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.
Programme Coordinator & Learning Manager, PROGRESS Programme – Nairobi
Programme / Department Summary: The
PROGRESS Programme Coordinator and Learning Manager will work in collaboration
with the PROGRESS Programme Director, Programme Managers and PROGRESS
Consortium members in the implementation of a proposed multi-year project as
part of DFID’s BRACED initiative (Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate
Extremes and Disasters).
Mercy Corps anticipates a programme award under BRACED to implement the “Programme for Resilient Systems” (PROGRESS).
PROGRESS will be comprised of a
multi-partner consortium poised to deliver a 36-month initiative designed to
build absorptive, adaptive and transformative capacity of more than 200,000
individual households in northern Kenya (Wajir) and northern Uganda
(Karamoja).
The Kenya-based Programme Coordinator
and Learning Manager will play a key role in programme implementation, help to
generate and synthesize learnings from both Kenya and Uganda teams, and support
the Project Director in the efficient management of PROGRESS. General Position
Summary:
The Programme Coordinator and
Learning Manager will work directly with Programme Director and Programme
Managers to support oversight of accountability and adherence to Mercy Corps
policies and donor rules and regulations, and program milestones and
deliverables.
He/she will report to and work with
the Programme Director and engage in program representation to donors, relevant
government entities, partners, other implementers and external stakeholders and
convert program information into actionable management recommendations and
guidance.
Essential Job Functions:
Program Implementation: The
Programme Coordinator and Learning Manager will assist in the overall program
management of PROGRESS program activities in both Kenya and Uganda, as well as
facilitation of communication and program documentation and learning within the
PROGRESS Consortium through support to programme planning, strategy development
and communications between consortium members, program management staff and
external partners.
This role will also entail oversight
of the multi-country activities of PROGRESS to support the Programme Director
to ensure cross-country cohesion in resilience messaging, planning, monitoring,
evaluation, implementation, and learnings.
The Programme Coordinator and
Learning Manager will also support operations around the PROGRESS learning
agenda within each of the programme locations (Kenya and Uganda), and
strategies for cross-country learning.
As deputy to the Programme Director,
the Programme Coordinator and Learning Manager will also be tasked with a
shared representational role at resilience events and fora in the region and
information management as it relates to resilience within Kenya and
Uganda.
The Programme Coordinator and
Learning Manager will also assist with oversight of the PROGRESS communications
strategy and lead in development of materials, presentations and other media in
accordance with programme needs and the DFID/BRACED requirements.
Learning and Reporting: Support Programme Managers in the achievement of
program targets and objectives and support efforts towards the design effective
M&E systems and operations. Facilitate the coordination, scheduling and
production of formal and informal reports and documentation and communication
of reports and learning materials.
Coordination and Representation: Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and
other relevant events in the field, in close coordination with the Programme
Director. Attend key events, committee meetings, fora, seminars, etc. as they
relate to East Africa resilience. Coordinate activities with consortium partners,
sub grantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other
Mercy Corps programs.
Staff Management, Professional
Development and Team building: Contribute
to country team-building efforts, and ensure the integration of all team and
consortium members into relevant decision-making processes. Oversee the
PROGRESS Programme Assistant.
Program Support Operations: Ensure close communication across cross-country
field teams and consortium members regarding program activities and plans,
challenges and obstacles to timely and quality implementation and programme
learning. Coordinate with program, finance, and administration staff for
troubleshooting and problem solving.
Organizational Learning: As
part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team
members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or
non-formal professional learning activities.
Supervisory Responsibility: Progress
Programme Assistant
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.
Reports Directly To: Programme
Director based in Nairobi, Kenya
Works Directly With: PROGRESS Programme Director, Kenya and Uganda
Country Directors, PROGRESS Programme Managers in both countries, consortium
partners, and technical and support staff from Mercy Corps office in Portland,
Oregon and Edinburgh, Scotland.
Knowledge and Experience:
- MA, MSc or equivalent in governance, public
administration, environmental policy or related field.
- At least five years of experience including
three years in a management position, preferably at a
regional/cross-country level.
- Previous experience with and strong
understanding of DFID rules, regulations and compliance issues
- Strong writing, communication, organization,
prioritization and negotiating skills.
- Strong management skills, with good
understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.
- Experience contributing to donor-funded
proposal processes including assessment, design, and writing
- Proven understanding of both urban and rural
livelihoods systems, climate change adaptation strategies, public
administration and resilience programming;
- Experience implementing activities in Kenya,
especially northern Kenya/ ASALs – with a strong understanding of the
current political, economic, cultural and historical context. Knowledge of
and experience working in Karamoja preferred.
- Excellent quantitative skills required.
Financial accounting experience preferred.
- Experience in building and maintaining
strong/productive relations with implementing and strategic partner
agencies is preferred. This includes coordinating with government
authorities and counterparts.
- Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to
follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively
with team members.
- Demonstrated success building, managing and
leading a team of professionals.
- Experience working in conflict environments is
preferred.
- Security management experience in remote and
insecure environments.
Success Factors:
The successful candidate will have
the following characteristics:
- A strong team player, with good communication
and diplomatic skills.
- Demonstrated writing abilities and ability to
present information and trends pictorially
- Proven ability to work independently as part
of a regional team and with international professionals.
- Excellent analytical, presentation and
information management skills.
- Good organizational skills and ability to work
under stress and in austere contexts of remote locations.
- Flexible and creative in planning and problem
solving.
- Attention to detail, ability to follow
procedures and meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively
with team members.
- Proven excellence maintaining professional
internal and external relationships.
- A focus on building staff capacity
- Willingness and ability to travel to Wajir
County and Karamoja frequently for work purposes.
Interested candidates who meet the
above required qualifications and experience should submit applications on or
before 5th January 2015, by 4.00pm, containing 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 quote the job title and location being applied for.
Applications without the right
subject heading will be automatically disqualified.
Please do not attach any
certificates.
(ONLY qualified candidates who meet all the essential required qualifications will be contacted for interviews)
NB: Mercy Corps does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
