Economic Recovery Program Manager - CAR

*** Please note that duration is through end of September 2018

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

The BOURNE program will holistically respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of IDPs, returnees and the most vulnerable households in host communities in Bambari and its surroundings. Since 2016, an upsurge in violence due to armed group's confrontation within and outside Bambari has increased the vulnerability of the local population compounded by increasing insecurity. While officially Bambari has been declared a city without armed groups, in reality the city center and its surroundings are unsafe for the population as they are subject to clashes between armed groups on most axes. Continued displacement along with violence and insecurity is preventing households from meeting basic needs and recovering their livelihoods. Mercy Corps will build upon the foundation of its current programming in Bambari implementing early economic recovery initiatives and shelter provision through a 12 month multi-sector intervention

General Position Summary

Text h The BOURNE Program Manager will be responsible for managing the implementation of the program. S/he will manage a team of 12 local staff to implement a program of quality in accordance to Mercy Corps' standards of quality and in the framework of the donor's regulation.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.

Program Management

• Oversee program startup and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps' relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.
• Develop partners' MoUs and contracts & oversee a training program for program partners.
• Develop program implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, beneficiary targeting and distribution process as well as WASH, psychosocial and capacity building of partners.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps' Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps' Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

Team Management

• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

Influence & Representation

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

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 as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward 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

10 program staff including: 1 Assistant Program Manager, 4 officers and 5 facilitators.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Programs Director

Works Directly With: Mercy Corps CAR program and operational team (especially, the Head of Base in Bambari, the other Program Managers in Bambari, HQ Technical Support Units for Economic Development and Monitoring and Evaluation)

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/S or equivalent in economic development, business administration, international development, or relevant field.
• At least 3 years of relief and international development experience in managing people and projects/programs.
• Significant experience managing programs in technical areas, including livelihoods and shelter programs. A general understanding of mainstream protection aspects.
• Professional experience in CAR, as well as an existing professional network in CAR would be appreciated.
• Understanding of participatory methodologies for project design, implementation and evaluation.
• Excellent written and verbal English and French skills required.
• Outstanding interpersonal, partnership development and relationship management skills. Effective verbal and written communication, both internally and with external stakeholders; multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.
• High level of proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Proven ability to follow procedures, meet team objectives and work independently and cooperatively with team members (including managing remote communications with colleagues in HQ) and diverse groups of people.
• Demonstrated experience and ability to professionally represent the organization, negotiate, and defend Mercy Corps 'interests with a diverse range of government officials, local organizations and other groups.
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.
• Demonstrated commitment to develop, acquire, document and apply best practices in related fields, and apply solutions to obstacles.

Success Factors

The successful Program Manager will be a social entrepreneur—a detail-oriented, but adaptable self-starter with the ability to build a high performance team and implement a complex project that delivers outstanding results. Creativity and entrepreneurial spirit will be vital in leading and supporting new initiatives, capitalizing on opportunities, and growing and sustaining programs. The Program Manager should be an exceptional communicator, with the ability to develop rapport with a diverse range of program participants, partners, local stakeholders and government officials, as well as produce clear, concise, and compelling communications. In addition, the ideal candidate will, be dedicated to Mercy Corps' mission of helping to build more secure, productive, and just communities.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Bambari, CAR and it requires up to 25 % travel to the field

The Central African Republic is a nation of 4.6 million people, ranked as one of the poorest nations in the world, with an average life expectancy of only 49 years. Hospitals and access to medicines is very limited. Malaria is prevalent and it is estimated that 7-8% of the population may be HIV positive. Bambari is a regional town of the Ouaka Prefecture of about 41,000 inhabitants and is located in the east of the country and is divided north-south by the Ouaka River. The city is relatively calm and safe, the population is hopeful for the future and economic and social activities are resuming. However, criminality, mainly petty theft and robberies, constitutes the main cause of insecurity, and travel in some of the surrounding areas can be dangerous due to armed road bandits.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps' vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

PI102324532

Apply Here

Apply Here