Regional Coordinator - Afghanistan

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 / Operations Summary

Mercy Corps has been present in Afghanistan since 1986. Our work seeks to enable Afghans to improve their quality of life by strengthening their sustainable, equitable and legitimate livelihoods, with the ultimate goal to support Afghanistan to evolve from a fragile to a strong state. We focus our interventions on promotion of sustainable livelihoods, agriculture development, youth vocational training, Renewable Energy and natural resource management; it has helped more than 2.5 million Afghans through these wide-range of community–based agriculture and economic development programs. Mercy Corps is working in Kabul, Kandahar, Helmand, Herat, Takhar, Badakhshan, Parwan, Baghlan and Nangarhar.

General Position Summary

The Regional Coordinator is the senior Mercy Corps representative in 3-4 provinces of Afghanistan (Balkh, Herat, Kabul, Kandahar), with the primary responsibility on senior level stakeholder management and coordination of Mercy Corps programs and operations.

The Regional Coordinator is a member of the Mercy Corps Senior Leadership team and has a key responsibility for representing the interests of field based staff and field implementation of Programs and Operations.

He / She will ensure the coordination of all day-day operational Program delivery and integrated Operations support to ensure high quality and cost efficiency in support to Programs

He/She will also be responsible for Operational Security Management in 3-4 provinces

He / She will provide leadership for Emergency Response (assessment, development and implementation)

He/She has direct line management responsible for the day-to-day Operations support for programs operating from 3-4 provincial Field Offices. The Operations function includes HR, Procurement, and Administration.

The Regional Coordinator will have ‘day-to day’ operational responsibility and oversight for the effective functioning of Finance, Human Resources and Programs staff working at regional level, in very close coordination with the Country level line management of these functions.

The Regional Coordinator is expected to visit all project sites on a regular basis and support ongoing program activities.

He/She will develop and maintain relationships with governmental, local and international departments and agencies based in his/her region for new funding opportunities and program initiatives, in partnership with the Manager of Government Relations and Communications.

He/she will coordinate with the Director of HR in Kabul to support and coordinate ongoing staff development activities in the region.

As a member of the Mercy Corps Senior Leadership Team, the Regional Coordinator will communicate regularly with the Country Office in Kabul and participate in all Management and Strategic Planning activities, to ensure optimal support for Field Office staff and ensure quality support delivery of Program activities

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY & VISION

● Provide area specific input on Country and Sector Strategy through contextual analysis and need assessments. Including on synergies between sectors.

● Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints and initiatives are welcomed.

● Set the direction and follow up on Operations support, by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development and program delivery

● Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs, with a focus on Provincial stakeholders support for Mercy Corps.

● Accountable for the effective and efficient coordination of Program delivery within all sectors in partnership with each Program Director. Ensuring technical direction is followed and implemented in compliance with contractual donor commitments and SOP´s.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

● Develop and maintain effective relationships with government officials and non-government stakeholders to ensure support for Mercy corps work.

● Maintain cooperative relationships with UN agencies, program partners, and relief and development organisations to support on-going program activities, and identify new funding opportunities and program initiatives.

● Coordinate regularly with the Deputy Country Director/s, Programme Director/s and other senior Mercy Corps Afghanistan staff to problem solve, ensure effective communication and coordination with different functions and levels, and develop program opportunities.

● Liaise with NGO´s, government agencies and officials independently and as directed by Deputy Country Director and/or Country Director;

● Representing MCA in the region of responsibilities in Afghanistan.

● Advice the Country Director, Deputy Country Director/s, Portfolio Directors and other Project Managers on the government policies and procedures, taxation and on interaction with the government

● Communicate with partners to verify their systems and ensure they meet Mercy Corps compliance procedures.

ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT **

● Oversee and ensure smooth flowing of daily routines and operations of both Operations support and programmatic work.

● Ensure adherence to Mercy Corps administrative procedures by all staff.

● Oversee daily office and program activities – ensure staff are following work plans; as assigned by respective direct reporting Supervisor

● Assist program staff to meet program planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and ensure reporting deadlines are met

● Report daily on program and administrative activities and the security situation with key staff in the Country Office.

● Work closely with Program and Finance staff to ensure proper tracking of program and operations expenditures.

● Meet weekly with the Programs and Operations managers and coordinators to receive program updates, coordinate activities, and share information relevant to program activities and operations.

● Hold a monthly meeting of all staff to provide updates and share information on program activities and to solicit feedback from staff.

● Will work daily with support staff i.e.: Procurement, Logistics, Transport and Administration departments to ensure proper daily support functions and compliance with MC and donor policies.

