diverse portfolios, including multi-country or cross-border programs, working to enable communities affected by poverty, resource scarcity and conflict - in particular youth, women, adolescents and marginalized communities - to be healthy, productive and to drive peace and development of their communities. To do this, we deliver integrated programming to strengthen resilience, market and governance systems, address the root causes of conflict, and equip vulnerable populations with the skills, opportunities and resources they need.  We work closely with the private sector, civil society and governance structures at local and national levels to facilitate change and ensure that opportunities are inclusive of all communities we serve.
                                               
General Position Summary
Mercy Corps is seeking bold and innovative leaders for our roster position of Director of Programs (DoP) for any of the countries in West and Central Africa.  The DoP is a senior member of Mercy Corps country office team responsible with developing new programs and managing diverse, innovative and high quality portfolio. He/she is responsible for overall program performance and quality, ensuring that teams are implementing high-impact programs, and are tracking progress toward specific objectives, indicators and milestones. Guided by the Mercy Corps Country and Global Strategy, the DoP identifies funding opportunities, leads or support positioning with donors, and works with his team to develop quality proposals that strategically connect programs into a cohesive country portfolio. The DoP supports program teams to effectively coordinate with operations, finance and human resources functions from inception to close out. The DoP promotes and integrates strong technical approaches into program development and delivery. The Director of Programs champions the Mercy Corps’ Cornerstones of Leadership to ensure that teams are driving transformational impact in country through groundbreaking innovations and influence in action strategies that positions Mercy Corps as the leader of change in Countries of operations and beyond. As such the Director of Programs is someone who is willing to think and go beyond borders to innovate and scale impact in the region.  

Essential Job Responsibilities

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES 
  • Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work 
  • Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members 
  • Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g. Integrity Hotline and other options.
Strategy and Vision
  • Support and contribute to the development and implementation of Mercy Corps Country strategy. Develop programs that aligns with the Mercy Corps country Strategy.
  • As a member of the country senior management team, contribute inputs to the Country Director on matters pertaining to strategy, planning, budgeting, programming and management.
  • Develop work plans and mobilize resources to achieve country strategy objectives.
  • Promote thought leadership by ensuring that program innovations and successes are tested, analyzed, documented, and effectively communicated internally and externally.
Program Management
  • Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ principles, values, program guidelines and quality standards.
  • Implement strong program strategies and quality, partnerships, and accountability in accordance with Mercy Corps and donor policies.
  • Ensure program implementation is on time, on scope and on budget, using effective Mercy Corps (and other standard) program quality tools to achieve the desired impact.
  • Ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources and timely, accurate and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
  • Develop partnership frameworks, partner agreements/Memorandum of Understandings, and oversee partner capacity building.
  • Coordinate with Mercy Corps teams and programs across the neighboring countries to implement cross-border and multi-country initiatives.
  • Responsible for donor reporting and communications and tracking of major grant milestones deliverables, cost share requirements, project burn rates and major procurements.
Team Management
  • Recruit, orient and lead team members as necessary. Foster a working atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of excellence at all levels.
  • Build a cohesive team spirit and culture among staff and delegate functions and responsibilities to them while ensuring achievement of program objectives.
  • Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on one meetings and performance reviews.
  • Maintain effective and positive internal communication with Mercy Corps staff in all field offices. Promote open and harmonious communication between departments, offices, and programs.
  • Connect teams to ideas, partners and resources to drive creative solutions for greater impact.
  • Fill in for the Country Director and for program leadership as needed and as requested.
Influence, Representation & Fundraising
  • Explore, evaluate and present innovative funding opportunities that support the country strategy.
  • Lead on fundraising opportunities, including developing partnerships and proposal writing.
  • Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with donors, government partners, consortium partners, sub-grantees, and other stakeholders.
  • In coordination with the Country Director, partake in representation role on specific coordination working groups or forums.
Finance and Compliance Management
  • Ensure compliance and transparent use of resources in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies.
  • Monitor adherence to grant agreements, Mercy Corps’ policies and procedures and other relevant regulations, including those of the Government of the country office.
  • Work closely with support functions in country, regional and headquarters to ensure highest compliance and program performance.
  • Work with Program Managers on proper budget management, including forecasting, procurement planning, burn rate analyses and program adaptations.
Security
  • Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
  • Proactively ensure the well-being of team members and ensure they are aware of policies to help manage insecure environments.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
  • Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility: Technical Leads/Area Managers, Program Managers, Team Leaders, Country MEL Manager, relevant advisors (TBD).

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Country Director.
 
Works Directly With: HQ and regional-based Program, Operations, Finance, Compliance, Fundraising and Technical Support Unit.

Knowledge and Experience

  • BA/S or higher in management, international development or other relevant field.
  • At least 10 years of programming experience, including at least five years in a senior management position.
  • Proven track record in successful business development, including positioning, proposal writing and program development.
  • Experience managing development and humanitarian programs as well as transitional programs in insecure areas affected by conflict.
  • Experience managing programs in relevant technical area(s) including food security, water security, economic opportunities, peacebuilding and good governance, natural resources management, climate change.
  • Strong understanding of private sector engagement in development programming and the use of a locally led/localization approach for sustainable development.
  • Strong understanding of conflict sensitive programming and gender and social inclusion mainstreaming.
  • Strong M&E skills in developing and executing effective and timely monitoring systems, both at the program- and country-level.
  • Conversant with major donor requirements and compliance especially USAID, FCDO, UN, EC and other institutional and foundation donors.
  • Strong management skills with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.
  • Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work both independently and cooperatively with team members.
  • Bilingual (French & English) language skills is highly preferred

Success Factors

The successful DoP will skillfully represent programmatic priorities of the agency to donors and partners while providing effective leadership to the Mercy Corps program team. S/he will have strong proposal writing skills as this role spends about half of the time fundraising. S/he has high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity building and will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. The role is a hands-on position and success will be determined by the level of direct engagement in program development, oversight of programs, fundraising and representing the agency to stakeholders including donors, governments and other agencies. The successful DoP is a versatile leader who takes an active role in program design and overarching strategy. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

 
The position would normally be based in country capital with travels to field offices and requires up to 30% travel to field locations. The location may be accompanied or unaccompanied based on security assessment and Mercy Corps relevant policies.
                                                           
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside 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. Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.
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, reach their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborate to do the best work of their lives. 
We recognize that diversity 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 based on 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 and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis. 
As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected])

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