Program Manager Women and Adolescent Girls - Mali

Tracking Code: 219933-927

Job Location: Bamako, Bamako, Mali

Position Type: Full-Time/Regular

Job Description

This position is contingent upon funding and donor approval. 

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps works almost exclusively in high-risk conflict and post-conflict environments. While we recognize that these are difficult places to operate, we believe that transitional environments – countries affected by civil wars, economic and political crisis, or natural disasters – also offer tremendous opportunities for positive change. We currently implement over 30 peacebuilding programs in some of the world’s toughest places.

Once acclaimed as an example of stability in West Africa, Mali spiraled into an unprecedented political crisis after the government was overthrown in March 2012. The radical Islamist occupation in the north displaced nearly 400,000 people and compounded a severe food crisis that spanned across the Sahel region. Mercy Corps has operated in Mali since 2012, providing aid primarily in the country’s northern regions. Our programs in Mali have focused on three priority areas: emergency response, food and agriculture, and support to entrepreneurship.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Women and Adolescent Girls Program Manager will have responsibility for the overall achievement of objectives, and the day-to-day administration and implementation of a US State Department-funded Africa- Women, Peace and Security peacebuilding and economic empowerment program (WISE).  The Program Manager (PM) will be responsible for ensuring that the program runs smoothly by providing overall leadership, management, supervision, and strategic vision for the implementation of the program, while managing staff and resources to ensure that the program meets its targets and deliverables on-time, within budget, and at a high level of quality. S/he will supervise key staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps policies and donor rules and regulations, while working closely with the national partner organization to build capacity and ensure achievement of program results.  The PM will play a key role in the development of relevant proposals, and she will provide input to the overall Mercy Corps country strategy in Mali.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program Management

• Manage and oversee all peacebuilding, conflict management/mitigation program activities in cooperation with key project stakeholders, including local non-governmental organizations, local government officials, community-based organizations, other international agencies on the ground, and key donors.
• Collaborate with program, finance and administrative staff to ensure systems are in compliance with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Implement and model Mercy Corps’ philosophy of social entrepreneurship and leverage Mercy Corps’ best practices.
• Increase staff capacity by designing and leading technical training sessions on conflict management for Mercy Corps staff and local partners and providing ongoing coaching and mentoring.
• Promote learning and knowledge management through documentation and knowledge sharing around best practices and lessons learned.

Vision, Leadership and Strategy

• Develop a clear vision for the WISE program, as well as a clear and effective strategy for program implementation and evaluation.
• Ensure that the WISE program strategy is clear and communicated to team members, local beneficiaries and partners.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and aligned with Mercy Corps’ principles and values (Vision for Change).  
• Collaborate with other related Mercy Corps programs to create synergies wherever possible.

Program Implementation

• Provide leadership and oversight in all aspects of program implementation, management and evaluation.
• Provide technical leadership to the program in the areas of conflict mitigation, inclusive governance, organizational capacity building, adolescent girls empowerment, and economic development.
• Ensure adherence to Mercy Corps Program Management Initiative’s (PMI) minimum standards.
• Monitor adherence to the WISE donor grant agreement, as well as Mercy Corps’ and donor’s policies and procedures for procurement and compliance.
• Oversee program staff performance and quality of program implementation. 
• Conduct frequent field visits to all program sites.

Team Management

• Create a work atmosphere that promotes professional development of personnel at all levels.
• Establish performance expectations and regularly provide constructive feedback to staff. 
• Contribute to team-building efforts across the WISE program and encourage the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
• Facilitate training and management of staff, particularly national team members. 

Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation  

• Establish and oversee effective program monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems for both internal and external use and ensure high quality input is obtained from team members.
• Use reporting results to monitor program success, measure impact, and calibrate program strategy accordingly.
• Ensure documentation of achievements and lessons learned to ensure best practices are captured and disseminated in quarterly and final program reports.

Representation and Coordination  

• Liaise with local government officials including the government ministries, local NGOs, project partners, local religious leaders, and other community members to ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps projects in relevant geographic areas.

Fiscal, Compliance Management and Accountability  

• Coordinate and manage overall program budget within approved spending levels and ensure compliance with all donor and Mercy Corps’ rules and regulations.
• Ensure adherence to Mercy Corps policies as per internal/ external audit requirements.
• Ensure accurate and timely program financial reporting to donors and Mercy Corps’ headquarters.

Accountability to Beneficiaries: 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.

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.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Project team

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:  Mercy Corps Mali Country Director

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Mercy Corps Mali administration, finance and logistics departments. Also works directly with local national staff and relevant Mercy Corps headquarters units as necessary, including Mercy Corps’ Conflict Management Group, Gender Advisor and program support and finance units.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Masters degree in gender, conflict mitigation, social sciences, international relations or other relevant field preferred.
• 2-4 years’ relevant professional experience implementing gender, conflict management and reconciliation, youth, or livelihoods programs, preferably in insecure or transitional environments.
• Strong facilitation and consensus-building skills.
• Experience managing national staff.
• Experience working with and building the capacity of national partner organizations.
• Familiarity and experience with USAID regulations preferred.
• Must be able to work independently while being a strong team player.
• French and English fluency required

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful Program Manager will have the ability to multi-task, set priorities, and work under tight deadlines within a complex team. S/he will demonstrate strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills and be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps. S/he will take initiative and contribute to team efforts, as well as demonstrate an ability to communicate, assume leadership, and make solid decisions while working remotely from country leadership.

LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The position is based in Bamako with travel to project areas, security permitting. Bamako is served by an international airport with daily flights to European and African destinations. Restaurants and shopping options are available but may be limited. Health care services exist but for more serious conditions, medevac to Dakar, Senegal or Europe may be required. While the city has been mostly secure, recent attacks against foreigners underscore the fluidity of the situation and may require expatriate staff to adhere to security policies, such as restrictions on movement. There are international schools and Bamako is an accompanied family post.

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 MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

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