Tracking Code: 219730-927
Job Description
PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY
Mercy Corps has been operational in the Central African
Republic (CAR) since September 2007. With its head office in the capital,
Bangui, and offices in Bouar, Bambari, and Bangassou, Mercy Corps works to
integrate short-term humanitarian assistance with programs to strengthen
community resilience and support market-led economic development, with a
cross-cutting accent on governance and gender. Mercy Corps takes a sustainable
approach to its programming, seeking to change behaviors and create
institutions to foster long-term development in the sectors of social cohesion
and conflict mitigation; protection with a large component of Gender-Based
Violence (GBV); livelihoods and food security, and water/sanitation. Funding
comes from a range of donors including USAID, the European Commission, OFDA,
the United Nations, IFAD, and private donations. By addressing a number of
overlapping and associated needs within a wide range of activities, Mercy Corps
in CAR takes an integrated approach to ensure the greatest possible impact.
Mercy Corps will soon become the lead of a new Economic
Development project implemented in a consortium with two other INGOs. This
large project will work with more than 1700 local economic actors to give them
the opportunity to start their livelihoods again., enhancing added value,
employment and growth in Bangui and Bouar.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Consortium Project Director is a strong team leader and
is an effective communicator with exceptional coordination skills. S/he is
responsible for managing the relationship amongst the three International NGOs.
S/he is detail oriented with excellent planning skills. The Consortium
Project Director will provide operational leadership to the consortium with
Mercy Corps being the lead agency. S/he will manage the contractual
relationship between the different partners and the donor; coordinate the
delivery of high quality programming; report on the activities implemented
based on donor regulations and build relationships between the consortium and
other economic development stakeholders, donors, UN agencies, clusters and
relevant government bodies.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Strategy and Vision
- Maintain
strategic vision and provide the operational leadership for the Economic
Development Consortium.
- Recognize
opportunities for innovative action and explore implementation
possibilities with the Economic Development Consortium.
- Maintain
implementation momentum by consolidating implementation strategies and
plans.
- Develop
and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince
stakeholders to provide support.
- Develop
and manage a clear system for tracking and reporting against deliverables.
- Maintain
strong and transparent communication with consortium partners.
Representation and Coordination
- Ensure
representation and coordination as appropriate with the Consortium
members, donors’ representatives, government officials, partner agencies
(microfinance institutions, training agencies), other economic
stakeholders such as local and international NGOs, other donors, private
sector firms, and business networks, international business networks, and
the general public.
- Represent
consortium progress to the donor’s representatives as well as economic
development stakeholders and relevant clusters.
- Network
and cultivate relationships with a broad cross-section of private sector
entities, enterprise development practitioners, organizations, and other
stakeholders to elicit feedback on the program and assess the potential
for collaboration and partnership.
- Ensure
regular meetings and calls with program partners to ensure good
communication, share challenges and promising practices, and inform any
mid-stream adjustments that need to be made to projects.
- Share
learnings from the consortium with the greater humanitarian community
within CAR.
Program Management
- Be
responsible for overall leadership and strategic vision on the implementation,
coordination and management of the Economic Development project. Ensure
that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and
aligned with Mercy Corps’ principles, values and strategic plan.
- Monitor
the three INGOs’ adherence to the grant agreement, Mercy Corps policies
and procedures and relevant donor rules and regulations
- Manage
the contractual agreements with partners and Mercy Corps and coordinate
with the partner INGOs’ senior managers on a regular basis to ensure the successful
implementation of the project partner’s activities.
- Oversee
operational planning for program start-up and ongoing program activities
across the consortium.
- Ensure
that program implementation is conducted with the respect to grant
agreement and timeframe.
- Ensure
monitoring systems are in place, including gathering data for case
studies.
- Conduct
planning and progress review meeting.
- Adhere
to all Mercy Corps procurement, logistics and administrative regulations
related to programming;
- Ensure
very strong communication and coordination within the team, with other
departments and with senior management.
- Ensure
an effective end-of-program transition.
Finance & Compliance Management
- Ensure
the consortium is in line with EuropeAid and Mercy Corps compliance rules
and regulations.
- Oversee
the consortium overall budget and ensure partner expenditures are in line
with agreed upon budgets.
- Monitor
project expenditures and undertake monthly forecasts and budget vs. actual
analyses.
- Work
closely with the finance team and headquarters to ensure timely financial
reporting on behalf of the consortium.
