Latest Job at Mercy Corps for a Policy and Governance Advisor, 16th March
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: Policy and Governance Advisor
Location: Abuja
Program / Department Summary
- The Educating Nigerian Girls in New Enterprises (ENGINE)
Programme is an initiative to improve learning outcomes and the economic
status of marginalized adolescent girls aged 16-19 in the Northern
Nigerian states of Kano and Kaduna, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
and the metropolis of Lagos, Nigeria.
- ENGINE through funding from the UK Department for International
Development's Girls Education Challenge, the Coca-Cola Company and other
stakeholders supported over 18,000 marginalized girls to reduce
education and financial barriers in its first implementation phase.
- In its second phase, ENGINE 2 will facilitate transition of
these girls into functional literacy, numeracy and scale up their
business opportunities and linkages.
- ENGINE 2 will further increase girls' and young women's access to:
- Financial education and life skills;
- Peer to peer networks and mentoring; and
- Direct assets (materials and savings).
- Beneficiaries will be integrated into value chains as well as conduct other market-driven employment opportunities.
- ENGINE 2 will also work with girls in formal and informal
education to increase their learning opportunities and outcomes to
prepare them for future economic activities and work in the policy
environment to provide an enabling environment for girls to flourish in
their chosen pathways.
General Position Summary
- The Policy and Governance Advisor will be responsible for ENGINE 2’s policy and governance component of the project.
- This position will ensure ENGINE 2 implementation is responsive
to marginalized Nigerian girls, their communities and the country at
large.
- This position will coordinate with other donor-funded programs to facilitate policies that are favorable for girls to thrive.
- S/he will be responsible for working with government to ensure
policies are implemented to allow girls thrive by becoming educated and
empowered.
- S/he will provide technical leadership on policy and governance issues.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision:
- Support the development of the overall vision and strategic plan for the policy and governance unit.
- Recognize and adapt policies that are favourable and sustainable
Program Management:
- Provide technical leadership for the design, formalization, and management of innovative policy and governance initiatives
- Evaluating the relevance and appropriateness of current and
future programming in relation to policies affecting or hindering girl
child education and empowerment
- Undertaking staff capacity building
- Ensuring quality and integrity of implementation, including
adherence to technical guidelines, administrative systems, and
established deadlines
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.
- Implement performance planning and management systems, establish
performance expectations with team members, and regularly provide
constructive feedback on team members’ performance.
- 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.
- Supervise, support hire and orientation of new team members as necessary.
- Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
Finance & Compliance Management:
- Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
- Draft and /or review scope of work to hire and manage any
technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and
contract budget.
Influence & Representation:
- Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with governments and other stakeholders.
- Proactively form relationships community members to complement DfID funding.
- Represent ENGINE 2 on governance issues at technical and
strategic planning meetings, or as requested by the Director of Gender
Programs.
- Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
Security:
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
- Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies
- Work closely with Mercy Corps Nigeria country team's security
focal point to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and
security of the team in all aspects of its implementation process.
Organization 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.
Knowledge and Experience
- Master's Degree or its equivalent in International Relations,
Development Studies, Management, Social Sciences, International
Development or other relevant field.
- A minimum of 5 years of progressive work experience including at
least 2 years in a Senior Management or Technical Advisory role on
large, education, gender- focused, skills building program.
- Strong understanding of DfID compliance issues.
- Strong written and oral communication skills in English required, including report development, writing and editing.
- Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures,
meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team
members.
- Demonstrated experience working with country-level ministries
and government officials, Ministry of Education experience preferred.
- Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant
cross-cultural issues in high security environment. Experience managing
a multi-organizational team (international and national partners) is a
plus.
- Experience working in Northern Nigeria strongly preferred.
Success Factors
- The successful candidate will combine exceptional leadership,
management and technical skills with a focus on innovative interventions
to engage adolescent girls in informal education and skills building
linked with private sector entrepreneurship and employment opportunities
in a culturally and religiously conservative environment.
- S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and
manage innovative and complex programs within the current and future
program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. 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.
- 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.
Note
- All applications must include the position title in the subject
line, be not more than four pages and must be submitted on or before
the closing date.
- 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.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their CV's and Cover
Letter in one document, addressing the position requirements to:
[email protected]
Application Deadline: 22nd March, 2017