Chief of Party Alternative & Rural Livelihoods Afghanistan

Title: Chief of Party Alternative & Rural Livelihoods Afghanistan

Tracking Code: 218581-927

Job Location: Kabul, Kābul, Afghanistan

Position Type: Full-Time/Regular

Job Description

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has been working in Afghanistan continuously since 1986, currently in 9 provinces, with a large portfolio of programs aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture and natural resource-based livelihoods, increasing food security, promoting micro-finance and strengthening private sector, civil society and government institutions. Donors include the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the European Union (EU), and the Department for International Development of the British Government (DFID).

The Chief of Party (COP) will lead the implementation of a proposed multi-year $20 million program that supports USAID’s strategic objective to strengthen and diversify legal rural livelihoods in targeted districts in Kandahar province by identifying and addressing the root causes and sources of instability that lead to opium poppy cultivation. This will be accomplished through stabilization and alternative livelihood activities that will encourage licit behavior on the part of targeted communities.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The COP will provide overall leadership, management and strategic vision to the implementation of the Kandahar Food Zone (KPZ) program, managing staff and resources to ensure that the program meets its targets and deliverables on-time and within budget.  The COP will supervise key program staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps policies and donor rules and regulations. He/she will be the primary program representative to donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers and external stakeholders. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program Implementation:

Provide leadership and strategic vision in all aspects of program implementation, development and management. Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners, and aligned with Mercy Corps principles, values and strategic plan.  Monitor adherence to grant agreement, Mercy Corps policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations. Oversee performance of consortium partners and sub-grantees. Conduct frequent field visits to all project sites.

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Reporting:

Facilitate the achievement of program targets and objectives and lead efforts to design effective M&E systems. Oversee the scheduling and production of formal and informal reports on all aspects of the program in a timely and efficient manner. Ensure that M&E staff focus on assisting programs to generate practical information that can be used for ongoing program decision-making while also capturing results at the impact level.

Coordination and Representation:

Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field, in close coordination with the Country Director.  Coordinate activities with consortium partners, subgrantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.

Staff Management, Professional Development and Team building:

Create a work atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of excellent personnel at all levels. Implement, and ensure all staff are effectively using, the performance planning and management system, establishing performance expectations and regularly providing constructive feedback.  Promote accountability by conducting staff annual performance reviews with direct supervisees, and ensuring that supervisory staff do the same.   Contribute to country team-building efforts, and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Program Support Operations:

Coordinate with program and finance and administration staff to ensure operational systems are in place to support field activities including logistics (transport, warehousing and asset management), procurement, security, administration and human resources. Propose design of new local policies as needed and in accordance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.

Security:

Work closely with the 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 work.  Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security management priorities.

•           Work with the Security Manager based in Kabul and the field Security Management Teams to contribute to and maintain systems that ensure safety and security of the team in Kandahar in all aspects of their work.

•           Ensure that the program is implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security management priorities. 

•           Participate in Country Security Management meetings when in Kabul.

New Initiatives:

In coordination with the Country Director, Regional Program Director, HQ Program Operations team and other relevant personnel and counterparts, play an active role in identifying new initiatives that foster and/ or improve the strategic objectives of the country office, whether utilizing existing resources or requiring program/ project development.

Organizational Learning

As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.

 

ACCOUNTABILITY:

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards 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: Program Manager, M&E Manager, Finance and Administration Manager

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:  Country Director

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Program team members, otherProgram Managers/Coordinators and Directors; national and international NGOs, UN agencies working in the region and government offices and officials to maximize efforts and avoid duplication.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• MA/S or equivalent in Business, Agriculture, Economics, International Development or other relevant sector required
• Five to seven years of overseas experience including three years in a senior management position, required
• Strong understanding of USAID compliance issues, required
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English, including report development, writing and editing, required
• Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues is required
• Demonstrated ability to build team member capacity as well as excellent team and interpersonal relationship skills, especially in a cross-cultural setting, required
• Ability to communicate program objectives and represent Mercy Corps to international donors, government officials, local groups and community members is critical
• Demonstrated attention to detail, while also being able to see the ‘bigger picture’ of a very large and complex portfolio, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required
• Previous experience working in Afghanistan or South Asia and/or knowledge of the region is preferred
• Experience working in an insecure environment and security knowledge is a strongly preferred
• Experience coordinating with other international agencies and government bodies required

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful COP will combine exceptional management skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships.  He/She will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, 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.

S/he will be knowledgeable of security protocols and be proactive in communication to and in response to security incidents. S/he will demonstrate a strong understanding of cultural, political and religious considerations in the region as well as a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, making effective communication a priority in all situations. The candidate should have a personality that enjoys working in difficult locations, can accommodate the insecurity that defines Southern Afghanistan and can cope with periods of intense activity as well as periods of isolation and potential loneliness. 

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

This position is based in Kabul, Afghanistan, and will work out of field and Kabul offices. It is unaccompanied and qualifies for hardship and R&R. Housing will be shared accommodations. Security permitting, at least 30% of the time should be spent in the provinces. The security situation is extremely volatile, particularly in the South, and may spike into situations requiring hibernation or evacuation. S/he is expected to follow all security protocols including limited movement when necessary.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff 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 in-country venues.

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