Mercy
Corps is a leading global relief and development agency saving and improving
lives in the world’s toughest places. In more than 40 countries, we partner
with local people to put bold ideas into action, help them overcome adversity
and build stronger communities.
We
help communities survive and move beyond emergencies. When natural disasters
strike, economies collapse or conflict flares, Mercy Corps is there.
We see
global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable
solutions.
Mercy
Corps is looking for committed and dynamic individual to take up the following
position.
Program Manager - Demand and Adoption through Improved User Experience Design (DDAI-UEX) Program
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Program
/ Department Summary: Mercy
Corps Kenya currently has funding from the Global Alliance for Clean Cooking
(GACC) through a 24-month program entitled Driving Demand and Adoption through
Improved User Experience Design (DDAI-Uex), in the Rift, Central, and Western
regions of Kenya.
With
the GACC’s support, Mercy Corps Kenya and a consortium of partners will use
behavioural research and behaviour change communication interventions to
increase sales and uptake (correct and consistent use) of clean cook stoves in
Kenyan households in our target areas.
General
Position Summary: The
Program Manager will provide overall leadership, management and strategic
vision to the implementation of DDAI-UEx program. S/he is responsible for
setting the tone for a collaborative, adaptive, and ‘problem solving’ team
culture.
The
Program Manager will support the DDAI-UEx team in driving the program to meet
its objectives and ensuring success of all work streams within the
program.
S/he
will ensure effective and efficient communication and collaboration within the
team, timely and effective internal and external reporting, including financial
reports, contract management for contractors and consultants.
S/he
will be the primary program representative to donors, relevant government
entities, partners, other implementers and stakeholders.
Essential Job Functions:
Commitment
to program quality, strategy, partnerships and leadership:
- Plan
and drive DDAI-UEx’s Behavior Change Communication (BCC) strategy
including recruiting channel partners, co-developing culturally sensitive
BCC interventions, campaigns, and materials as appropriate, to effectively
influence behavior change at the household and enterprise levels
- Collaborate
with other program managers and ensure synergies with other related Mercy
Corps Kenya programs, with special attention to synchronizing DDAI-UEx
with YES program activities.
- Lead
collaboration with formative research lead, Grid Impact and Populist,
partner communities, and stakeholders to ensure successful research
design, pretesting, production and distribution of BCC interventions.
- Ensure
BCC concepts and/or messages achieve program objectives, such as
increasing purchase and uptake of clean cooking products and reducing
stove stacking at the household level.
- Develop
and maintain good working relationships with partner organization,
ministries, partner business channels, and community stakeholders.
Reporting,
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Work
closely with the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), and
program channel partners to develop program learning objectives and a
sound monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan. Ensure quality execution
of strategy and tools developed with ICRW to monitor program
implementation, measure impact and calibrate program strategy and
implementation accordingly.
- Document
process and achievements to ensure best practices are captured and
disseminated. Ensure all reporting requirements are met.
Team
Management:
- Build
a cohesive team spirit among staff and delegate functions and
responsibilities to them while ensuring achievement of program objectives.
- Work
with the HR department to recruit, manage and motivate an informed,
skilled and efficient team; incorporate staff development strategies and
Performance Management systems into team building processes.
- Direct
DDAI-UEx team in working effectively and cohesively with other program and
support units to improve planning and resource utilization.
- Maintain
effective and positive internal communication with DDAI-UEx staff in all field
offices, this includes ensuring open and harmonious communication all of
the different offices and programs (e.g. with YES program staff).
Representation:
- Develop
and maintain both internal and external relationships to ensure optimum
program success: to include Mercy Corps headquarters and regional officers
and staff, international and local NGOs, government officials, donor
community officials particularly GACC, vendors, media and the general
public.
Communications:
- Nurture
appropriate Mercy Corps public relations, donor relationships; represent
Mercy Corps to national and international media as requested.
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 and themselves.
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.
Supervisory
Responsibility: M&E
Manager, Financial Inclusion/SACCO Specialist, Master Behavior Change Communication
Trainer
Reports
Directly To: Kenya
Country Director
Technical
Support From: Mercy
Corps’ Global Energy Advisor
Works
Directly With: HR,
Operations, private sector partners, civil society, M&E unit, Logistics and
Administrative teams, YES Program manager and officers with time (15 and 10
percent LOE respectively) allocated to the DDAI-UEx project.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Master’s
degree in communications, development, public health, economics, business,
behavioral science or a related field
- Demonstrated
experience in managing adaptive programs and multi-cultural teams
- 4-6
years of experience in behavior change communications, behavioral science,
or business marketing
- Demonstrated
technical and successful expertise in a relevant mix of designing,
managing and evaluating Behavior Change Communication (BCC) programs
through social marketing, as well as proven experience working in
partnership with the private sector to drive uptake
- Demonstrated
experience in developing sound communication plans that include innovative
strategies to address them.
Success
Factors
- Contextual
knowledge of Kenya
- Experience
researching or working in the clean cooking sector
- Effective
communication and team-building techniques.
- Excellent
organizational and strong interpersonal skills.
- Even
temperament and good sense of humor.
Interested
candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should
submit a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three
professional references (including a recent supervisor) to
hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org on or before Thursday 26th May, 2016 by 4.00pm.
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.
(Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We will only get in touch with shortlisted candidates.)
NB: Mercy Corps does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.