Chief of Party - Program for Development in the Eastern Congo (P-DEC)

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

Mercy Corps has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since August 2007, with a staff of around 500 people and programs focused in Eastern Congo in North and South Kivu, with the overall country goal to support vulnerable communities through crises, while fostering programs that build resilience and promote long-term change. Mercy Corps’ key programming areas include a combination of longer-term development and immediate humanitarian response programs in order to: 1) Improve water service delivery and ensuring equitable access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services, in urban and rural areas; 2) Improve food security and nutrition; 3) Promote diversified livelihoods, economic recovery and development. All Mercy Corps interventions in DRC are implemented in a conflict and gender sensitive manner.

Mercy Corps is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) to lead the implementation of the expected five-year USAID-funded Program for Development in the Eastern Congo (P-DEC). The proposed program will contribute to stabilization through integrated activities that work with local institutions to promote peace and facilitate a transition from humanitarian to development assistance in key areas of eastern Congo.

General Position Summary

The CoP will provide overall leadership, management and strategic vision to the implementation of the PDEC, to ensure that the program meets its targets and deliverables on-time and within budget. The CoP will supervise program staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps policies and donor rules and regulations. The COP will be the primary program representative to donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers and stakeholders.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

· Lead the development of a vision and strategy for the program shared with program team and key stakeholders.

· Play an active role in identifying and developing new initiatives that foster and/or improve strategic objectives of the program.

Program Management

· Oversee program start-up, management and administration. Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.

· 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.

· Confirm beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to transparent criteria.

· Develop partnership frameworks, partner agreements/Memorandum of Understandings, and oversee partner capacity building.

· Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate. Certify all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

· Ensure program strategies and activities represent global good practice for rural development in conflict-affected environments.

· Supervise and/or review the work of program consultants.

· Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, administration, and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.

· Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.

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.

· Create and maintain systems to ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with program, donor and Mercy Corps’ needs.

Influence & Representation

· Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events, in close coordination with the Country Director.

· Coordinate activities with consortium partners, subgrantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.

Security **

· Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.

· Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

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

P-DEC team.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director of Programs

Works Directly With: Country Director, Other DRC Directors and Deputy Directors, DRC finance and operations teams, HQ Regional Program Team, HQ Technical Support Unit

Knowledge and Experience

· MA/S or equivalent in development studies, international relations, agriculture, conflict management, economic development or other relevant field pertaining to rural development in conflict-affected settings.

· A minimum 10 relevant development experience.

· At least five years in a senior management with experience managing integrated, multi-sectoral programs of a similar size and scope ($10+ million). USAID- funded activities strongly preferred.

· Demonstrated ability to build and foster an adaptive team culture and a record of accomplishment in strategic visioning, leadership, and inspiring teams.

· Experience managing a consortium or operating within a consortium, ideally USAID-funded.**

· Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners

· Experience managing complex programmatic and financial reporting requirements, preferable with USAID.

· Experience with USAID rules, regulations and requirements is strongly preferred.

· Experience working in Africa required.

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. French fluency preferred

Success Factors

The successful CoP will combine exceptional management skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships. They will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. They will also have proven experience with cross-cultural teams and capacity building, individual staff development, and strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The CoP is based in Butembo. The location is unaccompanied. The position is entitled to individual housing in Butembo and is not eligible for hardship. While conditions in the country are improving, and security is quite stable in Butembo, there are still pockets of violence and insecurity and petty crime is on the increase. Mercy Corps' sub-offices experience variable levels of insecurity, with the situation closely monitored by UN peacekeepers. Years of conflict and corruption have badly damaged the country's infrastructure. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. There are virtually no telephone landlines in the DRC, though mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is limited, but available in all Mercy Corps offices. Travel to field sites will be required (up to 50%) where living conditions are clean and secure, but basic. There are a number of health services available with several evacuation options for serious illnesses. There is reasonable access to most consumer goods, although they can be expensive.

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 Mercy Corps 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.

Please apply on our website: https://app.jobvite.com/j?cj=orskdfwa&s=email