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 position:
Programme Manager, PROGRESS Programme – Wajir
Programme / Department Summary: The PROGRESS Programme Manager will
lead 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).
If awarded, 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 500,000 individual
households in northern Kenya (Wajir and Garissa) and northern Uganda
(Karamoja).
The Kenya-based Programme Manager will play a key role in implementation.
General Position Summary: The Programme manager will provide
leadership, management and strategic vision to the implementation of the
PROGRESS in northern Kenya, managing staff and resources, and
consortium members, and to ensure that the program meets its targets and
deliverables on-time and within budget.
The Programme Manager will supervise program staff in Wajir and ensure
accountability to Mercy Corps policies and donor rules and regulations.
He/she will report to and work with the Programme Director to engage in
program representation to donors, relevant government entities,
partners, other implementers and external stakeholders.
Managing the consortium-related aspects of this project will be key in ensuring the success of the project.
Essential Job Functions:
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.
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.
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.
Staff Management, Professional Development and Team building:
Create a work atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of personnel at all levels.
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.
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.
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.
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: Country-level Project officers,
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: Kenya Country Director, fellow Programme
Managers in both countries (where multiple programs operate), and
technical and support staff from Mercy Corps office in Portland, Oregon
and Edinburgh, Scotland.
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
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:
The successful candidate will have the following characteristics:
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.
Candidates who had previously applied for this position need not reapply
Somalis are encouraged to apply.
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.
