Organization: Mercy Corps
Country: Central African Republic
Closing date: 07 Oct 2013

This position is contingent upon funding

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has been operational in the Central African Republic (CAR) since September 2007. With a focus on development and transitional programming, Mercy Corps is implementing water/sanitation, food security, livelihoods, civil society building, human rights promotion, child protection and GBV programs around the capital of Bangui and in the regional towns of Bouar, Bambari, Bangassou and Rafai. Mercy Corps’ programs in Bambari currently focus on protection, economic development, gender-based violence, governance, and community resilience-building.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Head of Office is a senior management position for Mercy Corps CAR with supervisory and managerial responsibilities, including direct program management responsibilities for the programs being implemented in Bambari. Reporting to the Country Director, the Head of Office (HoO) is responsible for overseeing quality and timely implementation of programs by the Program Managers, as well as overseeing the daily operations of the Bambari office, ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps’ and donors’ policies and procedures, ensuring internal and external coordination, and representation in Bambari. This includes training staff as needed and supervising program, administrative, logistics, and finance staff members.

In addition, the HoO provides substantial strategic leadership to all Mercy Corps programs in Bambari, working to integrate civil society capacity building, good governance, and women’s participation into all program activities. The HoO plays a role in ensuring the quality of monitoring and evaluation activities. The HoO is responsible for maintaining very strong relationships with the CAR Bangui-based Operations Manager, Finance Manager, Programs Coordinator, and PMs with country-wide programs.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program Coordination

• Ensure that Program Managers (PMs) have defined programmatic targets and objectives, that clear workplans are developed, and that each program is meeting the set targets and objectives.
• Work with PMs to design, establish, and manage programs that support local economic development, community protection, civil society development, and good governance, in collaboration with donor agencies and other humanitarian organizations.
• Ensure that PMs follow and comply with all Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
• Ensure and enhance coordination between different projects both within Bambari as well as country-wide.
• Ensure that PMs develop effective monitoring systems and provide regular reports on program activities for donors to the Programs Coordinator.
• As necessary, assist with design and writing for new/continued related program proposals.

Operations Management

• Oversee the smooth flow of routine program support functions (e.g., finance, administration, logistics) of the Mercy Corps office and compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
• Maintain regular contact with Operations Manager and Finance Manager.
• Oversee management, supervision and training of all aspects of finance, administration, HR, and logistics in the Bambari office.
• Provide training, oversight, and support to local staff as needed.
• Ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
• Coordinate all of Mercy Corps Bambari-based human resource and recruitment requirements, including recruitment and orientation of new staff, identifying personnel needs of national staff, ensuring payment of national staff salaries in compliance with Mercy Corps procedures and local laws, and participating in disciplinary, hiring, and termination meetings as needed.
• Ensure that procurement is completed, documented, and delivered to end-user in a timely manner, ensuring that items procured meet the specifications of the end-user while adhering to donor and Mercy Corps procurement guidelines.
• Ensure all aspects of asset management, including maintenance of the asset register and investigation of any missing assets.
• Supervise the management and maintenance of vehicle fleet, office facilities, and equipment, including power supply.
• Oversee database and paper file management for program, finance, administration, HR, and logistics documents; ensure files are complete and in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
• Coordinate with Mercy Corps’ Bangui and HQ offices on travel and logistics support, as required.

Representation and Coordination

• Liaise with local government officials, local NGOs and civil society organizations, local religious leaders and other community members to ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps projects in Bambari.
• Maintain close working relationships with donors, other humanitarian and human rights organizations, and local partners, including representing Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings.

Security Management

• Develop and maintain the security plan for the area of operation.
• Follow up any development/changes in regards to the security situation.
• Ensure adequate security coordination with other humanitarian actors in the areas.
• Liaise with the Country Director on any degradation in security situation.
• Ensure that defined security operation procedures are implemented and respected.

Team management

• Ensure and build team cohesion.
• Strengthen team engagement and commitment toward the goals of the organization and to the programs.

• 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.
• 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.
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

This position requires supervision of a team of approximately 20-30 national staff.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Country Director

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Finance Manager, Operations Manager, Deputy Country Director-Prog, other PMs (country-wide programs), local government and partner organizations, other Mercy Corps staff

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in relevant field management, operations, logistics, international development, finance.
• At least 3-5 years of relevant management experience.
• Sound understanding of financial, procurement, administration, and logistics management systems.
• Experience managing security protocols and responding to incidents/crises in conflict areas;
• Experience coordinating multiple programs, developing synergies and creating opportunities for collaboration;
• Demonstrated experience in team building and team coordination for achieving program goals;
• Strong commitment to local capacity building and the ability to engage local stakeholders in project design and implementation;
• Experience working with host governments at the national and sub-national level, INGOs and national NGOs and familiarity with international humanitarian operations, coordination structures, and the mandates of UN agencies, and other NGOs.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills; detail-oriented; and possessing an ability to anticipate program and operational needs.
• Proven ability to work cooperatively with others in a team environment and to a diverse group of national and international staff.
• Understanding of participatory methodologies for project design, implementation and evaluation.
• Knowledge of humanitarian standards and codes, including SPHERE, WHO and UNICEF core commitments.
• Demonstrated proficiency with the MS Office software (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required.
• Fluent French and English essential; basic knowledge of Sango a plus.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful candidate will have Strong leadership skills, a proven experience working effectively and respectfully with host country government, NGO, and community-based organization representatives. He or she will have a demonstrated experience in setting up and managing systems and procedures in difficult environments as well as experience in building team commitment toward the achievements of program objectives. Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills are necessary. Ability to work in remote, insecure environments is a must. Awareness of and sensitivity to multi-cultural international development work and ability to train and facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of individuals with various skill sets and working styles. Ability to creatively problem-solve, to juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines, and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected and sudden events impacting program operations. Patience, tenacity, and a good sense of humor.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The Central African Republic is a nation of 4.6 million people, ranked as one of the poorest nations in the world, with an average life expectancy of only 39 years. Bambari is a rural town located approximately 385km from the capital. The approximate population of Bambari is 42,000. Insecurity in Bambari is relatively common, particularly petty theft, looting, and some incidents of violence. Access to health care is very limited. Malaria is prevalent. As this is an unaccompanied position, shared/group housing is required. Electricity and access to clean water may be sporadic. The position is expected to travel up to 30% of the time –sometimes on short notice— to areas with limited access to medical facilities and amenities.

How to apply:

APPLY VIA URL:
http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjo...