Job Description
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 present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on women’s empowerment, economic development, conflict management and humanitarian response. Working with a diverse base of donors that includes the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), UK Department for International Development (DFID), European Commission (EC), European Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), Global Affairs Canada (FKA DFATD), and several foundations, Mercy Corps empowers people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good. We stand with Nigeria to find and access opportunities, and to be part of lasting and meaningful transformation in the country.
All Mercy Corps interventions in Nigeria are implemented in a conflict and gender sensitive manner using a resilience approach to sustain the greatest impact possible. As the portfolio continues to expand, additional management and support capacity is required to ensure growth is managed to increase impact without compromising quality.
General Position Summary
The Director of Development Programs (DoDP) - is a critical member of Mercy Corps Nigeria’s Senior Management Team (SMT). Tasked with managing and developing sustainable, multi-sector programming that is accountable to government, beneficiaries and donors, the DoDP will pursues funding opportunities that strategically connect programs into a cohesive country portfolio, guided by a long-term strategy. The DoDP provides support and leadership in program development and management, monitoring overall program performance by tracking progress toward specified objectives. All programming requires effective program coordination with operations and finance from inception to close out. This position will place a high value on innovative solutions to development issues as well as creative partnerships. Mercy Corps has been able to work together with communities in Nigeria and respond with innovative programming around youth with a focus on adolescent girls, enabling economic growth through livelihoods and income generation, and improving governance through conflict management. The primary focus of the DoDP will be on development interventions outside of the integrated humanitarian and recovery response in the northeast. This is an exciting opportunity to influence key outcomes and make a lasting difference in the lives of Nigerians.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Influence & Representation
- Identify, build and manage critical collaborative partnerships with donors, Government of Nigeria representatives, consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
- Coordinate with Mercy Corps headquarters and regional officers and staff, international and local NGOs, UN agencies, donor community officials, national government, vendors, media and the general public in a way that fosters linkages, optimizes communication, avoids overlap, shares resources, and ensures program success.
- Represent Mercy Corps programs with to funders and donors, national and international media, take on representation role on specific coordination forums. and participate in community activities as directed by the Country Director.
- Identify and lead on relevant fundraising opportunities for sustainable growth of country programs, including proposal development.
STRATEGY & VISION
- Communicate a clear vision of present and future program goals of Mercy Corps Nigeria to team members and stakeholders that translates into concrete programs and work plans.
- Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
- Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcome. Remain current with development thinking, including adaptive management, systems thinking, complexity, social impact, value for money, etc
- Lead the Program team in identifying additional opportunities for medium to long term programming and assist with new proposal and concept paper development that fosters and/or improves the strategic objectives of the country plan.
- Participate in overall country level strategic planning and assist the Country Director with preparation and implementation of the Country Fiscal Year Annual Planning process. Process is to be participatory, involving relevant key staff in each field office.
Program Management & QuaLITY
- Ensure that program implementation in specific geographical area is responsive to communities, authorities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and vision.
- Provide overall leadership and direction to Nigeria program staff and support the Country Director to strengthen program strategies, program quality, partnerships, and accountability in accordance with Mercy Corps and donor policies.
- Effectively manage program growth and oversee the implementation of assigned Mercy Corps’ programs with a continual eye to new program development that meets the strategic interests of Mercy Corps Nigeria taking special consideration of quality, efficiency and sustainability.
- Ensure program implementation is on time, on target and on budget, using effective M&E systems to demonstrate the desired impact
- Oversee program implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, beneficiary targeting, distribution processes and capacity building of partners as needed.
- Promote adherence to Mercy Corps’ standards, including the use of standardized indicators and internal MEL system, M&E, and adaptive management approaches, and country-level learning and strategic objectives.
- Support adherence to the Mercy Corps ‘Design for Impact Guide’ (DIG) and provide consistent coaching and capacity building on the use of the DIG in project design and monitoring and evaluation plans.
- Support TOLA, an open-source software built internally to improve how we evaluate program data by providing adaptable tools, and promoting better learning and sharing of information.
- Work with program teams to identify specific capacity building and coaching opportunities for all levels of leadership to develop the skills and approaches required to use adaptive management techniques in all stages of the project cycle. Set up onboarding structures that include Adaptive Management, PM@MC, Community Mobilization and gender and protection sensitive programming.
- Build a culture of adaptive management, high-quality program performance, and learning.
Team Management
- Build a cohesive team spirit and culture among staff and delegate functions and responsibilities to them while ensuring achievement of program objectives. Demonstrate a commitment to nationalize key program positions.
- Supervise, provide leadership, mentor and build the capacity of senior program staff in program/project design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and management that creates a working atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of excellence at all levels.
- 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.
- 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.
Finance & Compliance Management
- Ensure compliance and transparent use of resources in compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.
- Effectively stay abreast of donor policies, procedures, rules and regulations; compile and update applicable local policies; and train Mercy Corps program and partner staff in these policies.
- As part of the senior management team, work within operations systems for program impact including finance, logistics, security, and administration.
- Draft and/or review scope of work to hire any technical consultants and manage technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
- Oversee grant and sub-grant tracking, ensuring forward planning and preparation for donor report writing and timely submission of sub-grantee reports. Maintain and update program files and grant tracking information on a routine basis.
Security
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country
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: Non northeast portfolio Program/Project Managers, Program Adviser, , MEL Manager, relevant advisors (TBC).
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Country Director
Works Directly With: Director of Northeast Programs, Nigeria Operations, Finance, Program Managers, Regional Resilience Adviser; HQ-based Program, Operations, Finance, Compliance, Fundraising and Technical Support Unit;
Knowledge and Experience
- MA/S or equivalent in social science, management, international development or other relevant field.
- At least 10 years of overseas experience including at least five years in a senior management position.
- Experience managing development and transitional programs..
- Previous experience working in West Africa is desired.
- Proven track record in successful proposal writing and program development.
- Experience managing programs in relevant technical area(s) including food security, economic development, gender, livelihoods and financial services.
- Strong understanding of conflict sensitive program mainstreaming, gender or protection mainstreaming would be an advantage;
- Strong M&E skills with extensive field experience in developing practical, useful, timely monitoring systems, both at the program- and country-levels that promote use of data for adaptive management and learning.
- Knowledge of major donor requirements and compliance issues.
- Strong management skills with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.
- Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
- Solid knowledge of security protocols and ability to work effectively in an insecure environment.
Success Factors
The successful leader will skillfully represent programmatic priorities of the agency to donors and regional partners while providing effective leadership to the Mercy Corps program team specific geographical area. S/he will have high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity building and will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The DoDP is based in the capital city Abuja. The location is accompanied and generally secure. Housing, health care, water, electricity and consumer goods are all reasonably accessible and there are good international and domestic travel options from Abuja Airport. Air travel is necessary to get to some field locations. Mobile phones services are widely available. Internet is available in all Mercy Corps offices with some inconsistencies in the most remote sites. There is a wide variety of schools with different education philosophies and curriculum (British, American, French, and German to name the few). This position requires 30% travel by road and air to field offices.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a short term assignments. 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.
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