Mercy Corps PROGRESS Programme Coordinator & Learning Manager Job in Nairobi 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 Coordinator & Learning Manager, PROGRESS Programme – Nairobi 

Programme / Department Summary: The PROGRESS Programme Coordinator and Learning Manager will work in collaboration with the PROGRESS Programme Director, Programme Managers and PROGRESS Consortium members in 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). 

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 200,000 individual households in northern Kenya (Wajir) and northern Uganda (Karamoja). 

The Kenya-based Programme Coordinator and Learning Manager will play a key role in programme implementation, help to generate and synthesize learnings from both Kenya and Uganda teams, and support the Project Director in the efficient management of PROGRESS. General Position Summary:
 

The Programme Coordinator and Learning Manager will work directly with Programme Director and Programme Managers to support oversight of accountability and adherence to Mercy Corps policies and donor rules and regulations, and program milestones and deliverables. 

He/she will report to and work with the Programme Director and engage in program representation to donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers and external stakeholders and convert program information into actionable management recommendations and guidance.

Essential Job Functions:
 

Program Implementation: The Programme Coordinator and Learning Manager will assist in the overall program management of PROGRESS program activities in both Kenya and Uganda, as well as facilitation of communication and program documentation and learning within the PROGRESS Consortium through support to programme planning, strategy development and communications between consortium members, program management staff and external partners. 

This role will also entail oversight of the multi-country activities of PROGRESS to support the Programme Director to ensure cross-country cohesion in resilience messaging, planning, monitoring, evaluation, implementation, and learnings. 

The Programme Coordinator and Learning Manager will also support operations around the PROGRESS learning agenda within each of the programme locations (Kenya and Uganda), and strategies for cross-country learning. 

As deputy to the Programme Director, the Programme Coordinator and Learning Manager will also be tasked with a shared representational role at resilience events and fora in the region and information management as it relates to resilience within Kenya and Uganda. 

The Programme Coordinator and Learning Manager will also assist with oversight of the PROGRESS communications strategy and lead in development of materials, presentations and other media in accordance with programme needs and the DFID/BRACED requirements.
 

Learning and Reporting: Support Programme Managers in the achievement of program targets and objectives and support efforts towards the design effective M&E systems and operations. Facilitate the coordination, scheduling and production of formal and informal reports and documentation and communication of reports and learning materials.
 

Coordination and Representation: Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field, in close coordination with the Programme Director. Attend key events, committee meetings, fora, seminars, etc. as they relate to East Africa resilience. 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: Contribute to country team-building efforts, and ensure the integration of all team and consortium members into relevant decision-making processes. Oversee the PROGRESS Programme Assistant.
 

Program Support Operations: Ensure close communication across cross-country field teams and consortium members regarding program activities and plans, challenges and obstacles to timely and quality implementation and programme learning. Coordinate with program, finance, and administration staff for troubleshooting and problem solving.
 

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: Progress Programme Assistant
 

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: PROGRESS Programme Director, Kenya and Uganda Country Directors, PROGRESS Programme Managers in both countries, consortium partners, and technical and support staff from Mercy Corps office in Portland, Oregon and Edinburgh, Scotland.
 

Knowledge and Experience:

• MA, MSc or equivalent in governance, public administration, environmental policy or related field.
• At least five years of experience including three years in a management position, preferably 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, public administration 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.
• Demonstrated writing abilities and ability to present information and trends pictorially
• Proven ability to work independently as part of a regional team and with international professionals.
• Excellent analytical, presentation 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
• Willingness and ability to travel to Wajir County and Karamoja frequently for work purposes.

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.