Team Management
- Manage
the Economic Development project team and directly supervise and support
the Bangui Program Manager and the Bouar Program Manager.
- Create
a work atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of
excellent personnel.
- Implement
and ensure all project staff effectively use the performance planning and
management system, establish performance expectations and regularly
provide constructive feedback to program staff and senior managers.
- Promote
accountability by conducting staff performance reviews with direct
supervisees and ensuring that supervisory staffs do the same.
- Contribute
to overall Mercy Corps CAR’s team-building efforts and help ensure the
integration of all team members into relevant decision making processes.
M&E and Reporting
- Facilitate
the achievement of project targets and objectives and lead efforts to
manage/implement an effective Monitoring Plan, including relevant surveys
in coordination with the Consortium member organizations.
- Ensure
that the M&E focal point focuses on collecting timely and quality data
and generates practical information that can be used for ongoing project
decision-making while also capturing results at the impact level.
- Ensure
effective coordination and the sharing of quality and timely M&E data
between Consortium member organizations and the project’s M&E focal
point.
- Regularly
communicate observations and analysis from assessment and ongoing M&E
activities with the broader Mercy Corps CAR and Mercy Corps HQ teams.
- Proactively
manage internal and external communications, including writing program
reports, and working with Mercy Corps' Media Team to develop media relationships
and generate story placements.
- Assist
with documentation and dissemination of institutional knowledge: case
studies, lessons learned, and good practices in social innovation and
economic development.
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 to Beneficiaries:
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.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Deputy Country Director
SUPERVISES DIRECTLY: Bangui Program Manager
(expatriate), the Bouar Program Manager (Central African), the Communication
and Awareness-raising activities Officer, the Complaint Mechanism Officer, and
the Database and M&E Officer.
WORKS CLOSELY WITH: Mercy Corps CAR program and
operational team (particularly the Consortium Finance Officer and Logistics
Officer), HQ Technical Support Units for Economic Development and Monitoring
and Evaluation, Social Innovations team, Media team, and Business Development
team.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- MA/S
or equivalent in economic development, business administration,
international development, or relevant field.
- At
least 4 years of relief and international development experience in
managing people and projects/programs.
- Remote
management experience is an asset.
- Previous
experience in managing consortiums is a strong advantage.
- Significant
experience managing programs in technical areas, including business and
market development, VSLA and vocational training. An understanding and
prior experience working with microfinance institutions in particular is
preferred.
- Experience
in market research and value chain assessments preferred.
- Professional
experience in CAR, as well as an existing professional network in CAR
would be appreciated.
- Understanding
of participatory methodologies for project design, implementation and
evaluation.
- Excellent
written and verbal English and French skills required. Sango
language skills are an advantage.
- Outstanding
interpersonal, partnership development and relationship management skills.
Effective verbal and written communication, both internally and with
external stakeholders; multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization
skills.
- Demonstrated
experience in managing sub-grant partner agreements and building high
performance teams.
- High
level of proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite, including Word,
Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Proven
ability to follow procedures, meet team objectives and work independently
and cooperatively with team members and diverse groups of people.
- Demonstrated
experience and ability to professionally represent the organization and
negotiate and defend Mercy Corps’ and the Consortium’s interests with a
diverse range of government officials, local organizations and other
groups.
- Exceptional
multi-tasking, attention to detail, organizational and prioritization
skills are necessary.
- Demonstrated
flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.
- Demonstrated
commitment to develop, acquire, document and apply best practices in
related fields, and apply solutions to obstacles.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
The successful Consortium Project Director will combine exceptional
planning and communication skills and experience in maintaining donor and
partner relationships. S/he will possess high level of adaptability and be able
to adjust to the constantly changing working environment, and will have
previous experience in implementing large scale economic development programs
in insecure and conflict context. Prioritizing, problem solving, ability to
seize opportunities, 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 is based in Bangui, CAR. Recent increases in
violence around the capitol and areas to the north and west has led to a more
fluid and less stable situation on the ground. Hospitals and access to
quality health care are very limited. Malaria is prevalent. It is
estimated that 7-8% of the population may be HIV positive. Suitable group
housing is available, but electricity is sometimes sporadic.
This position is unaccompanied for spouses and/or children
and includes hardship allowance and R&R benefits.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during
and outside of work hours when deployed in 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
Job Location: Bangui, , Central African Republic
Position Type: Full-Time/Regular
