PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps has been operational in Liberia since 2002, most recently implementing programs in food security, peace building, and youth empowerment. As the Ebola epidemic has spread, challenges are occurring throughout the social and economic arenas, requiring new and dynamic approaches to help support affected Liberian communities as they defend against, deal with, and recover from the epidemic.
Mercy Corps initial strategy is to support efforts in food security, maintain livelihoods via supporting electronic payments for workers, and engage youth to promote healthy communities.
Mercy Corps is working with Liberian partner organizations to respond to the 2014 and 2015 Ebola Virus outbreak in Liberia. The focus of this work is to build local capacity to provide children with psychosocial support to help them recover from Ebola related trauma and deaths. Comfort for Kids (C4K) uses materials including workbooks, pamphlets, hand-outs and guided activities to support Liberian children's psychosocial recovery. Mercy Corps will work directly and through partner agencies to develop a cadre of master teachers to train teachers and caregivers working directly with Ebola affected children. These secondary training participants will develop knowledge and skills in program content and materials needed to carry out their roles within both programs.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Program Manager will be involved in every aspect of the program development, recruitment and operations of the Mercy Corps' youth psychosocial program. The program will deliver C4K basic training, conduct training of trainers and training of caregivers to create supportive community capacity and structures to address psychosocial issues (anxiety, loss, trauma, stigma, discrimination, etc.) among children in the Ebola affected areas of Liberia. C4K materials will be distributed through the partner organizations to teachers and those working directly with Ebola-affected children based on needs. Currently, a limited amount of psychosocial support is available to children and the psychosocial needs of children remains unmet.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Program Management
- Assist in finalization of Comfort for Kids program plan, with learning activity options.
- Assist in refinement of program materials for cultural appropriateness.
- Assist in refinement of Training of Trainers design for cultural appropriateness.
- Co-facilitate training of trainers.
- Manage program evaluation.
Team Management
- Assist in selection of trainers from Training of Training participants.
- Manage staff.
- Provide mentoring, monitoring and oversight to trainers.
Finance & Compliance Management
- Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
- Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
Representation
- Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
- Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
- Provide leadership in outreach to schools and other program sites, ensuring local support of the program.
Security
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
- Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
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 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: International and national staff and consultants
ACCOUNTABILITY
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Country Director
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Technical consultants, HQ staff, Field based Finance, Operations and M&E staff
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- 3-5 years' experience as a project manager. Experience working with children and families or experience managing psychosocial programs is preferred
- Management of staff, activities and budgets for programs over $500,000 USD.
- Experience with developing and implementing training programs.
- Experience evaluating psychosocial programs.
- Ability to read, speak and write in English
- Good networking and representational skills
- Experience managing a team of international and national staff
SUCCESS FACTORS:
The successful project manager will have a passion for improving the lives of children, a curiosity for improving program quality and dedication to seeing the project to its successful conclusion.
LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
The position will be based in Monrovia, and may require travel to outlying communities. Security is stable and the presence of US and UN military and police forces adds further security for cities and major transportation routes. While there are no current Ebola cases in Liberia at present, the country in general requires vigilance regarding health and sanitation and all employees need to follow established Mercy Corps health guidance. Monrovia is served by an international airport and has many hotels, restaurants and grocery stores. Health services are limited but functioning. Staff should expect some interruption of movement and ongoing curfews as the government manages the situation. Housing will either be at private residences as group housing, or at nearby hotels.
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.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=amFtYW5kYS41NTQ2Ni4zODMwQG1lcmN5Y29ycHMuYX...
