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.
Program Manager – BRACED
Program / Department Summary: The
Mercy Corps Building Resilience in Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED) is a
flagship program of the United Kingdom (UK) Department for International
Development (DFID) under the International Climate Fund (ICF).
BRACED is a global initiative that
aims to benefit up to 5 million vulnerable people, especially women and
children, in developing countries by helping them be more resilient in the face
of climate extremes and disasters. DFID has funded BRACED programs around the world
including Africa and Asia.
Mercy Corps has received funding for
implementation BRACED consortium in Kenya and Uganda which will enhance
resilience to climate extremes in northern Kenya and Northern Uganda through a
community-led and systems-driven programme.
General Position Summary: The Program Manager will lead the implementation of the BRACED program, in Northern Kenya with the aim of improving public sector engagement and service delivery, broaden economic opportunity, and increase community capacity to manage resources and prepare for disaster.
These activities will have a
particular emphasis on vulnerable groups, particularly women and girls with
focus on three outputs which include Natural Resources Management and
Governance, Market Systems and Gender.
Essential Job Functions:
1. Program Implementation:
- Provide leadership and strategic vision of
program implementation, development and management.
- Ensure that program implementation is
responsive to government counterparts, communities and partners, and
aligned with Mercy Corps principles, values and strategic plan.
- Monitor adherence to grant agreement, Mercy
Corps policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations.
Oversee performance of consortium partners/sub-grantees.
- Conduct frequent field visits to all project
sites and maintain strong and productive relationships with various
partners and stakeholders at national, local and community levels.
- Be proactive and take initiative to drive
forward the activities of a complex programme.
- Oversee adaptive management and provide
regular input in to workplan revisions, budgetary adjustments, to ensure
the consistent relevance of the programme aims and resources to the
resilience building in Wajir.
2. Monitoring & Evaluation
(M&E) and Reporting:
- Facilitate the achievement of program targets
and objectives and lead efforts to design effective M&E systems.
- Oversee the scheduling and production of
formal and informal reports on all aspects of the program in a timely and
efficient manner.
- Ensure that M&E staff focus on assisting
programs to generate practical information that can be used for ongoing
program decision-making while also capturing results at the impact level.
3. Coordination and Representation:
- Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor,
NGO and other relevant events in the field, in close coordination with the
Country Director.
- Coordinate activities with consortium
partners, sub grantees, local government and other implementers, as well
as with other Mercy Corps programs.
- Actively engage with the programme management
of other Mercy Corps’ programmes to ensure consistent vision and aligned
goals
4. Staff Management, Professional
Development and Team building:
- Create a work conducive work atmosphere and
team culture to professional growth and development of personnel at all
levels.
- In conjunction with the Human Resources
department, implement, and ensure all staff are effectively using, the
performance planning and management system, establishing performance
expectations and regularly providing constructive feedback.
- Promote accountability by conducting staff
annual performance reviews with direct supervisees, and ensuring that
supervisory staff do the same.
- Contribute to country team-building efforts,
and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant
decision-making processes.
5. Program Support Operations:
- Coordinate with program and finance and
administration staff to ensure operational systems are in place to support
field activities including logistics (transport, warehousing and asset
management), procurement, security, administration and human resources.
- Propose design of new local policies for
greater efficiency and cost savings, as needed and in accordance with
donor and Mercy Corps regulations.
- Ensure that operations are functional,
effective and responsive to programme needs.
6. Security:
- Work closely with the country teams’ security
focal points to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and
security of the team in all aspects of its work.
- Ensure that programs are designed and
implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security management
priorities.
7. Conduct himself/herself both
professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy
Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
8. Other duties as assigned.
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: Direct supervision of: Natural Resources Management
and Governance Team Leader, Gender Team Leader and Senior Markets Development
Officer
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
Works Directly With: MC
Kenya Country Director, fellow Program Managers in both countries (where
multiple programs operate), and technical and support staff from Mercy Corps
Kenya and Edinburgh, Scotland offices.
Knowledge and Experience:
- MA, MSc or equivalent in governance and public
policy, economic development or environmental policy or related field.
- At least five years of experience including
three years in a senior management position, including at a
regional/cross-country level.
- Previous experience with and strong
understanding of DFID rules, regulations and compliance issues
- Very 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, 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:
- A strong team player, with good communication
and diplomatic skills.
- Proven ability to work independently as part
of a regional team and with international professionals.
- Excellent analytical 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
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 Monday 11th
January 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.