Job Openings at Mercy Corps, July 2017
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 collaborate to put bold solutions into action - helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within, now and for the future. In Nigeria, Mercy Corps operates in over 13 states focusing on key thematic areas of humanitarian response, conflict mitigation and adolescent girls’ empowerment.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Deputy Program Manager -I-SING
Location: Biu, Borno
Reports Directly To: All I-SING staff in the program, Finance, and operations team
Program/Department Summary
- I-SING project is a 2 year funded project by the EU- Trust fund. The position is based in Biu with travel to Gombe and Maiduguri on a regular basis.
- The Deputy Program Manager supports the ISING Program Manager in the day to day implementation of project activities in the Gombe and Borno states of Northeast Nigeria. S/he will work closely with the ISING project officers to ensure smooth project implementation and delivery of project objectives.
- In the absence of the Program Manager, the Deputy Program Manager will act on their behalf, managing the project and work closely both with management and support staff (including finance, administration and program) in Northeast Nigeria to ensure the day to day activities are implemented according to schedule, budget and required quality.
- The main office that houses majority of the staff is based in Biu thus the need to travel. The project’s focus is on adolescent girls and boys using the safe spaces model. The project works with IDPs, returnees and the host community. The overall objective of the program is to improve the safety, livelihoods and personal agency of adolescent girls in North East Nigeria.
- General Position Summary
- The Deputy Project Manager reports directly to the I-SING Program Manager.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision:
- Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
- Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.
Program Management:
- Directly support the Program Manager in managing all operations and activities related to the ISING project in Northeast Nigeria according to the work plan, project document and implementation strategy.
- Troubleshoot, as needed, to prevent disruptions in daily program activities and liaise with Program Manager as necessary.
- In close collaboration with the Program Manager build the ISING Program Officer & Assistant team ensuring that there are fluent communication channels that the reporting schedule is timely met and that projects objectives are achieved.
- Coordinate and share information to ensure overall projects targets and donor obligations are being achieved. Troubleshoot on reporting and programmatic needs. Advise supervisor on suggested improvements and necessities, as required.
- Contribute to the design and implementation of trainings in any areas related to the ISING activities for staff, communities and project beneficiaries.
- Coordinate closely with the Program Manager and relevant administrative and finance staff to ensure proper logistics, administration, human resources and transport needs of the project are conducted within MC policy and with the maximum benefit to the project.
- Support the ISING Program Manager in forecasting expenditure surpluses and deficits to enable adjustments to be made to the project in a timely fashion.
- Build capacity of national staff under their supervision (program officers and assistants)
- Ensure establishment and maintenance of relationships with communities, and local government in the target locations.
- Support the Program Manager in overseeing the project filing system for all ISING related activities and ensure that information is organized accordingly to the reporting and auditing needs of the project. Ensure required levels of confidentiality.
- Closely coordinate and share information with the various sectors of the ISING project staff including gender and livelihoods and general program support with regular program meetings and activity plans.
- Mobilize communities to participate in the design, implementation and maintenance of projects as well as design viable strategies which are both respectful with the local culture and are gender sensitive and effective in engaging women in the activities of the project.
- Provide direct and ongoing supervision and managerial support to all national ISING program officers and assistants.
- Provide written and oral translation and report writing for program staff, as necessary;
- 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.
- Other duties as assigned.
Finance & Compliance Management:
- Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
- Responsible for expenditure tracking of activities carried out in the field
Influence & Representation:
- Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with the community, government and other stakeholder’s
- Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets are met.
Security:
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
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:
- The Deputy Program Manager will supervise 9 officers
Knowledge and Experience
- MA/MS/MBA in relevant field required.
- Minimum 4-5 years of experience working on the development, implementation, administration and compliance of a field-based international development or humanitarian program; specifically in economic recovery.
- Experience working with multiple stakeholders to identify beneficiaries according to criteria required.
- Experience with running assessments, monitoring and evaluation and other learning efforts required.
- Commitment to renewing and maintaining knowledge of best practices
- Demonstrated training and facilitation experience
- Ability to work under pressure
- Demonstrated strengths in analytical skills, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing
- Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills
- Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills
- Experience representing the organization and its interests to a diverse range of local and international government officials, local civil society organizations, other international organizations, the media and the public.
- Fluency in English; fluency in Hausa is required.
Success Factors
- Strong Work Ethic, having the ability to learn the most efficient way of learning the most efficient way to complete tasks and finding ways to save time while completing daily assignments. Dependability and Responsibility, having the ability to come to work on time, are there when they are supposed to be, and are responsible for their actions and behavior. Adaptability, being adaptable and maintaining flexibility in completing tasks in an ever-changing workplace.
- Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours .
- 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, working to create a strong team share ideas and learn.
Job Title: Program Officer-I-SING
Location: Gombe
Program/Department Summary
- I-SING project is a 2 year funded project by the EU- Trust fund.
- The position is based in Gombe with travel to Biu and Maiduguri on a regular basis.
- The project’s focus is on adolescent girls and boys using the safe spaces model.
- The project works with IDPs, returnees and the host community.
- The overall objective of the program is to improve the safety, livelihoods and personal agency of adolescent girls in North East Nigeria.
General Position Summary
- The project officer will be responsible for supporting activities in the intervention communities of ISING program.
