Organization: Mercy Corps
Country: Mali
Closing date: 07 Oct 2013

Please note that this position is contingent on funding.

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has been operating in Mali since 2012. With a focus on food security, livelihoods, governance and peace and security, Mercy Corps’ goal in Mali is to support vulnerable, at-risk communities to recover from shocks and exclusion, build resilience to future shocks and secure viable opportunities for sustainable economic development. The Program Director will lead the implementation of a proposed $16 million program focused on developing value chains while reinforcing local governance in the region of Sikasso, Mali. This Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)-funded program will increase sustained economic well-being, strengthen institutions and governance and increase the involvement of the private sector in agriculture.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Program Director will provide overall leadership, management and strategic vision to the implementation of the program, while managing staff and resources to ensure that the program meets its targets and deliverables on-time and within budget. The Program Director will supervise key program staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps policies and donor rules and regulations. S/he will be the primary program representative to donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers and external stakeholders.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program Implementation:

Provide leadership and strategic vision in all aspects of program implementation, development and management. Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners, and aligned with Mercy Corps’ principles, values and strategic plan. Monitor adherence to grant agreement, Mercy Corps policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations. Oversee performance of consortium partners and sub-grantees. Conduct frequent field visits to all project sites. More specifically, facilitate detailed market research, intelligence, assessments and feasibility studies; liaise with and engage market actors in the select value chains to find strategic leverage points for co-investment; design systemic interventions in response to root causes of market ineffectiveness and exclusion of the poor. Write intervention and investment plans, and implement interventions effectively though a market development approach.

Coordination and Representation:

Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field, in close coordination with the Country Director and Regional Program Director. Coordinate activities with partners, subgrantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.

Staff Management, Professional Development and Team Building:

Create a work atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of excellent personnel at all levels. Implement, and ensure all staff are effectively using, the performance planning and management system, establishing performance expectations and regularly providing constructive feedback. Promote accountability by conducting staff annual performance reviews with direct supervisees, and ensuring that supervisory staff do the same. Contribute to country team-building efforts, and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Program Support Operations:

Coordinate with program and finance and administration staff to ensure operational systems are in place to support field activities including logistics, procurement, security, administration and human resources. Propose design of new local policies as needed and in accordance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Reporting:

Ensure interventions are based on sound design principles, including needs assessments and baselines. Establish and maintain effective and timely program/grant reporting systems for the donor. Ensure that M&E staff focus on assisting programs to generate practical information that can be used for ongoing program decision-making while also capturing results at the impact level.

Security:

Work closely with the country-level security focal point to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its work. Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security management priorities.

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:

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.

Gender

Mercy Corps recognizes that our programs are more effectively alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression when women, men, girls and boys are equitably engaged as active stakeholders in every aspect of the work we undertake together. We expects all team members to commit to the principles of gender equity and use gender sensitive programming and gender mainstreaming as us to as a means to achieve our mission and Vision for Change

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

Direct supervision of: M&E Manager and other positions to be determined

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Country Representative

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Program-specific staff, HQ regional program team members, Technical Support Unit team members

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• MA/S or equivalent in agriculture-related discipline, social science, management, international development or other relevant field.
• Extensive experience in developing agricultural markets and value chains
• Minimum of 10 years of management experience in progressively responsible positions, preferably as Program Director for a similarly sized donor-funded program.
• Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues
• Demonstrated awareness and responsiveness to gender and social issues in cross-cultural contexts and gender integration programming
• Entrepreneurial spirit, adaptability and an ability to think creatively around market development and employment creation challenges
• Fluent written and oral French and English are required.
• Previous experience in West Africa is preferable.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful Program Director will combine exceptional management skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships. S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative market-based programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. The Program Director must have demonstrated experience managing programs that effectively address gender issues and advance women’s empowerment. S/he will have demonstrated skills in managing programs in challenging, insecure environments. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. 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.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

This position will be based in Sikasso, Mali, which is an accompanied post for spouse and children. While the security situation is volatile in the Sahel region, security is relatively stable in Bamako and the region of implementation. Mercy Corps provides expatriate staff with a housing allowance that covers rent, utilities and security for comfortable accommodations. The position is not eligible for R&R and hardship. International schools are available in Bamako. There is good access to electricity and water, though there are occasional outages. Access to quality health care is limited. There are a number of clinics in Bamako, but serious illnesses will require evacuation. Internet is limited, but available in all Mercy Corps offices. In Sikasso, living conditions (water, electricity, food) are very basic. There is reasonable access to most consumer goods in Bamako.

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.

How to apply:

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