● Liaise with Portfolio Directors and Project Managers to ensure activities are on schedule and following contingency plans.

● Conduct daily meetings and receive routine reports from support functions of the Region offices, as per MC policies, including Assets, Procurement, Warehousing, Administration, Security, IT and Human Resources.

● Facilitate, when necessary, on all aspects of asset management and asset caretakers including their use, location and return - conduct investigation for any missing assets or items unaccounted for;

● Assist HR Director, as required, in the evaluation and organization of training for staff to ensure they are properly trained to complete MC objectives.

● Assist HR Director , as required, in identification of personnel needs of national staff, and advise and participate in recruitment, selection, service contracts and remuneration of national personnel.

● Oversee database and file management for administration, procurement, logistics and human resources documents.

● Oversee Facility Management, including housing and office leases; ensure that security standards are maintained at all premises.

● Ensure that Mercy Corps contracts and business transactions/relationships are transparent and in compliance with local law and Mercy Corps/donor policies.

● All other duties as assigned

TEAM MANAGEMENT **

● Support and encourage a team approach and work with the MCA HR /Staff Department to ensure all program and operations staff has Development Plans and to support and help coordinate training and staff development activities for Southern Region

● Lead and develop the regional Operations support teams

● Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

● Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.

● Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.

● Ensure capacity building and Performance Evaluations is provided to all staff in the provincial areas of responsibility

● Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

● Take ultimate responsibility of performance of program support functions

● Ensure all offices and staff in the region fosters transparency, integrity, equality and accountability in their day to day work

SECURITY

● Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership

● Proactivly ensure that all team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies

● Assist as required by the Security Manager in: maintaining and advising on appropriate security systems and procedures.

● Facilitate Regional Security Management Team (SMT) meetings and ensure that all other provinces in the south hold the same meeting, and ensure information is disseminated to all staff, with the Deputy Country Director being kept informed

● Ensure that all necessary measures are taken to provide MCA employees with a working environment as detailed in existing guidelines, including responsibility of fire regulations and building evacuation procedures.

● Assist Deputy Country Director and Operational Security Manager, as required, in developing strategies to continue work in times of heightened security.

● 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.

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.

● 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.

ADHERENCE TO MC POLICIES

● The Regional Coordinator must adhere to all Mercy Corps administrative, Safety and Security procedures and policies; conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its mission in Afghanistan

● Ensure Mercy Corps Mission, Vision and Values are used as guidance and represented in all activities and work in the Region

Supervisory Responsibility

Directly Supervising: First Line Supervision of Operations Department that includes; Logistics, Procurement, HR, Administration, IT and Security. Operational Supervision on Program Managers/Coordinators, Provincial Head of MEL and Finance Departments of the region.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Deputy Country Director - Operations**

Works Directly With: Deputy Country Director – Program; Portfolio Directors, Program Directors, Director of Finance; Director of MEL

Knowledge and Experience

● University Degree in Business Management or Public Affairs are preferred.

● 10 years of multi-sectored experience (Program, Operations, Finance, MEL).

● Managerial Experience of minimum 5 years

● Strong organizational skills and experience working with local and international NGO´s are needed

● Able to work under difficult circumstances and display good judgment

● Fluency in English (written and spoken)

● Reporting skills and advanced reporting skills are required

● Must be able to strategically advise staff on program and office activities and security issues.

● Must have thorough understanding of office administration systems and ensure they are upheld in absence of international staff.

● Must be able to represent Mercy Corps in all areas on behalf of the Country Office.

Success Factors

● Conscientious with an excellent sense of judgment

● Ability to work simultaneously on multiple tasks

● Awareness of and sensitivity to multicultural international development work

● Ability to take initiative, learn quickly and be accountable for result

● Ability to work as part of a team and coordinate with project personnel

● Promote and adhere to to the principals and objectives of Mercy Corps

● Good spoken and written English

● Good spoken and written skills in local languages. Knowledge of different dialects is a plus

● Thorough understanding on Afghanistan programming, such as financial accuracy, logistical challenges, market mechanism and supply chain

● Strong organizational skills

● Advanced Computer Knowledge and Database Management

● Good team spirit

Submission Guideline:

While sending your CV & Cover letter, please mention the vacancy location (Balkh, Herat, Kabul, Kandahar) of interest and name in the subject line, application received after the closing date (August 14, 2020) and without subject line will not be given consideration. Please include three references from you previous and current supervisors in your CV and make sure that their official email addresses are mentioned in the reference information.

Only short listed candidates whose application responds to the above criteria will be contacted for interview. Interested candidates should send their Application To: Email to: af vacancieskbl@mercycorps.org