Senior Program Officer Job in Kenya

Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. 

Driven by local needs, our programs provide communities in the world’s toughest places with the tools and support they need to turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve. 

Mercy Corps is looking for committed and dynamic individuals to take up the following positions. 

Senior Program Officer – Lodwar
 
Program / Department Summary: Mercy Corps drives high quality, analytical work in tough places. We have been operating in Kenya since 2009 and currently manage a breadth of programs in three regions Rift Valley, Central and North Eastern Kenya) with funding from different donors.

We partner with a range of private, public and civil society actors to systemically broaden opportunity for people across Kenya.
 
Mercy Corps in partnership with PACT is implementing a 5 year Peacebuilding USAID funded cross-border program in five countries—Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan. 

PEACE III Program is designed to strengthen cross border Conflict Management in the Horn of Africa. It will strengthen horizontal and vertical linkages within and between local, national, and regional conflict management actors. 

In North Western Kenya, PEACE III will be implemented in the Lokichogio/Kapoeata, South Omo/Lake Turkana and West Pokot/Amurdat border areas with operational offices in Lodwar Kenya, and Moroto Uganda. 

The Senior Program Officer will be responsible for the implementation of PEACE III Program at the community level out of Lodwar office. 

S/he will be in constant contact with stake holders and targeted communities to ensure full participation and implementation.
 
Essential Job Functions:
  • Organize, facilitate and conduct trainings and workshops related to PEACE III Program;
  • Assist communities using participatory methodologies to identify and implement PEACE III related projects;
  • Meet regularly with the supervisor to evaluate project progress; identify successes, challenges and lessons-learned; and adjust practices as necessary to improve performance.
  • Implement activities and monitor project progress.
  • Maintain and strengthen the partnerships with relevant government stakeholder and target communities.
  • Apply Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) and Appreciative Inquiry (AI) tools and techniques to all activities.
  • Submit reports of specific events, field trips and meetings attended on behalf of Mercy Corps.
  • Provide on-going feedback on the Performance Management Plan and database management of the PEACE III Program, to enhance measuring the impact of the program against objectives and indicators.
  • In coordination with the Program Manager conduct regular field visits to ensure that all stakeholders fully understand and utilize PEACE III approaches and methodologies.
  • Provide the team with quarterly data analysis reports, to feed into quarterly review and reflection meetings.
  • Support the team in effectively utilizing established monitoring and evaluation formats, and provide feedback for their improvement.
  • Develop case studies and success stories to better articulate qualitative changes as a result of PEACE III Program.
  • Maintain updated (paper and electronic) filing system for all M&E forms/ surveys, protocols, planning tools, and manuals.
  • Write reports and project documents and submit to Program Manager as required.
  • Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to positively acknowledge Mercy Corps and to support its humanitarian mission.
  • Any other duties as assigned by your supervisor.
Supervisory Responsibility: None
 
Accountability
  • Reports Directly To: PEACE III Program Manager
  • Works Directly With: PEACE III Program Manager, field finance officer, procurement and logistics officer.
Knowledge and Experience:
  • Bachelor’s peace studies, social sciences, rural development, or related field
  • Minimum of three years professional experience in implementing peace and conflict related projects
  • Ability and commitment to team work
  • Ability to interact effectively with the diverse project stakeholders
  • Knowledge of the local languages is an added advantage
  • Working experience in conflict or post conflict settings and conflict sensitive programming.
  • Working experience with stakeholders including youth and women groups.
  • Experience in Project monitoring and evaluation.
  • Excellent analytical and report writing skills
  • Adequate knowledge and skills on word processing, spread sheet, power point and internet retrieval.
Success Factors:
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and appropriate flexibility.
  • Ability to effectively communicate with Mercy Corps target populations and partners.
  • Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
  • Willingness to travel frequently to remote locations.
  • Ability to quickly learn and implement new information/concepts.
  • Flexibility and adaptability.
Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit on or before September 22, 2014 at 4.00 p.m. a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org. 

The email subject Line must clearly show the job title and location they are applying for. 

Applications without the right subject heading will be automatically disqualified. 

Please do not attach any certificates.

(ONLY Qualified and selected candidates for the interview will be contacted)


NB: Mercy Corps does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.