PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since August 2007, with a staff of around 200 people working in North Kivu, South Kivu, Province Orientale, and Kinshasa. Mercy Corps' national office is in Goma with sub-field offices in Katwe, Mweso, Butembo (North Kivu), and Bukavu (South Kivu). Current Mercy Corps activities focus on the provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in camps of internally displaced people, but also large-scale WASH infrastructure and service delivery development in urban centers. Mercy Corps also has Food Security, Economic Recovery/Development and Governance programs, with an increasing shift towards transitional and integrated development programming. The DRC team has a strong commitment to providing entrepreneurial and innovative solutions to development challenges, and is actively seeking and facilitating market-based solutions.
The Relief, Recovery and Resilience (3R) Division of Mercy Corps DRC responds to the emergency needs and contributes to building the resilience of conflict-affected populations to recurrent shocks. We primarily work with internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camp settings as well as hosting arrangements, returnees and people with specific needs. Our main sectors of intervention are Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Economic Recovery, Food Security and Livelihoods, and Non-Food Items (NFIs). We mainstream gender and protection integration across all our programs.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The 3R Senior Manager will work closely with the Country Director (CD), the Director of Programs and emergency/transition program teams to lead new program development, and ensure effective grants management and program coordination, monitoring and evaluation, quality assurance and accountability in close collaboration with the program managers and operations team. The position will be based in Goma, with regular travel to field locations in Eastern Congo. S/he will also help represent Mercy Corps program to donors, major stakeholders, relevant government authorities and other program partners such as the Clusters and other NGOs.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (specific to the humanitarian/transitional program portfolio):
Program Coordination and Grants Management
- Provide leadership in all aspects of program coordination to ensure consistent quality, including the incorporation of cross-cutting themes, lessons learned, best practices, and innovation;
- Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and aligned with Mercy Corps accountability principles, values and strategic roadmap and country strategy;
- Work with 3R Program Managers to enforce strong program management systems, monitor adherence to grant agreements and reporting requirements, Mercy Corps policies and procedures, including the Program Management Initiative, and relevant external rules and regulations;
- Produce dashboard performance reports for all reports in line with Mercy Corps DRC's Monthly Program Review Package requirements.
- Produce other reports as required by supervisor.
- Support Program Managers to oversee performance of partners, sub-grantees, and technical contractors;
- Conduct frequent field visits to all project sites for monitoring and quality control and assurance;
- Ensure that robust monitoring and evaluation systems are in place, adhered to and used as a decision-making tool, encouraging consistency across 3R programs.
- Provide leadership in program staff training and career development.
Program Development
- Lead the development and the implementation of the strategy of the 3R Division;
- Conduct analyses to determine humanitarian gaps and how Mercy Corps should position itself to best serve the needs of beneficiaries;
- Plan and lead assessments to identify innovative ways to implement the 3R strategy, improve institutional learning and increase initiatives for thought leadership;
- In coordination with the Country Director, the Director of Programs, Program Managers, Technical Advisors (including Design, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, and Gender) and other relevant personnel and counterparts, develop the 3R portfolio through reinforcing and/or developing donor relationships and strategic partnerships, identifying new initiatives and opportunities that respond to the needs identified in the 3R strategy and the country strategy.
Coordination and Representation
- Establish and maintain productive relationships with specific donors, national government authorities and cluster members (UN and NGO) in Goma/Kinshasa, in close coordination with the Country Director and the Director of Programs.
- Represent Mercy Corps at relevant coordination meetings in Goma (and occasionally in Kinshasa);
- Coordinate with other NGOs in the DRC to consolidate Mercy Corps' strategic niche and comparative advantages, while identifying strategic partnerships.
Program Support Operations
- Work closely with the Operations Director and Finance Director to ensure that operational and financial management systems are responsive to program needs and that 3R program staff are adhering to both donors and Mercy Corps procedures and regulations.
Security
- Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security management priorities.
Other Duties
- Other duties as assigned.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
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. A Mercy Corps team member should conduct him/herself professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
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.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: 3R Program Managers
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Director of Programs
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Department Heads, DRC country program, finance and operational staff; HQ Program Operations staff; Technical Support Unit
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- BA/S or equivalent in social science, management, international development or other relevant field. MA/S preferred.
- At least five years of overseas experience including at least 2 years in a senior role.
- Experience managing humanitarian relief and/or transitional programs in areas affected by conflict and insecurity.
- Previous experience working in francophone Africa.
- Proven track record in proposal writing and development.
- Experience managing programs in relevant technical area(s) including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Food Security, Economic Recovery, Environment, Livelihoods, Financial Services, and services for Internally Displaced Persons.
- Proven analytical skills and the ability to think strategically to direct a portfolio accordingly.
- Entrepreneurial spirit with the ability to identify issues and find solutions in a creative manner - solutions that may challenge conventional wisdom and involve market-based approaches.
- Strong M&E skills.
- Knowledge of major donor requirements and compliance issues.
- Strong management skills with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.
- Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
- Fluent written and oral communication in French and English.
- Solid knowledge of security protocols and ability to work effectively in an insecure environment.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
The successful 3R Senior Manager will have senior level experience in coordinating and managing programs in complex areas affected by conflict and insecurity. S/he will have exceptional program development and proposal writing skills, and an outstanding ability to design, implement and manage innovative programs that respond to current needs and reinforce the future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. S/he will have proven experience with cross-cultural teams, with strong leadership, communication and mentoring skills. Entrepreneurial, multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff 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. Patience, tenacity, diplomacy and a sense of humor will contribute to success.
LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
This is an accompanied post based in Goma. The position is entitled to individual housing in a shared compound, and is not eligible for hardship but is eligible for one R&R per year.
While conditions in the country are improving, and security is quite stable in Goma, there are still pockets of violence and insecurity. Mercy Corps' sub-offices experience variable levels of insecurity, with the situation closely monitored by UN peacekeepers. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. Mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is available in all Mercy Corps offices. Travel to field sites will be required where living conditions are clean and secure, but basic. There are a number of health services available with evacuation options for serious illnesses. There's reasonable access to most consumer goods, although they can be expensive.
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=dGNoYWJvdW5pLjIxMDIxLjM4MzBAbWVyY3ljb3Jwcy...
