Field Program Manager (NE-CORE) at 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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Field Program Manager (NE-CORE)

Location: Bama, Borno
Employment Type: Full-time, Regular
Supervisory Responsibility: Field level program teams, supports operations and MEL
Reports Directly To: Senior Program Manager (NE CORE)
Works Directly With: Programs, PAQ (Program Accountability and Quality), Operation, Logistics, Security and Finance

Program / Department Summary

• Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on humanitarian assistance, economic development, and conflict mitigation. With the ongoing insurgency in Northeast Nigeria causing the displacement of millions of individuals, Mercy Corps started its humanitarian response in 2014 to address the rising humanitarian needs.
• As the crisis has persisted, Mercy Corps’ strategy has also expanded to address the root causes of the conflict and seek to build the long term resilience of communities with integrated programs focusing on governance, the recovery and resilient growth of markets and livelihoods, social cohesion and social protection, youth empowerment, and local conflict management.
• The Nigeria country program has grown considerably over the last few years, and is now among the largest Mercy Corps country programs globally, with a mixed donor & programming portfolio.
• Strengthening Humanitarian Response & Building Community Resilience in NE Nigeria (NE CORE) interventions not only contribute to Pillar Six (Reconstruct, Rehabilitate & Resettle) of the Borno State Government STIs (Strategic Transformational Initiatives), it also aligns with Mercy Corps vision of building towards a more inclusive, resilient future for the communities we serve through a framework of helping people and communities to cope, adapt and thrive.

General Position Summary

• Mercy Corps is looking for a Field Program Manager that is responsible for leading a diverse team and managing Mercy Corps operations and multi sectoral program of Humanitarian Assistance, early recovery towards more resilience and self-sufficient communities in the Deep Field Location of Bama.
• Under direct supervision of Senor Program Manager (NE CORE) Field Program Manager is responsible for day-to-day field level activities coordination and management with focus on program quality and accountability, while ensuring Mercy Corps policies and procedures are adhered to by all staff and other contractors for Mercy Corps.
• She/he is responsible for enforcing strict ethical and integrity standards and ensures that those cases of violation of ethics such as fraud, corruption, and breach of code of conduct are reported, documented, and dealt with according to Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• As the most senior staff for Mercy Corps in the Field location, the Field Program Manager is responsible for representing Mercy Corps to partner organizations and local authorities and for coordination with other NGOs.
• The post holder will represent Mercy Corps on local government level on all coordination platforms.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Project Management:

• Oversee ongoing programs and startup of new programs in field locations.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to achieve the desired impact
• Contribute to overall program workplans, take the lead on planning for his/her target area of operation
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities, authorities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan
• Complete routine progress reports and submit reports as required by the supervisor.
• Provide weekly progress reports on implementation to the supervisor. Assist MC management with any requests for information or data regarding program expansion or development.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Conduct regular monitoring visits to the field sites in the communities to ensure that all targeted program beneficiaries are rightly benefiting from Mercy Corps interventions.
• Coordinate, supervise and be responsible for project implementation in the target location, ensuring that all interventions are completed in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner according to the sector and Mercy Corps minimum standards.
• Ensure a safe working environment for all people involved in project implementation.

Quality, Accountability and Compliance:

• Provide Field Leadership in the roll out and implementation of Community Accountability Response Mechanism (CARM) according to established Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
• Promote and encourage openness to welcoming feedback and complaints from beneficiaries and communities and learning from staff.
• Ensure that those cases of violation of ethics such as fraud, corruption, and breach of code of conduct are reported, documented and dealt with according to Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Ensure that Standard Operating Procedures for all program activities are developed and adopted, strictly followed in the Gwoza/Bama.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity, resilience approach and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources and timely, accurate and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.

Operations Management:

• With support of Senior Field Manager and Operations, ensure operation systems (procurement, transport, storage, communications, estate / buildings management, asset management etc) in the target location are in accordance with Mercy Corps systems and policies
• Ensure adequate operational systems are in place to provide adequate support to the field team.
• In conjunction with the HR staff, ensure local recruitment is consistent with Mercy Corps HR recruitment policies, the legal context and local practice And that HR policies and procedures are understood by the project team and implemented.
• Provide leadership to the Field team, ensuring clarity over project plans and priorities, encouraging effective teamwork and inclusiveness, and building a team spirit through regular meetings.
• Oversee the administrative functions for the project team, line managing program and operations staff where appointed.

Security Management:

• Responsible for security management for the Field team, including providing inputs to the location-specific Security Plan, ensuring staff are fully briefed/trained on the agreed security measures appropriate to the area, staff understand individual and collective responsibilities for safety and security and ensuring incidents are reported, critical learning is recorded and corrective actions taken.

External Representation:

• Develop and maintain good lines of communication and strong relationships with local authorities, partner agencies and the local community leaders in the area of intervention.
• Represent Mercy Corps to local authorities (whether formal governmental or informal Authorities), securing the necessary appointments for visitors and local authority approvals and attendance to Mercy Corps functions.
• Represent Mercy Corps to other NGOs, and visitors, ensuring coordination and constructive working relations and attendance at relevant inter-agency coordination meetings as delegated by the Senior Field manager/Humanitarian sustainable Solution Director.
• 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.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders:

• 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 project.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• Bachelor's Degree
• At least 5 years field experience in Humanitarian and/or development programs, including demonstrable success in managing humanitarian programs in transitional environments, is required
• Ability to strengthen and maintain effective communications with the local authorities and local community.
• Ability to provide concise written program reports.
• Excellent English written and spoken and Hausa language are required.
• Proven experience in managing programs in relevant technical area(s) including E-Vouchers, Cash Transfers, Livelihoods, Financial Services, and/or services for Internally Displaced Persons. Strong understanding of conflict sensitive program mainstreaming would be a key advantage;
• Strong field leadership skills and proven experience in managing diverse and multicultural teams that cooperate and deliver results.
• Must be a person of high morality and integrity standards both at personal and professional level.
• Demonstrate ability to build and manage effective working relationships in multicultural environment
• Be proactive and able to work independently to complete project tasks
• Demonstrate attention to detail and ability to follow through on task assignments.

Success Factors:

• The successful candidates will provide effective leadership to the Mercy Corps program team in Gwoza/Bama. S/he will be a great coordinator, planner and effective communicator, capable of multi-tasking, rapid decision-making, have initiative, drive and bring a lot of energy.
• Field Program Manager will demonstrate high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and have proven experience with capacity building of teams, community stakeholders.
• S/he 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 Condition / Environmental Condition:

• The positions are based in Bama (FPM NE CORE), Borno state, Nigeria where living condition may be exposed to fluid security incidents and erratic GSM/Internet services.

Security:

• Security in the field locations require additional vigilance and accessibility will be reassessed continuously. Access to good medical services in the northeast is limited. Phone communication, internet, electricity and water is available but might be erratic.
• Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in 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 locations.

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 a 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, colour, 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 the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. 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 adhere to the 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.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Note

• Applicants should have their CVs and Cover Letters in one document addressing the position requirements.
• Female candidates who are qualified are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Note that Mercy Corps upholds a strict policy against accepting any form of bribe in our recruitment process. We prioritize fairness and transparency in our selection process.

Application Deadline 12th March, 2024.