*This role is pending funding**
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 has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on humanitarian assistance, economic development and conflict mitigation. With the ongoing insurgency in Northeast Nigeria causing the displacement of millions of individuals, Mercy Corps started its humanitarian response in 2014 to address the rising humanitarian needs. As the crisis has persisted, Mercy Corps’ strategy has also expanded to address the root causes of the conflict and seek to build the long term resilience of communities with integrated programs focusing on governance, the recovery of markets and livelihoods, social cohesion and social protection, youth empowerment, and local conflict management. With the financial assistance from OFDA and FFP, Mercy Corps currently implementing a multisector intervention focusing on emergency WASH, Shelters,
NFI, Cash and food to displaced populations and host communities in several LGAs in the northeast. All Mercy Corps interventions in Nigeria are implemented in a conflict, protection and gender sensitive manner.
General Position Summary
The Program Director – ADAPT will directly oversee the implementation of an anticipated award from USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs. S/he will manage humanitarian managers and coordinators, as well as work closely with Technical Advisors, providing strong leadership and ensuring proper coordination in order to operate effectively and deliver on the projects’ intended impact. S/he will help in program scale up or expansion by eliciting new funding, increasing visibility and communicating the impact of our programming to donors and partners.
The Program Director will serve as a strong resource for Mercy Corps Nigeria’s Humanitarian programming in the NE, represent the interests of the agency and partners, and ensures all parties are working effectively and efficiently. S/he should be well versed in the Northeast Nigerian context, detail oriented, and have excellent planning and strategic thinking and reporting skills. S/he will also be experienced in networking and donor representation. S/he will be an effective communicator with exceptional team building and coordination skills.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy and Design
● Manage and oversee the implementation of BHA ADAPT program targeting vulnerable populations in Northeast Nigeria, including high-level management of the grant to ensure the program is on time, scope and budget;
● Support the design and implementation of new emergency programs based on needs analysis, assessments and sectoral information;
● Proactively keep abreast of humanitarian issues and priorities in NE Nigeria and ensure Mercy Corps is well positioned and prepared to respond;
● Participate in Mercy Corps Nigeria’s strategic planning processes and ensure key humanitarian issues are prioritized;
● As necessary or required, represent Mercy Corps at key humanitarian meetings, attend coordination meetings and maintain regular contact and networking with relevant NGO, government of Nigeria, UN, multilateral and bilateral donors;
● Report on program progress, obstacles and recommendations as required and produce regular updates and success stories for dissemination to donors.
Technical Support
● Provide high level and management support to the ADAPT program team around food security, nutrition, cash as a modality and humanitarian best practices;
● Maintain awareness of important global humanitarian issues, gaps, and identify opportunities for innovative solutions to share with Mercy Corps Nigeria Senior Leadership;
● Work closely with the Technical Advisors (Cash, Nutrition, Shelter, Protection, and WASH) to plan and prioritize support and integration across programs;
● Guide team to ensure adherence to donor compliance and guidelines;
Program Quality
● Ensure all MC administration, logistical, human resources and financial procedures are followed in relation to implementation of ADAPT program;
● Identify opportunities to integrate and incorporate conflict prevention and peace building in to the ADAPT program
● Identify gender priorities and approaches to address program needs and share learnings among team and senior leadership
● Conduct regular site visits to ensure proper delivery of services;
● Assist with security monitoring to ensure MC staff, assets and partners are able to work securely;
● Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities, authorities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and vision;
● Oversee MEL initiatives for the program to ensure uptake of lessons learned and findings from assessments are considered by the team and integrated in to program strategy;
Team Management
● Support a cohesive team spirit and culture among staff and delegate functions and responsibilities to them while ensuring achievement of program objectives.
● Supervise, provide leadership, mentor and build the capacity of staff in program/project design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and management that creates a working atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of excellence at all levels.
● Train key Mercy Corps Nigeria staff in humanitarian principles and best practices and proactively identify staff for relevant humanitarian trainings;
● Facilitate synthesis of best practices and lessons learned and promote an overall culture of learning through systematic analysis and reflection on program data;
● Maintain effective and positive internal communication with Mercy Corps staff in all field offices, this includes ensuring open and harmonious communication all of the different departments, offices, and programs.
● Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
● Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
● Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.
Finance & Compliance Management
● Ensure compliance and transparent use of resources in compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.
Security
● Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
Organizational Learning
● As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
● Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward 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: Directly line-manage the Senior Program Manager, MEL Coordinator, and Field Program Coordinators for the ADAPT program. Indirectly supervise a team of sector coordinators, officers, and assistants.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Country Director (or Director of Programs)
Works Directly With: Technical Advisors, Deputy Country Director, Program Quality and Development Director, Field Managers, Operations and Finance.
Knowledge and Experience
● MA/S or equivalent in international development or a related field preferred;
● Minimum of seven years’ experience in management role in international development or humanitarian/early recovery programming;
● Comprehensive understanding of donors such as OFDA, FFP, protocols and emergency donor ways of working and funding mechanisms required;
● Previous experience in writing humanitarian response proposals and rapidly designing emergency response programs;
● Demonstrated success in programs related to emergency response required;
● Thorough understanding of the context and current environment in Nigeria essential;
● Proven managerial skills required;
● Demonstrated ability to function as a social entrepreneur and proven success with building, managing and leading a team of professionals and the ability to function as a team player among peers.
● Effective verbal and written communication, organizational, and prioritization skills are necessary.
● History of working effectively and respectfully with host country government, the private sector, and NGO partners in complex environments.
● Technical understanding or expertise in emergency WaSH, NFI, Shelter, Nutrition and cash modalities.
● Prior work experience in Africa strongly preferred; an ability to work comfortably, effectively and creatively within the cultural environment of Northeast Nigeria and areas of poor security required.
● Experience using systemic monitoring and gender/conflict sensitivity techniques and dynamism in working with multicultural team environment
Success Factors
The successful candidate will be a self-starter, multi-tasker, and able to work in ambiguous situations. S/he will be a tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures. S/he will be a team-player with positive attitude to problem solving and conflict resolution. The successful candidate will be focused on team-building and capacity-building of national staff, and will be able to apply creative solutions to program quality and team-building. S/he will also have the skill to engage, motivate and encourage staff to bring creative solutions to development issues, identify opportunities for increased impact, and pursue project objectives.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position will be based in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria and it requires frequent travel to other field locations in Borno State. Considering the frequent travel from/to different field locations, this position will require flexibility in terms of accommodation and logistics. Housing in the field will be in hotels or guesthouses where available. Security in the field locations require additional vigilance and accessibility will be reassessed continuously. Access to good medical services in the field is limited. Phone communication, internet, electricity and water is available but might be erratic.
The location is eligible for hardship and R&R benefits. Given the nature of the response, working hours require flexibility and working through weekends/evenings might be necessary.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on short term assignments. Team members 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.
Organizational Learning
As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
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
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 team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. 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. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct policies and are required to complete mandatory corresponding learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
Accountability to Participants
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
How to apply
https://jobs.jobvite.com/mercycorps/job/obaxefwQ
