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.

The Program / Department / Team (Program / Department Summary)

Mercy Corps is present in the DRC since August 2007 with a current workforce of more than 300 national and expatriate employees and operational presence in Goma and Beni (North Kivu Province), in Bunia (Ituri Province), and in Tshikapa, Kalonda West and Ndjoko Punda (Kasai Province). As a leading NGO in DRC working with more than 40 partners in 2024, Mercy Corps reached 2.12 million people in North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri and Kasai with integrated programs that ensured equitable access to improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in humanitarian and development settings; supported a comprehensive, rapid response to ongoing humanitarian needs; promoted economic and livelihood development to strengthen food security and resilience; as well as institutional capacity strengthening and social cohesion to foster peace and good governance.

The Responsive Stabilisation Through Transition (RESET) programme is a three-year initiative that aims to strengthen peace and local stability funded by FCDO as part of its Programme for the Consolidation of Stability (PACS) in the DRC with complementary funding by the Government of Switzerland. RESET supports the stabilisation and reintegration of conflict-affected communities, aligned with national priorities and coordinated with other key stabilization actors. Mercy Corps leads a consortium with members IOM, Justice Plus, Action pour la Paix et Concorde (APC), CORACON and SOFEPADI, to implement the programme in the Ituri and North Kivu provinces of the DRC.

The Position (General Position Summary)

Working closely with the Team Leader and partners, the RESET Deputy Team Leader (DTL) will provide strategic, technical and operational management leadership of the programme and consortium to achieve its objectives and results in alignment with donor priorities and Mercy Corps’ Pathways to Possibility strategy. As the second most senior leader in the RESET programme team, the DTL will also support the Team Leader to represent the programme and the consortium to donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementing actors, and stakeholders.

Essential Responsibilities (Safeguarding Responsibilities are required for all roles)

PROGRAMME STRATEGY EXECUTION

●        Co-lead on setting and refining of the vision and strategy of the programme ensuring alignment with donor priorities, consortium objectives, and the evolving context in the DRC.

●        Mobilise technical and subject-matter / contextual expertise to inform strategy and develop evidence to support adaptations.

●        Continuously assess conflict risk associated with programme strategy and implementation and proactively design and implement mitigation measures guarding against unintended harm.

●        Develop and implement evidence-based adaptations of the programme strategy to respond to changes in the context and support needs of key actors.

●        Support programme sustainability and growth by contributing to research, concept development, and proposal design for new funding opportunities

PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

●        Coordinate integrated, participatory and context-driven programme work planning and reporting with consortium members ensuring timely and quality submissions to the donors with clear evidence of complementarity, adaptability and scalability of interventions.

●        Provide technical leadership on conflict sensitivity in every aspect and at every level of programme implementation based on proactive risk analysis and mitigation planning. Immediately address identified gaps and implement corrective measures to prevent conflict escalation and instability.

●        Establish and apply robust MEL and quality assurance systems to track progress, inform strategy adaptations, document promising practices and innovations, and ensure technical soundness, compliance with donor and Mercy Corps standards.

●        Ensure alignment with global best practice in stabilisation, peacebuilding, and governance programming with emphasis on transparent, inclusive and conflict-sensitive targeting, and on responsive community engagement and accountability mechanisms

●        Co-lead the operational coordination of programme activities working with support teams (procurement, logistics, safety and security, etc.) to deliver interventions efficiently while prioritising the safety and security of staff and partners.

●        Actively contribute to and participate in internal learning reviews, after-action reviews, and consortium-wide learning events to capture lessons that inform RESET’s ongoing and future interventions.

TEAM LEADERSHIP

●        Directly supervise the programme technical team and coordinate with the technical and operational focal persons of consortium partners, ensuring close follow-up on their contributions to programme objectives.

●        Strengthen the technical and managerial capacity of supervised staff and partner focal points, deepening their understanding of their roles, responsibilities, and expected contributions to the programme.

●        Provide team members with the information, tools, guidance, and resources needed to improve performance, achieve agreed objectives, and deliver high-quality results in their respective areas of work.

●        Promote accountability by setting clear expectations, conducting regular follow-up, and providing constructive feedback both informally and formally through periodic performance reviews.

●        Contribute to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and motivating work environment where team members and partners strive for excellence and consistently apply conflict sensitivity and Do No Harm principles.

RISK MANAGEMENT

●        Ensure, in collaboration with the Team Leader and partners, that robust risk management systems are in place across all components of the programme.

●        Contribute to preparedness and response to major disruptive events that could affect programme delivery.

●        Support the follow-up and implementation of recommendations from internal and external audits.

●        Work closely with Ethics and Compliance focal points to identify and analyse trends in risk and compliance and implement appropriate corrective measures.

SAFEGUARDING

●        Actively learn about safeguarding and integrate safeguarding principles into day-to-day work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.

●        Practice the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.

●        Encourage 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. 

Supervisory Responsibility

• Direct supervision of Area Program Coordinators (2), Grants and Partnerships Coordinator, Business Incubation Manager, and Senior GESI Officer.
• Matrixed management of partner technical and operations focal persons with consortium counterparts.

 Accountability

 Reports Directly To: RESET Programme Team Leader

 Director of Programmes

 Partner representatives in the consortium

Base managers in Beni and Bunia

Focal persons of local authorities and other stakeholders in intervention areas.

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

• Advanced degree or equivalent experience in conflict and security, peacebuilding, stabilisation and governance, development studies, international relations, conflict management, or other relevant fields related to stabilisation, conflict reduction, or prevention in conflict-affected contexts.
• Minimum of 8 years’ relevant development experience, including at least 3 years in senior roles in conflict resolution and stabilisation, with demonstrable ability in adaptive management of complex programmes in challenging contexts.
• At least 5 years in programme management roles in similar contexts. Experience with FCDO- funded stabilisation activities and managing consortia is highly desirable.
• At least 3 years in team management roles, with a demonstrated ability to build and foster an adaptive team culture and a proven track record of inspiring teams to achieve results.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and French. Fluency in a local language a plus.

Success Factors

The DTL is a seasoned programme and people manager with proven ability to lead with vision and inspire teams to excel. S/he is adept at stakeholder engagement and negotiating consensus and compromise with a strong commitment to fairness and transparency and decision-making. The DTL demonstrates high levels of political acumen and strategic thinking in the management of donor and stakeholder relations and acts with conflict-sensitivity at all levels of interaction. S/he is a highly organised planner and multi-tasker, a creative problem-solver, a skilled communicator, and a role model of Mercy Corps’ core behaviours and organisational principles.

 Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is an unaccompanied posting and will be based in Bunia (Ituri Province) with Beni (North Kivu Province) as a possibility for non-expatriate candidates. It requires up to 40% travel to program sites in Ituri and North Kivu, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Expatriate housing for this role will be in group accommodation (provided by Mercy Corps) with the necessary amenities and security arrangements.

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

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

  Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out different 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 and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. 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]).