Overview

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.

Job Position: Senior Program Manager (BEGE)

Job Location: Maiduguri, Borno

Job Description

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. The Broadening Emergency and Graduation Efforts in Borno (BEGE-Borno) intervention not only contributes 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.
  4. The BEGE Consortium goal is to deliver lifesaving, life-sustaining interventions and enhance adaptation of 238,369 displaced, returnee and host households to shocks and systemic constraints within Borno State. BEGE Borno is a consortium led by Mercy Corps, with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) as a partner, alongside other local partners, delivering integrated assistance to people in acute need through Health, Nutrition, WASH, Food Assistance, Unconditional Cash, Protection, Shelter and Agriculture sectors.

General Position Summary

  1. This position offers overall oversight of program implementation and deliverables, team leadership functions on the Mercy Corps tasks under BEGE Consortium. The Senior Program Manager is a cross-functional and cross-sectoral manager and leader who takes full responsibility for the successful delivery of Mercy Corps’ responsibilities within the BEGE Consortium.
  2. This role coordinates heavily within Mercy Corps teams, the BEGE consortium members, the Borno State Government and target LGAs authorities and stakeholders. Snr PM reports directly to BEGE Consortium Director and has ultimate responsibility to ensure MC activities are on time, on scope and within sector minimum standards and best practices. Snr Program Manager will monitor program budgets, represent the team at internal, cross-departmental and teams’ platforms, as well as externally, as directed by the supervisor. Snr Program Manager will collaborate effectively with the two sister programs managers: THRIVE and NE CORE to ensure efficient use of the resources, unification of approaches and sharing the learnings.

Job Responsibilities
Throughout the life of award, the success of the Senior Program Manager-BEGE will be evaluated based upon the following scope:

Strategy & Vision:

  1. Contribute to Mercy Corps Pathways to Possibilities (P2P) agenda, assist BEGE Director in ensuring all sectors and activities align with the strategy.
  2. Lead on developing local partnerships.
  3. Lead and guide Mercy Corps BEGE team and program Partners in delivering the activities across BEGE Program sectors.
  4. Contribute to/and assist during assessments and support new initiatives to sustain the efficient assistance to the local communities and program participants.
  5. Stay abreast of changing context and needs, closely collaborate with Analytics Team.

Program Management:

  1. Manage and oversee the implementation of the Mercy Corps tasks under BEGE Consortium, ensuring it is on-time, on-scope and within the budget as well as sensitive to the context.
  2. Ensure effective management and coordination of successful delivery of an integrated package of multi-sectoral interventions.
  3. Structure the team to ensure that all program aspects meet the highest programmatic standards and adhere to the sectoral minimum standards and norms.
  4. Lead on and maintain Mercy Corps program and sectoral planning meetings, ensure workplans are functional and always up to date.
  5. Ensure the team produces and updates procurement and recruitment plans.
  6. Take the lead on consolidating Mercy Corps progress reports, ensuring they are accurate, concise, and timely.
  7. Ensure all MC administration, logistical, human resources and financial procedures are followed in relation to implementation of BEGE Program.
  8. Closely collaborate with program managers of THRIVE and NE CORE, share workplans, learnings and challenges.
  9. Work closely with the MEL team to ensure that all essential programs, organizational metrics, and lessons learned are being adequately captured.
  10. Capture best practices and lessons learned and promote an overall culture of adaptive learning through systematic analysis and reflection on program data.
  11. Ensure all MC program management minimum standards are met.
  12. Encourage culture and learning, accountability and adaptation, work with broader Program Accountability and Quality (PAQ) team to put in place strong knowledge management systems.

Team Management:

  1. Recruit a program team and ensure that program staff receive necessary inductions and training (including program management certification where required).
  2. Oversee orgchart of MC team under BEGE, suggest functional or programmatic adaptation, whenever required.
  3. Create a work atmosphere of mutual respect and trust, conducive to innovations in the program implementation, professional growth and development of excellent personnel at all levels.
  4. Lead and organise regular program team meetings; collaborate with PAQ and Consortium Director on Quarterly Review meetings.
  5. Implement, and ensure all staff members are effectively using, the performance planning and management system, establishing performance expectations and regularly providing constructive feedback.
  6. Promote accountability by conducting staff annual performance reviews with direct supervisees and ensuring that supervisory staff personnel do the same.
  7. Help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Finance & Compliance Management:

  1. Work closely with the Finance team to review monthly budget versus actual financial management information to ensure that all MC BEGE program expenditures are on track and do not exceed approved budget variance limits.
  2. Plan and manage MC BEGE monthly and quarterly cash flows and oversee the timely and compliant expenditure by the sub-grantees.
  3. Ensure all internal control procedures are adhered to and that necessary measures are put in place to ensure high standards of accountability and compliance.

Influence & Representation:

  1. Represent MC BEGE in BEGE Consortium meetings.
  2. Work closely with all BEGE Consortium Partners and external stakeholders for impactful and efficient delivery of assistance to the communities
  3. Closely coordinate with MCN two sister programs implemented in Borno (THRIVE and NE CORE) to ensure effective use of shared resources, exchange of lessons learned and coordinate on unification of sectoral approaches.
  4. In communication and coordination with BEGE Consortium Director, represent Mercy Corps to government, donors, I/NGOs and other relevant events in the field.
  5. Coordinate MC BEGE activities with partners, sub-grantees, government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps global staff.
  6. Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

Security:

  1. Ensure team’s compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
  2. Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
  3. Work closely with Mercy Corps Security and Analytics teams to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its implementation process.

Organisational 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.

Supervisory Responsibility:

  • Field Program Managers, local partnerships

Accountability:

  1. Reports Directly To: BEGE Consortium Director
  2. Works Directly with: Sector Leads, THRIVE Snr Program Manager, NE-CORE Senior Program Manager, PAQ Team, Finance Manager, Operations Manager, Security Advisor, Analytics team, Government & External Relations Manager.

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.

Job Requirements

  1. MA/S or equivalent in International Development or related field preferred.
  2. At least 3-4 years of consistently growing competencies and experience in managing an integrated multi sector program and teams, ideally in humanitarian and/or early recovery settings.
  3. Familiarity with and understanding of the humanitarian context in Borno State and Northeast Nigeria required.
  4. History of working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGO and NGO partners in complex environments
  5. Experience in working with partners, managing partnership, desirable.
  6. Familiarity with USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) Assistance Guidelines, as well as experience in managing BHA funded programs strongly preferred.
  7. Strong budget management skills required.
  8. Demonstrated ability to function as a solution-seeker and proven success with building, managing and leading a consortium of partners and a team of professionals.
  9. Effective verbal and written communication and collaboration skills
  10. Demonstrated multi-tasking, organizational, planning and prioritization skills are necessary.
  11. Fluency in English written, and oral communication required.

Success Factor

  1. The successful candidate will have the enthusiasm and proactive personality to regularly interact and coordinate with team, BEGE Program participants and various internal and external stakeholders.
  2. Senior Program Manager will be a dedicated humanitarian aid worker, able to lead the team and program towards more sustainable assistance. S/he will be an efficient communicator, with excellent organizational and planning skills.
  3. Senior Program Manager will be committed to the humanitarian principles, programmatic excellency. S/he will also have the skill to engage, motivate and encourage staff and stakeholders to bring creative solutions to humanitarian issues. S/he will be a self-starter and team player. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours.
  4. 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.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

Application Deadline
10th November, 2023.

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

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.
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