Tracking Code: 219925-927
Job Location: Addis Ababa, Ādīs Ābeba, Ethiopia
Position Type: Full-Time/Regular
Job Description
PROGRAMME SUMMARY
Mercy Corps is an international non-profit humanitarian
organization with the guiding principles of Accountability, Participationand Positive
Change. In Ethiopia, Mercy Corps currently operates in the following
sectors: Economic and Market Development, Urban Climate Change and Development,
Natural Resource Management, Water and Sanitation, Resilience, Emergency
Response and Nutrition. Mercy Corps Ethiopia adopts a community-led,
market-driven approach and works with communities as well as the public,
private and non-profit sectors to implement sustainable relief, recovery and
development interventions. Mercy Corps Ethiopia has projects ongoing in the Afar,
Oromia, SNNP and Somali regions.
The core objective of the overall DFID-financed Economic
Opportunities for Vulnerable Groups programme (under the PDP framework) is to “contribute
to a more stable and inclusive Somali Region” in support of the Government
of Ethiopia’s (GoE) Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) priorities,
specifically in the Somali Regional State (SRS). The PDP framework as a whole
consists of four components: 1) Basic Services Delivery, 2) Economic
Opportunities for Vulnerable Groups, 3) Safety and Justice, 4) Monitoring and
Evaluation. DFID expects that all component leads will actively coordinate
efforts among themselves.
The Economic Opportunities for Vulnerable Groups (EOVG)
component of the PDP has been awarded to Mercy Corps under the name Market
Opportunities in the Somali Region of Ethiopia (MORE). MORE will be
implemented between August 2015 and February 2020, and will also encourage a
more supportive business environment and livelihood opportunities; alternative
opportunities need to be created for vulnerable groups (youth and people
transitioning), but also to empower change agents (youth and women). MORE will
adopt systems-level thinking as its underpinning strategies while mixing those
as appropriate or necessary with other approaches.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY
The Programme Director is a senior management position with
Mercy Corps in Ethiopia with supervisory and managerial responsibility for a
multi-year project. S/he provides the vision and leadership in project administration
and manages overall project implementation ensuring high quality performance.
S/he maximizes budget resources and personnel development and remains flexible
in a continually changing environment.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Vision, Leadership and Strategy
- Communicate
a clear vision of the MORE programme, and how it fits into Mercy Corps’
country and regional strategies and well as Mission Statement;
- Provide
leadership and direction;
- Ensure
programme strategy is clear and communicated to team members, local
beneficiaries and government, and the international community;
- Collaborate
and ensure synergies with other relative Mercy Corps programmes; and
- Ensure
that the Contract-specific requirements of this programme are met (as this
funding comes from DFID under the modalities of a Contract and not a
Grant).
Commitment to Quality Programme and Staff Development
- Assemble
all components necessary to ensure quality programming and recruit, facilitate
training of, and manage an informed, motivated and efficient staff
maintaining a strong focus on national team members;
- Establish
and maintain effective programme reporting, as well as M&E systems for
both internal and external use and ensure high quality input from external
evaluators; and
- Conduct
prudent and timely assessments of security environment in project areas;
enforce necessary security protocols balancing project needs with security
constraints and under direction of the Country Director.
Representation & Diplomacy
- Develop
and maintain both internal and external relationships to ensure optimum
programme success: to include Mercy Corps HQ and regional officers and
staff, international and local NGOs, government officials, donor community
officials particularly DFID, diplomatic corps and embassies, vendors,
media and the general public.
Fiscal, Compliance Management and Accountability
- Coordinate
and manage overall programme budget within approved spending levels and
ensure compliance with all donor and Mercy Corps rules and regulations;
- Ensure
adherence to operational imperatives as per internal/ external audit
requirements; utilize best practices based on Mercy Corps internal
policies; and
- Ensure
accurate and timely programme financial reporting to the donors and Mercy
Corps’ headquarters.
Communications
- Nurture
appropriate Mercy Corps public relations, DFID and other agency
relationships; and
- Represent
Mercy Corps to national and international media as requested.
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 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 design, monitoring and
evaluation.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
All project team members under the funded grant.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Reports directly to: Ethiopia Country Director
Works directly with: PRIME Chief of Party;
Cluster Programme Managers; Finance Director; HR & Legal Director;
Operations Manager; DME National Manager; Mercy Corps Europe HQ Senior
Programme Officer and other HQ staff
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
- MA/MSc
or equivalent in agriculture, agronomy, financial services, economics or
related field;
- Minimum
of seven years’ senior-level field leadership experience required, 10-15
years preferred;
- Prior
experience working with pastoralist communities in the Horn of Africa, or
elsewhere, required;
- Prior
experience coordinating a consortium of local and international partners;
- Familiarity
with DFID protocols required – specifically with the Contract funding
modality;
- Demonstrated
success in projects related to financial services, agricultural
livelihoods, agro-processing and marketing and value chain programming;
- Proven
skills in financial management;
- Demonstrated
ability to function as a social entrepreneur and proven success with
building, managing and leading a team of professionals and the ability to
function as a team player among peers;
- Effective
verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational,
prioritization skills;
- History
of working effectively and respectfully with host country government,
private sector, INGO and NGO partners in complex environments;
- Ability
to work comfortably, effectively and creatively within the cultural
environment of Ethiopia and areas of poor security required.
SUCCESS FACTORS
The successful Programme Director will be a self-starter,
multi-tasker, and able to work in ambiguous situations. S/he will be a tolerant
and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments
and follow procedures. S/he will be a team-player with positive attitude to
problem solving and conflict resolution. The successful candidate will be
focused on team-building and capacity-building of national staff, and will be
able to apply creative solutions to programme quality and team-building. S/he
will also have the skill to engage, motivate and encourage staff to bring
creative solutions to development issues, identify opportunities for increased
impact, and pursue project objectives.
LIVING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
The position will be based in Addis Ababa with about 50%
travel to the MORE programme operational sites, as well as occasional
international travel. The Programme Director is expected to follow all security
protocols including limited movement when necessary. Internet connectivity and
communication across Ethiopia is improving but remains unreliable at times.
Addis Ababa offers numerous international style restaurants, though security
and cultural considerations are always to be taken into account. There are daily
flights from Addis Ababa to several European, Middle Eastern and African
cities.
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. Team members 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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