POSITION: PROGRAM DIRECTOR
DEPARTMENT: PROGRAMS
REPORTS TO: REGIONAL DIRECTOR
NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE POSITION
The Director of Programs is
responsible to provide strategic direction and overall supervision of programs
in the Mercy-USA East Africa Office. The Director of Programs serves as the
lead in providing leadership and guidance for the quality implementation,
management, supervision and evaluation of all of the organization’s program
portfolio. Mercy-USA’s programs in East Africa cover a wide variety of sectors
from Health, Nutrition, WASH, Food Security to Education.
As a member of the senior management
team, the Director of Programs participates in strategic planning and budgeting
initiatives, and leads the East Africa office in promoting and enabling strong
program-based responses that exemplify Mercy-USA’s work. The Director of
Programs also takes a lead in problem solving, and initiating changes or
adjustments in programs to better meet contextual needs.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Program Management and Operations
- Contribute
to the overall management and strategic development of the regional
program portfolio
·
Develop and implement long-term
overall goals and objectives for programs, and ensure that benchmarks,
accountability and internal control standards are established and exercised.
·
Provide day-to-day management and
leadership for donor-based teams to achieve individual program goals. Teams
span multiple donors including USAID, UNICEF, WFP, and Global Fund, and sectors
of work include health, nutrition, WASH, food security, and education.
o Empower teams to ensure individual
project elements are conceptualized and project tasks achieved in compliance
with all internal, project and donor requirements.
o Support program teams to develop
and implement programmatic and financial work plans, and enable effective and
efficient program delivery.
o Work with program teams to address
programmatic challenges or opportunities, and support appropriate responses.
o Ensure that the programs operate
within the approved budget and monitor and approve all budgeted program
expenditures.
- Organize
and attend weekly departmental meetings with each program to maintain
effective communication.
- Support
the effective planning and delivery of program communications in
conjunction with the Communication Officer and with individual teams
- In
consultation with the Regional Director and the HR Team, responsible for
the selection, hiring, and coaching of program employees.
- Direct,
plan and coordinate training needs and evaluations for program staff.
· Communicate and engage with donors
as necessary to address programs operations.
- With
the Program Manager – Grants and Donor Compliance, Regional Director and
other staff, work to develop a regional-level funding strategy and support
the delivery of high quality proposals.
·
Monitor the humanitarian situation in
Somalia, supporting field assessments and advising the Regional Director and
partners of response options.
·
Promote appropriate innovation in
program development.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Ensure
information regarding program activities and beneficiaries is regularly
captured, stored and analyzed, and communicated where possible.
- Ensure
technical deliverables and monitoring and evaluation plans are designed, agreed
and match individual project requirements and ensure all project
information and benchmarks are achieved.
- With
program teams, ensure that monthly, quarterly and annual program
statistics are compiled, analyzed, and used for both documentation and also
program learning.
Coordination and Representation
- Work
with the Regional Director, and support departments including Finance and
Logistics to ensure both the coordination of the timely delivery of
program supplies and that all operating expenses are within budgeted
limits.
·
Attend and represent the organization
at coordination meetings, including cluster meetings, donor meetings, UN
meetings etc as appropriate.
·
Support the maximum visibility of the
agency within the NGO community.
·
Ensure full coordination and
collaboration is established with donors, governments officials, ministries, UN
agencies, and any other stakeholders as appropriate.
JOB SPECIFICATION
QUALIFICATIONS
ESSENTIAL
DESIRED
Academic
· Degree in International Relations,
Health/Protection or other Social Service/Science related field
· Project Management or another
technical relevant technical discipline a plus
· Professional qualification will be
an added advantage
Master’s Degree in the specified
field will be an added advantage
Experience
· 3-5 years in similar position
· Experience working in international
contexts and cultures, preferably in complex contexts
· 1-2 years’ experience in a role
requiring strategic planning
· Experience working in Health and/or
Nutrition
· Experience of implementing donor
funded projects. Priority donors include UNICEF, WFP, USAID/OFDA, and GLOBAL
FUND and EAC projects
· Experience working with budgets,
including managing financial outlays and expenditures
Previous work experience managing
remote field teams
Experience working in East Africa
Experience working in Education, Food
Security, or WASH programs
Work related skills
· Knowledge of donor guidelines
· Strong knowledge of the programme
management cycle, and related process and structures for quality programme
management
· Good organizational skills
· Good time management skills
· Strong communication skills,
including ability to lead and manage remote teams
· Ability to work in harsh conditions
· Systems-building skills
· Strategic thinking
· Aggressive and result oriented
· Able to meet set own targets and
meet own targets on a monthly basis and follow up targets of reporting
colleagues
· Able to meet deadlines
· Able to identify programme
challenges and plan and communicate alternatives for smooth programme
implementation
Courses or skills related to program
management (such as PMP)
Personal attributes
· Ability to work under pressure
· Trustworthy
· Team player
· Responsiveness
· Strong interpersonal skills
· Strong customer relation skills
· Integrity
How to apply:
The position will close 12th December
2016 , the incumbents should send their CV’s and cover letters or motivational
letters to hr.eaprogram@mercyusa.org.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
