NGO JOBS

Organization: Mercy Corps
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Closing date: 31 Aug 2013

PROGRAM / DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since September 2007, helping populations in North Kivu and Orientale Provinces to work toward building a more peaceful and hopeful future. Mercy Corps has more than 100 staff members in Goma, Mweso, Nyanzale and Dungu, and is implementing emergency and longer-term development programs with funding from USAID/FFP, USAID/OFDA, the European Commission, DFID and private donors. Mercy Corps’ work in the DRC provides support to internally displaced people through water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and economic recovery, and works with other vulnerable populations on environmental livelihoods, food security, civil society strengthening and durable WASH activities.

Mercy Corps is currently implementing a Multi-Year Assistance Program (MYAP) funded by USAID/Office of Food for Peace for the Resources to Increase Food Security in Eastern DRC (RISE) program. This five-year program aims to ensure that vulnerable households and communities in North Kivu build and sustain food security. This will be accomplished through three strategic objectives that focus on agricultural livelihoods, maternal/child nutrition, and effective governance to engender reliable food security in the target areas. The program is implemented by two consortium partners: Mercy Corps and Catholic Relief Services.

The RISE project is in the process to open a new field office in Butembo.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Head of Office is a senior management position for Mercy Corps DRC with supervisory and managerial responsibilities. The Head of Office is responsible for ensuring the smooth functioning of the Butembo office by coordinating and overseeing daily operations, monitoring and responding to the security situation, and keeping up to date with contextual developments. This includes training and supervising administrative, logistics, procurement, finance and program staff and ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures. The Head of Office will supervise and support all programs implemented from the Nyanzale office and will ensure that programmatic objectives are met within allotted time, budget and quality standards. S/he will ensure representation of Mercy Corps at the field level and will play a key role in program development, proposal writing, and shaping Mercy Corps’ overall program strategy for emergency and transitional programming in the territory.

The position is open to DRC nationals only.

Mercy Corps offers a very competitive package for this senior national position.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Operations and Management

• Ensure the smooth functioning of the base (office and residence) including managing staff and infrastructure and establishing systems to provide a comfortable and professional working and living environment.
• Oversee routine program support functions (e.g., finance, administration, and logistics) of the Mercy Corps sub-office and compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures, and provide any necessary training or guidance to operational staff.
• Assist Chief of Party (CoP) and Country Director in maintaining and advising on appropriate security systems and procedures and ensure that all team members are aware of and adhere to these procedures.
• Ensure all team members understand and are compliant with Mercy Corps policies on safety and security, conflict of interest, and general conduct appropriate to an international NGO.
• Oversee and ensure effective and transparent use and documentation of financial resources by all staff in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
• Oversee and ensure that procurement is completed, documented and delivered to end-user in a timely manner, ensuring that items procured meet specifications of the end-user while adhering to donor and Mercy Corps procurement guidelines.
• Oversee and ensure all aspects of asset management including maintenance of the asset register and the investigation of any missing assets, as well as stock management, including ensuring sound transfers between sub-offices.
• Supervise management and maintenance of vehicle fleet, office facilities and equipment, including power supply.
• Oversee electronic database and paper file management for finance, administration, HR (including performance evaluations), and logistics documents; ensure files are complete and in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
• Provide regular reports on program and administrative activities and the security situation, as well as incident reports, to CoP and Country Director as per determined communication schedule.
• As necessary, assist with development, design, and proposal writing for related programming.
• Receive, brief and support all Mercy Corps visitors to the region.

Coordination and Representation:

• Represent Mercy Corps to government, donors and NGOs and other relevant actors in the field.
• Develop and maintain working relationships and coordinate with relevant international and local agencies active in the various relevant Clusters, as well as other international agencies in the field, local authorities (e.g. Health Zones and centers) and associations.
• Document and communicate program implementation experience and lessons learned to support coordination and learning efforts.
• Liaise with local government officials, UN and other international agencies, local NGOs and civil society organizations, local religious leaders and other community members to foster coordination and ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps activities.

Other:

• Build the capacity of more senior national team members in program management, M&E, communication and reporting, and provide mentoring as necessary.
• Coordinate and accompany cash movements from national office to field as required in close coordination with the Finance Director, the CoP and the Country Director.
• Monitor the context and security situation (in coordination with the CoP and the Country Director as appropriate) to ensure that decisions are based on an up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of the situation.
• Actively seek future programming and funding opportunities to further develop and expand on existing programming, with a view to developing transitional and/or development programs, particularly in the sectors of economic recovery and development, food security and livelihoods, or others as identified needs require.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission, and to require the same of all team members.
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

This position requires supervision of a team of approximately 10 national staff. The HoO is responsible for the direct supervision of Butembo-based finance, logistician and administration officers and ensure field management of program staffs while in Butembo area.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: RISE Chief of Party
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Finance, Operations, Agriculture Technical Consultant, Commodities Manager, Good Governance Program Manager, Program Team Leaders, Program Officers, Operations, community reps and communities.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• University degree or equivalent;
• Previous experience as Head of Office for an International Organization;
• Previous experience in Operations or logistic or finance at a relatively senior level;
• Previous experience in managing team;
• Computer skills (excel, word, etc.)
• Good analytical capacity and strong sense of organization
• Capacity to engage and interact with local authorities and other governmental representatives

Candidate should possess patience, enthusiasm and strong interpersonal skills. French language skills in verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills are necessary. Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required. Computers skills with strong familiarity with Microsoft Word and Excel are mandatory. Candidate must be willing to travel and work in difficult conditions.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to manage and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem solving, work within a complex and sensitive setting and to follow laws and security protocols. Ability to work independently and as part of a team are essential. S/he will have knowledge of governance, community mobilization, gender and food security, which can be adapted to the DRC context. 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. In DRC, patience, diplomacy, tenacity, compassion, determination and a sense of humor are all success factors.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

Mercy Corps offers a very competitive package for this senior national position.

This position will be based in the Butembo field office, with regular visits to project sites and the Goma national office. This is an unaccompanied position in shared housing, entitled to R&R and a hardship allowance. In 2006, the DRC had its first democratic elections in more than forty years. While conditions in the country are improving, there are still pockets of violence and insecurity. Mercy Corps' sub-offices experience variable levels of insecurity, with the situation closely monitored and UN peacekeepers present. Years of conflict and corruption have badly damaged the country's infrastructure. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. Access to Butembo is done by air. There are virtually no telephone land lines in the DRC, though mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is available in the residence and office. Living conditions are clean and secure, but basic.

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.

How to apply:

How to apply: Please send applications and resume to: jobsrecruitdrc@cd.mercycorps.orgHead Of Office Butembo.

Closing date 31st , August, 2013.