VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Organization: Mercy Corps
Position: Program Manager
Employment Type: Full Time Regular Staff
Salary Grade: M3
Job Location: Kathmandu (with frequent field travels), Nepal
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. Mercy Corps has been operating in Nepal since 2005, implementing programs in food security, agriculture, market development, financial services, girl’s education, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We take a systems-based approach in our programming, with the aim of improving the lives and potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal.
Program / Department Summary
Managing Risks through Economic Development (M-RED) project is a 2-year program with the goal to develop and implement a model for integrated disaster risk reduction (DRR) and economic development activities, building sustained and market-driven approaches to DRR that increase resiliency to multiple disasters. The program targets vulnerable communities in Nepal and Timor Leste, building on Mercy Corps’ experience in both countries, this program has been recently expanded in Indonesia.
MRED promotes the system approach to preparedness, response and recovery working with stakeholder at community, sub-national to national level. Interventions at the community and household levels will be those that both mitigate disaster risks and increase income levels. Communities will increase their DRR knowledge and capacity. While at the same time, increasing their economic opportunities by engaging in the production, value addition, and sale of crops utilized for disaster mitigation with the dual purpose of increasing household incomes. The program will reinforce new or improved economic opportunities by enabling communities and households to access markets for inputs and sales of high-demand/ high-value commodities. By carrying out market assessments, and by facilitating linkages between household level producers and local markets, the program will work to overcome these obstacles.
General Position Summary
The Program Manager will assume overall responsibility for the management and implementation of the M-RED Nepal program, ensures alignment with the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance 2 (ZFRA) program, and takes leadership on program strategies, approaches and methods closely coordinating with the regional M-RED program, particularly with Timor-Leste and Indonesia. They must be a dynamic and effective manager who has a sound understanding of both disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and market-driven programming (at a senior level); will be responsible to generate high quality outputs and results; and, will have strong stakeholder management, team management, communication, and representation skills.
As gender and social inclusion (GESI), governance and environmental compliance are cross-cutting and core components of the all MC programs, the Program Manager is required to own these components to ensure GESI sensitivity and integration, governance practices and environmental compliance are integrated into the MRED program.
Essential Job Responsibilities
The specific duties and responsibilities of the Program Manager include, but are not limited to, the following:
Strategy Formulation and Project Management:
• Lead the M-RED to conduct a comprehensive and participatory assessment of community vulnerability and capacity as well as an assessment of local and sub-national markets to determine high-value/ high-demand crops and livestock, services or process that are also suitable for disaster mitigation purposes. Share learning from Nepal to regional program team to revise Participator Risk Assessment (PDRA) and market assessments including strategy, methodology, tools, work-planning and training staff.
• Lead the project team to develop DRR strategies with market opportunities so as to mitigate risk and build resiliency in ways that are durable and sustainable through activities such as bioengineering and land/watershed management and other complementary approaches both as a means of increasing economic opportunities and for the protection of current assets and future investments.
• Work closely with the Country Programme Director, MRED-Program Director, Regional Resilience Director and MERL advisor to ensure synergy of strategies between the Nepal and Timor-Leste MRED and ZFRA 2 activities and to capture learning from shared approaches, and from differences pertaining to each context.
• Develop Influence strategies for national level private and government stakeholders and engage them to expand the nexus interventions beyond the program area.
• Lead the project team to work with target communities in a participatory manner to adopt durable and sustainable approaches to disaster preparedness, with a particular focus on mitigation, and, where appropriate, early warning and contingency planning.
• Ensure the program strategies and research activities are in line with the program. Work with the Directors (MRED and Regional resilience) to capture these approaches from Nepal and assure lessons are shared with the Timor-Leste program team, and vice versa.
• Lead the development and maintenance of all project planning documents and processes, including detailed work-plans, engineering work plans and technical design plans, and M&E plan. Ensure compliance with PM@MC minimum standard.
• Ensure monitoring of project activities is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts in order to assess effectiveness and impact and propose recommendations for improvements.
• Lead and ensure all program components are working jointly; DRR, Market system development, financial services, livelihood and CCA to increase the resilience of the vulnerable communities and systems.
Coordination & Representation:
• Develop good collaboration with the other Program Manager and tea, and develop synergistic effect on the implementation of both the program and develop harmony among field team member.
• Develop program document to meet the SWC compliance and maintain good relation with national level government and private stakeholders.
• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with implementing partners, private sector partners, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met; including among stakeholders in Nepal but also across the regional program in Timor-Leste.
• Participate in external meetings as requested by the Director of Programs/Country Director, and on behalf of the M-RED represent Mercy Corps’ learning from the ‘nexus’ approach of DRR, flood resiliency and economic development.
• Take active role in strategic decision-making among the regional program team at all team events including annual program management workshops, assessment design workshops, cross-visits and other relevant meetings.
• Work closely with Finance & Compliance Director to 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.
• Share good practices from MRED with other program e.g. BHAKARI, contribute to overall organization learning process on Resilience.
• Participate in country level coordination and Manager’s meeting as needed.
Monitoring, Evaluations, and Reporting:
• Ensure M&E system is in place to capture regular program data and impact.
• Ensure quarterly data review process is setup and analysis from data used for program redesign.
• Provide leadership for the application of research methods with the external research partner during Nepal site visits, ensuring rigor of research approach while maintaining feasibility for the local context.
• Take lead, working with country M&E team and MRED M&E Advisor/Officer, to design and coordinate needs assessments, data and information collection for on-going monitoring.
• Coordinate closely with all project personnel, including partner staff, other similar projects within and outside agency and other related stakeholders to ensure all objectives of the proposal and activities are met, and project outputs are clearly documented and results used to produce high-quality, well written, donor and internal progress reports.
• Organizes site-visits to the projects sites and host visitors including donor representatives and consultants, as needed.
• Regularly monitor implementation of program activities in terms of environmental compliance. Identify problems, create and implement solutions, track progress and document learnings on a regular basis.
Team Management:
• 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.
• Recruit and supervise staff members, including setting program tasks to ensure the fulfillment of program goals.
• 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.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
Finance and Compliance Management
• Ensure all internal control procedures are adhered to and that necessary measures are put in place to ensure high standards of accountability and compliance.
• Work closely with finance/compliance to mitigate fraud, conflict of interest and legal ramifications of Mercy Corps activities.
• Support and orient on MC Code of Ethics and uphold Mercy Corps’ Zero tolerance of corruption policy.
Security
• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members and community operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
Accountability To Program Participants
• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging participating 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.
Others
• Mercy Corps as a humanitarian agency is expected to respond as and when crisis and humanitarian situation engulfs. As an MC employee all staff are expected to be part of humanitarian and emergency response in addition to their regular roles and responsibilities.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Conduct themselves both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other duties as assigned by their supervisor and or Country Director.
Supervisory Responsibility
M-RED Team
Reports Directly to: Director of Programs (DoP) for all, specifically MRED Regional Program Director for MRED
Works Directly with: Local implementing partner(s); private sector partner(s); and Mercy Corps DM&E, Finance/Compliance, and Operations team members.
Knowledge and Experience
• BA/S is required or MA/S is preferred or equivalent in disaster risk management/Climate change, social sciences, international development or other relevant field.
• At least 5-7 years of relevant, professional experience in progressively responsible positions. At least 3 years in a senior leadership role for DRR in Nepal. Experience in managing or senior technical advisor roles specifically in Disaster Risk Management, Climate Change, Market System/Livelihood development.
• Strong management skill including supervising technical/field teams and implementing partners.
• Strong team training/workshop facilitation and experience in strategy development.
• Experience leading the implementation of DRR work with a vision of longer-term, multi-sector integrated projects, with a strong understanding of resilience approaches as well.
• Experience managing large scale community based DRR and DRR systems strengthening including institutional capacity building for government and civic society actors. Relevant DRR experience should include:
• Familiarity with National DRM policies, strategies and working with Provincial and municipal government structures for DRR, EWS and climate and weather information and integration of DRR into formal planning processes and budgeting procedures.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Excellent negotiation and representation skills and the ability to work comfortably with culturally diverse staff under tight deadlines and often stressful situations.
• Experience representing the organization and its interests to a diverse range of local stakeholders, private sector actors, Government and partners.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to develop good relationships with a wide range of actors required.
• Effective writing and organizational skills for report development, complete analyses and make presentations.
• Proficiency in computer skills
Success Factors
The successful Program Manager will combine exceptional management skills and technical skills with a focus on innovative interventions to institutionalize market development approach. They should also have proven experience with providing technical inputs in market development programming, 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.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
Last date to apply: October 25, 2020
HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates are requested to submit Cover letter and updated Resume by COB October 25, 2020 to the email address: [email protected]