- S/He will be responsible for supporting the implementation of strategic, impactful, and high-quality programming.
- The project officer will report to the Deputy Programme Manager and work collaboratively with the Program Manager as well as fellow program staff.
- S/he will work extensively with other sectors to ensure that all program activities are implemented successfully and timely.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision:
- Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
- Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.
Program Management:
- Support in project start-up and ongoing project management and administration of activities including beneficiary identification, distribution site selection, planning and implementing the distributions, working with partners and facilitating
- Contribute to all fieldwork, including identifying beneficiaries and vendors, participating in distributions, monitoring and supporting beneficiaries during the shopping periods, coordinating with community leaders and other stakeholders and other field-based tasks as assigned.
- Contribute to program reporting, monitoring and evaluation systems for both internal and external use in coordination with the other program staff.
- Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
- Conduct monitoring and data collection as directed by the Program Manager/Deputy, assisting with specific surveys or assessments as needed.
- Contribute to providing the Deputy Program Manager with up-to-date information on the affected and targeted community and coordinates beneficiary lists and numbers with different stakeholders.
- Ensure effective beneficiary targeting according to established vulnerability criteria.
- Adherence to all MC policies and procedures as outlined in MC policies and procedure manuals;
- 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 in country of operation;
- Other duties as assigned.
Finance & Compliance Management:
- Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
- Responsible for expenditure tracking of activities carried out in the field
Influence & Representation:
- Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with the community, government and other stakeholder’s
- Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets are met.
Security:
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
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:
- The officer will supervise a team of community coordinators and mentors
Accountability:
- Reports Directly To: The Deputy Program Manager
- Works Directly With: Program Manager and with other I-SING officers in the program
Knowledge and Experience
- Previous working experience with women and girls is required
- Negotiation skills, especially while working with communities
- Ability to organize and prioritize work, as well as meeting strict timelines
- Experience in report writing is essential
- Knowledge of community participation approaches and conflict management skills
- Ability to manage community volunteers and effective conflict management skills
- Experience working in an NGO is an added advantage
Success Factors
- Strong Work Ethic, having the ability to learn the most efficient way of learning the most efficient way to complete tasks and finding ways to save time while completing daily assignments.
- Dependability and Responsibility, having the ability to come to work on time, are there when they are supposed to be, and are responsible for their actions and behavior.
- Adaptability, being adaptable and maintaining flexibility in completing tasks in an ever-changing workplace.
- Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours .
- 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
Job Title: Program Assistant -I-SING
Location: Gombe
Program/Department Summary
- I-SING project is a 2 year funded project by the EU- Trust fund. The position is based in Gombe with possible travel to Biu and Maiduguri on a regular basis. The project’s focus is on adolescent girls and boys using the safe spaces model.
- The project works with IDPs, returnees and the host community. The overall objective of the program is to improve the safety, livelihoods and personal agency of adolescent girls in North East Nigeria.
General Position Summary
- The project assistant will assist the program teams in the day to day implementation of all program activities in the areas of intervention.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision:
- Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
- Recognize opportunities for learning and take initiative to learn and participate in capacity building opportunities in the organization.
Program Management:
- Assist program officers to ensure program progress according to the developed schedule and work plan.
- Assist in the coordination in target geographical areas.
- Support in the process of beneficiary registration, community mobilization and sensitization.
- Assist in promoting community participation and inclusion so as to encourage community ownership over activities implemented.
- Keep program officers and management updated with regards to security situation in the project implementation area.
- Provide weekly field reports, capturing activities progress, lessons learned as well as general situation and community updates and needs.
- Document lessons learned and success stories on the project.
- Ensure equal representation of various community groups in the implementation of activities.
- Assist in the facilitation of community meetings, focus group discussion and other as required by the program.
- Adherence to all MC policies and procedures as outlined in MC policies and procedure manuals;
- 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 in country of operation;
- Other duties as assigned.
Finance & Compliance Management:
- Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
- Responsible for expenditure tracking of activities carried out in the field
Influence & Representation:
- Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with the community, government and other stakeholder’s
- Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets are met.
Security:
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
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:
Accountability:
- Reports Directly To: The Deputy Program Manager
- Works Directly With: Program Manager and with other I-SING officers in the program
Knowledge and Experience
- 1-2 years of working experience. Previous experience in community work is highly preferred.
- Bachelor degree in relevant field or equivalent experience is highly recommended
- Ability to work under pressure
- Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills
- Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills
- Proven ability to develop and maintain good relation with the local communities and project beneficiaries.
- Demonstrated skills in planning, organizing and reporting
- Fluency in English; fluency in Hausa is required
Success Factors:
- Strong Work Ethic, having the ability to learn the most efficient way of learning the most efficient way to complete tasks and finding ways to save time while completing daily assignments. Dependability and Responsibility, having the ability to come to work on time, are there when they are supposed to be, and are responsible for their actions and behavior. Adaptability, being adaptable and maintaining flexibility in completing tasks in an ever-changing workplace.
- Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours.
- 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.
How To Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV’s and Cover Letter in one document, addressing the position requirements to:
[email protected] All applications must include the position title in the subject line.
Note: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview and we are an equal opportunity organization so women are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
Applications Deadline: 31st July, 2017.