This position contingent upon new funding

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY

Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Egypt, and Libya. Mercy Corps opened its office in Yemen in 2010. The organization is currently developing a range of new programs focused on supporting Yemen’s political transition through conflict management initiatives. This is building on the recent success of a two-year USAID-funded youth and conflict management program that increased dialogue between youth and decision-makers to more constructively engage them in their communities. Mercy Corps is developing new programming that includes: 1) conflict management and skill training for both the youth and community leaders; 2) community-based projects to promote cooperation; 3) public awareness campaigns that promote inclusive dialogue 4) livelihood development as a tool to mitigate conflict, especially for youth.

Mercy Corps works in high-risk conflict and post-conflict environments. While 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 34 peacebuilding programs in some of the world’s toughest places, including Iraq, Somalia, and Sudan. Our current work builds on an exceptionally strong historical foundation. Since the late 1990s, Mercy Corps has implemented over 95 peacebuilding programs in over 30 countries and regions, making Mercy Corps a true leader in the field.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY

The Conflict Management Program Manager is responsible for program development and overall implementation of program activities. This will include identifying program opportunities to design new programming and drafting in concept notes, proposals, and other documents. It will also involve identifying and meeting local partners, and then building their capacity. Responsibilities will also focus on program management and implementation, as well as ensuring rigorous measurement of program impact. The Program Manager leads field monitoring and program performance by tracking progress toward specified objectives, including timely reporting. The Program Manager will need to be highly sensitive to the political dynamics of the country and have relevant security experience.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Program Development

• Understand donor priorities and interests in Yemen to develop timely and relevant program ideas;
• Conduct assessments and collect information about the context to inform program design;
• Identify local partner organizations to support programming, ensuring they have existing community relationships to enable Mercy Corps to operate in the area;
• Draft concept notes, proposals, and budgets to submit to potential donors;
• Coordinate programming with other organizations to ensure complimentarily and prevent duplication;

Program Management

• Adhere to all Mercy Corps procurement, administration, human resources policies to implement programming;
• Manage program staff to complete program activities based on agreed program parameters;
• Ensure program implementation is on time, on target and on-budget;
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures;
• Develop communications plan to share information with schools, community members, government, and other key stakeholders;
• Develop collaborative relationships among Mercy Corps, communities, local partners, local government and the private sector;
• Conduct risk analysis and management to operate in insecure conflict-affected areas;
• Promote learning and knowledge management through documentation and knowledge sharing around best practices and lessons learned;
• Apply and maintain Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards, including completing PMD Pro certification;
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity, Do No Harm, and capacity building into all activities as appropriate to be consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, and country plan;
• Establish and maintain effective program reporting, monitoring and evaluation systems for both internal and external use in coordination with the program staff; including end-user monitoring;

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;
• Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary. Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance & reach objectives;
• 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;

Leadership and Strategy

• Participate in overall strategic planning for the Yemen response; ensure linkages into overall Yemen programming;
• Assist with proposal development to expand programming in coordination with the Country Office and HQ support teams;

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to programming;
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget;

Security

• Track security issues and identify strategies to mitigate the challenges that may interfere with programming;
• 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;

Coordination

• Maintain internal and external relationships to ensure program success including contacts with government office and country program offices, international and local NGOs working in the emergency sector, related to emergency programming, beneficiaries and the general public;
• Identify, coordinate and partner with local and international partners;

Organizational 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 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 team members

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Head of Office

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Local partners; program and program support teams throughout Yemen, as well as with desk and technical support units in headquarters (Middle East desk and Youth and Conflict Technical Support Unit)

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Masters degree in conflict management, social sciences, international relations or other relevant field preferred.
• 3-5 years relevant professional experience implementing conflict management and reconciliation, youth, or related programs, preferably in insecure or transitional environments.
• Demonstrated ability to implement a complex program, manage staff, and develop their capacities.
• Strong facilitation and consensus-building skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational skills.
• Experience in highly volatile security situations and a commitment to team safety.
• Familiarity and experience with USAID rules and regulations preferred.
• Fluency in written and spoken English required.
• Arabic language skills strongly preferred.

SUCCESS FACTORS: The successful candidate will be able to manage a complex programs in an austere environment; be focused on team-building and capacity-building of national staff; have strong program support skills, good information management skills and maintain a sense of humour.

LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

This unaccompanied position will either be based in Sana’a or Taiz, Yemen (TBD). This position will be required to reside in group housing in an insecure environment with energy, transportation and communication challenges. The team member must follow all security protocols at all times. This position is eligible for Hardship and R&R breaks.

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

Mercy Corps is an AA/EOE.