Mercy Corps Program Manager Job in Eldoret Kenya

Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.  

Driven by local needs, our programs provide communities in the world’s toughest places with the tools and support they need to turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve. 

Mercy Corps is looking for committed and dynamic individuals to take up the following position:

 Program Manager - Eldoret

Program / Department Summary: The Yes Youth Can initiative is a USAID program designed to empower Kenya’s youth population in areas recovering from the post-election violence in 2008, through building capacity of youth groups and organizations to engage with markets, governments and communities, and to pursue their legitimate needs and interests more effectively in a way that builds positive inter-ethnic networks.
 

General Position Summary: The Program Manager primarily reports to the Chief of Party and liaises with partners and government representatives at the County level. She will be responsible for managing the implementation of the YYC- RV program in seven counties of Rift Valley Province.

Specific responsibilities will include staff management, provision of technical leadership and capacity building of staff both within and local partners. 

She will assist the Chief of Party in the program design and implementation, administration, fiscal and grant management of the program.  

She is required to work closely both with the government organs at all levels, donor and USAID programs, partner NGOs / CBOs and communities. She is responsible for coordination of all program activities with the technical advisors and local implementing partners.

Essential Job Functions

• Assist Chief of Party with strategic planning and technical direction of the two year program to guarantee program impact and institutional growth.
• Assist chief of Party with financial and grant management ensuring compliance with regulations and procedures, reporting and, maintaining working relationships with the government, Donor, partner agencies and NGOs on technical aspects of the program.
• In coordination with YYC Program Team, partner agencies, translate the program concept and spirit into measurable activities / tasks for the program staff striving for innovative programming with practical and sustainable impact on the ground.
• Provide direction and leadership in program implementation focusing on a coordinated approach that fosters complimentary delivery of services to the communities by the different program objectives and local partners.  
• Foster strong working relationships with county governments and communities ensuring Mercy Corps (and partners') activities closely match community development priorities and directly respond to needs of the target communities and youth in specific.
• Maintain close links with local partners ensuring their full participation in the decision making process and project implementation through regular and coordination meetings and briefing as well meeting reports and documentation.
• Represent Mercy Corps and its partners at the Constituency & County levels to ensure government coordination and participation in programming and public relations and visibility for Mercy Corps donors and partners.
• Supervise Civic Engagement specialist, Youth Enterprise specialist, communications Officer and other staff as directed building their capacity to deliver quality services to beneficiaries.  
• Contribute to development and review of Rift Valley new programs.
• Ensure all program reports are comprehensive, accurate and within schedule; weekly reports, monthly reports, quarterly reports and annual reports.
• Manage and monitor program budgets on a monthly basis and ensure expenditures are properly planned within elaborate project briefing/plans. Ensure Partners budgets and work plans reflect the village bunge priorities and are reasonable.
• Coordinate with Finance officer to ensure monthly projections are properly prepared and presented in user-friendly format for program & operational expenses and partners requests.
• Develop and ensure (in coordination with the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit) timely and smooth monitoring of program progress and impact and make program adjustments accordingly.
• In consultation with the Head of Office, oversee Program procurement; asset, fleet ensuring donor and agency policies are respected.
• In consultation with the Mercy Corps Human Resources Department, oversee staffing requirements including recruitment, deployment and staff development.
• Conduct herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to the YYC Program, Mercy Corps and partner organizations.
• Be the Key contact person in the rift Valley for all YYC related program activities.
• Other duties as assigned by Chief of Party or Country Director or anyone acting on his/her behalf.

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.

Supervisory Responsibility: Civic Engagement specialist, youth Enterprise Specialist, Communications Officer

Reports Directly To: Chief of Party-YYC

Works Directly With:  M&E Officer, Logistics Officer

Knowledge and Experience:  

• Masters degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies,, or other relevant field
• Relevant professional experience managing and implementing large multi-year projects in Kenya. Demonstrated understanding of the NGO sector, Youth & Women empowerment. 3 years of experience focused in the management of development programs involving rural communities to promote sustainable development. Experience in project management related to economic development, Youth empowerment and community mobilization is required.
• Familiarity with and experience managing projects compliant to USAID regulations
• Experience managing large staff and ability to work with a multi-ethnic team in a culturally appropriate manner.
• This position also calls for sincere commitment to engaging communities and local government administrations in developmental initiatives.  
• The incumbent should be able to keep abreast socio-political developments in order to inform management and take requisite actions to ensure staff and program safety.  
• This position requires high computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.   
• Fluency in written and spoken English& Kiswahili

Success Factors: 
 

Flexibility and public relations skills are integral success factors in this position.

The incumbent must have wide ranging knowledge in livelihoods, capacity building and institutional strengthening and hands-on experience in Youth development projects to be direct programming. She must be able to prioritize; conceptualize the partner’s work plans and strategize on how to translate them into deliverables within the stipulated project period.

How to Apply

Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit on or before July 18, 2014 at 4.00 p.m. a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org.

Applicants must clearly indicate on the email subject; the position and location they are applying for, e.g “ Program Manager - Eldoret” 

Applications without the right subject heading will be automatically disqualified. Please do not attach any certificates.

(ONLY Qualified short-listed candidates will be contacted)

NB: Mercy Corps does not charge any fee at any stage of recruitment process.