This position is contingent upon donor approval.
PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps works almost exclusively in high-risk conflict and post-conflict environments. While we recognize that these are difficult places to operate, we believe that transitional environments - countries affected by civil wars, economic and political crisis, or natural disasters - also offer tremendous opportunities for positive change. We currently implement over 30 peacebuilding programs in some of the world's toughest places, including Iraq, Somalia, and Sudan. Our current work builds on an exceptionally strong historical foundation. Since the late 1990s, Mercy Corps has implemented over 95 peacebuilding programs in over 30 countries and regions, making Mercy Corps a true leader in the field.
MERCY CORPS CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC:
Mercy Corps has been operational in the Central African Republic since September 2007. With a focus on development and transitional programming, Mercy Corps is implementing water/sanitation, food security, livelihoods, civil society building, gender-based violence (GBV) and protection programs throughout the country. Programs focus on a range of interventions, including 1) access to justice and GBV prevention, 2) support livelihoods and economic recovery, and 3) build resilience and strengthening the protective environment for communities affected by violence. Since 2014, Mercy Corps has been implementing programming throughout CAR to support local communities to peacefully resolve conflicts, rebuild trust and solidarity between groups and create economic opportunities that contribute to social cohesion. In September 2015, Mercy Corps will join the CAR Elections Consortium (with other international NGO and national NGO partners) to support free and fair elections in CAR by improving citizen's access to information and participation in the electoral process. The program will promote the inclusion of marginalized groups, train community educators to raise awareness about the democratic process, and help existing community actors mitigate and resolve conflicts while enhancing social cohesion.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Program Manager (PM) will have overall responsibility for the achievement of the program's goals and objectives, based on lessons learned from Mercy Corps' experience in CAR as well as based on international best practices. The Program Manager (PM) will be responsible for ensuring that the program runs smoothly by providing overall leadership, management, supervision, and strategic vision for the implementation of the program, while managing staff and resources to ensure that the program meets its targets and deliverables on-time, within budget, and at a high level of quality. The PM will supervise key staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps policies and donor rules and regulations. The PM will play a key role in the development of relevant proposals, and he or she will provide input to the overall Mercy Corps country strategy in CAR.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Vision, Leadership and Strategy
- Collaborate with partners to develop a clear vision for the program, as well as a clear and effective strategy for program implementation and evaluation.
- Ensure that the Mercy Corps program strategy is clear and communicated to team members, local beneficiaries and partners.
- Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and aligned with Mercy Corps' principles and values (Vision for Change).
- Collaborate with other related Mercy Corps programs to create synergies wherever possible.
Program Implementation
- Provide leadership and oversight in all aspects of program implementation, management and evaluation.
- Provide technical leadership to the program in at least one of the following areas as it relates to conflict mitigation: security planning, protection/psychosocial programming, interfaith peacebuilding, economic development and/or natural resource development.
- Ensure adherence to Mercy Corps Program Management minimum standards.
- Monitor adherence to the donor grant agreement, as well as Mercy Corps' and donor's policies and procedures for procurement and compliance.
- Oversee program staff performance and quality of program implementation.
- Conduct frequent field visits to all program sites.
Team Management
- Create a work atmosphere that promotes professional development of personnel at all levels.
- Establish performance expectations and regularly provide constructive feedback to staff.
- Contribute to team-building efforts across the program and encourage the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
- Facilitate training and management of staff, particularly national team members.
Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation
- Establish and oversee effective program monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems for both internal and external use and ensure high quality input is obtained from team members.
- Use reporting results to monitor program success, measure impact, and calibrate program strategy accordingly.
- Ensure documentation of achievements and lessons learned to ensure best practices are captured and disseminated in quarterly and final program reports.
Representation and Coordination
- Liaise with local government officials including the government ministries, local NGOs, project partners, local religious leaders, and other community members to ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps projects in relevant geographic areas.
Fiscal, Compliance Management and Accountability
- Coordinate and manage overall program budget within approved spending levels and ensure compliance with all donor and Mercy Corps' rules and regulations.
- Ensure adherence to Mercy Corps policies as per internal/ external audit requirements.
- Ensure accurate and timely program financial reporting to donors and Mercy Corps' headquarters.
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: Entire program team composed of national assistant PM, M&E officer, community facilitators
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Deputy Country Director, CAR
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Consortium organizations, Mercy Corps' Finance Manager, Operations Manager, Program Managers, and other MC staff; local government and partner organizations.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- MA/S or equivalent in management, social sciences, international relations or other relevant field.
- Minimum 5 years' NGO experience in progressively responsible positions, including at least 2 years in a supervisory position.
- Demonstrated experience implementing civil society, election awareness or conflict management programs in insecure or transitional environments.
- Experience working on socio-economic programs (VSLAs, cash for work, cash transfers, livelihoods recovery, etc.) is a plus.
- Experience working in conflict-affected zones is essential.
- Strong listening, facilitation and consensus-building skills.
- Experience managing national and international staff.
- Knowledge of people-to-people peacebuilding programs and 'Do No Harm' principles.
- Familiarity and experience with USAID regulations preferred.
- Must be able to work independently while being a strong team player.
- Fluent English and French are required.
- Patience, flexibility and excellent diplomatic skills are critical.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
The successful candidate will have proven experience working to achieve ambitious program objectives in conflict-affected environments and emergency contexts. She will have the capacity to work productively as part of a complex team and will demonstrate the ability to set priorities, manage uncertainty, and lead others to work effectively in a fluid environment. She will demonstrate exceptional interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills and be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps. She will take initiative and contribute to team efforts, as well as demonstrate an ability to communicate, assume leadership, and make solid decisions while working in a fluid environment.
LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
This position is based in Bangui and is unaccompanied for spouses and/or children and includes hardship allowance and R&R benefits. Recent increases in violence around the capitol and areas to the north and west has led to a more fluid and less stable situation on the ground. Hospitals and access to quality health care are very limited. Malaria is prevalent. It is estimated that 7-8% of the population may be HIV positive. Suitable group housing is available, but electricity and clean water are sometimes sporadic.
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=dGNoYWJvdW5pLjIxNDE0LjM4MzBAbWVyY3ljb3Jwcy...
