Mercy Corps PROGRESS Programme Manager Job in Wajir 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:
 

Programme Manager, PROGRESS Programme – Wajir
 

Programme / Department Summary: The PROGRESS Programme Manager will lead the implementation of a proposed multi-year project as part of DFID’s BRACED initiative (Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters). 

Mercy Corps anticipates a programme award under BRACED to implement the “Programme for Resilient Systems” (PROGRESS). 

If awarded, PROGRESS will be comprised of a multi-partner consortium poised to deliver a 36-month initiative designed to build absorptive, adaptive and transformative capacity of more than 500,000 individual households in northern Kenya (Wajir and Garissa) and northern Uganda (Karamoja). 

The Kenya-based Programme Manager will play a key role in implementation.
 

General Position Summary: The Programme manager will provide leadership, management and strategic vision to the implementation of the PROGRESS in northern Kenya, managing staff and resources, and consortium members, and to ensure that the program meets its targets and deliverables on-time and within budget. 

The Programme Manager will supervise program staff in Wajir and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps policies and donor rules and regulations. 

He/she will report to and work with the Programme Director to engage in program representation to donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers and external stakeholders. 

Managing the consortium-related aspects of this project will be key in ensuring the success of the project.

Essential Job Functions:

Program Implementation:  

• Provide leadership and strategic vision of program implementation, development and management. 
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to government counterparts, 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/sub-grantees. 
• Conduct frequent field visits to all project sites and maintain strong and productive relationships with various partners and stakeholders at national, local and community levels.

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Reporting: 

• Facilitate the achievement of program targets and objectives and lead efforts to design effective M&E systems.
• Oversee the scheduling and production of formal and informal reports on all aspects of the program in a timely and efficient manner. 
• 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.

Coordination and Representation: 

• Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field, in close coordination with the Country Director. 
• Coordinate activities with consortium partners, sub grantees, 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 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 (transport, warehousing and asset management), procurement, security, administration and human resources. 
• Propose design of new local policies for greater efficiency and cost savings, as needed and in accordance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.

Security:  

• Work closely with the country teams’ security focal points 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 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:

• Direct supervision of: Country-level Project officers,

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.

Reports Directly To: Programme Director based in Nairobi, Kenya
 
Works Directly With: Kenya Country Director, fellow Programme Managers in both countries (where multiple programs operate), and technical and support staff from Mercy Corps office in Portland, Oregon and Edinburgh, Scotland.

Knowledge and Experience:

• MA, MSc or equivalent in governance and public policy, economic development or environmental policy or related field.
• At least five years of experience including three years in a senior management position, including at a regional/cross-country level.
• Previous experience with and strong understanding of DFID rules, regulations and compliance issues
• Strong writing, communication, organization, prioritization and negotiating skills.
• Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.
• Experience contributing to donor-funded proposal processes including assessment, design, and writing
• Proven understanding of both urban and rural livelihoods systems, climate change adaptation strategies, and resilience programming;
• Experience implementing activities in Kenya, especially northern Kenya/ ASALs – with a strong understanding of the current political, economic, cultural and historical context. Knowledge of and experience working in Karamoja preferred.
• Excellent quantitative skills required. Financial accounting experience preferred.
• Experience in building and maintaining strong/productive relations with implementing and strategic partner agencies is preferred. This includes coordinating with government authorities and counterparts.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Demonstrated success building, managing and leading a team of professionals.
• Experience working in conflict environments is preferred.
• Security management experience in remote and insecure environments.

Success Factors:
 
The successful candidate will have the following characteristics:

• A strong team player, with good communication and diplomatic skills.
• Proven ability to work independently as part of a regional team and with international professionals.
• Excellent analytical and information management skills.
• Good organizational skills and ability to work under stress and in austere contexts of remote locations.
• Flexible and creative in planning and problem solving.
• Attention to detail, ability to follow procedures and meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Proven excellence maintaining professional internal and external relationships.
• A focus on building staff capacity.

Candidates who had previously applied for this position need not reapply

Somalis are encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit applications on or before 5th January 2015, by 4.00pm, containing a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org

The email subject line must clearly quote the job title and location being applied for. 

Applications without the right subject heading will be automatically disqualified. 

Please do not attach any certificates.

(ONLY qualified candidates who meet all the essential required qualifications will be contacted for interviews)

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