Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Emergency Response Program Manager, South Sudan

Tracking Code: 218944-927
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Mercy Corps has been operational in South Sudan since 2005 and is currently engaged in series of development and resiliency programming in the north of the country. Yet since the outbreak of fighting on December 15, 2013, Mercy Corps is launching emergency programming throughout its current areas of operation including: Warrup State (Twic County), Unity State (Bentiu, Koch and Leer) and the Abei Administrative Area. Unity State in particular is caught in the crossfire of the violence and, as such, there is a significant and growing level of humanitarian need. The emergency response program in Unity State provides life-saving support to IDPs and host communities affected by the current fighting.  Mercy Corps is well represented in the northern states of South Sudan with field offices in each of these states/areas with its country office in the capital of Juba.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY
The Emergency Program Manager (PM) will manage activities related to the implementation and start-up for newly funded emergency programs in Unity State in South Sudan. Currently WASH, shelter/NFI and education in emergency projects are being developed with anticipated funding by OFDA, IOM, CHF and ECHO. In this regard the PM will be responsible for: 1) scale up program activities 2) management of operations and logistics, 3) security management 4) team management and 5) communications and reporting. The PM will need to be highly sensitive to the political dynamics of the country and have relevant security experience.  This position requires strong coordination on security planning, field visits and ensuring safety of staff. The Program Manager leads field monitoring and program performance by tracking progress toward specified objectives.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Leadership and Representation
  • Provide leadership and direction to all aspects of the program and participate in the design and management of future programs.
  • Communicate program goals and objectives with all team members, local beneficiaries, local and central government and the international community.
  • Convey information and ideas and effectively coordinate to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
  • Coordinate with other Mercy Corps field offices to ensure a high level of quality throughout our areas of reach.

Program Management
  • Coordinate with program, finance and administrative staff to ensure systems are in compliance with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
  • Ensure program implementation is on time, on target and on budget using effective M&E systems.
  • Ensure community involvement in all phases of the project cycle.
  • Ensure that agreed upon beneficiary selection criteria are strictly followed to avoid duplication.
  • In close coordination with logistics and procurement, lead new humanitarian implementation working closely with project donors and other Mercy Corps programs.
  • Ensure a competitive and transparent bidding process in adherence with donor and organizational policies.
  • Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
  • Ensure full adherence to security plans and protocols.
  • Develop collaborative relationships among Mercy Corps, communities, local partners and local government.

Team Management
  • Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
  • Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
  • Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary. Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
  • Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

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.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:  Emergency project team in Unity State

ACCOUNTABILITY
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:  Deputy Country Director
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH:   project managers and field office administrators, operations and finance managers, program support team in Juba, as well as with Technical Support Units in Headquarters                 

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
  • BS/BA in International Development or related field.  MS/MA preferred.
  • At least 3 years of overseas experience managing Emergency programs is required; with particular focus on managing projects with time sensitive deliverables in complex settings. 
  • Experience with IDP/returnee programming is desired.
  • Experience managing OFDA/IOM and UN funded projects is essential.
  • Experience in highly volatile security situations and a commitment to team safety.
  • Demonstrated ability to implement a complex program, manage a range of staff and with strong emphasis on developing their capacities.
  • Well organized and strong in operations and logistics.
  • Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and constructively with local partners, including community committees and host governments.
  • Commitment to the principles of participatory team management and participatory, community-oriented development.
  • Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational skills.
  • Prior experience working internationally and ability to work comfortably in the complex cultural environment is required.
  • Fluency in written and spoken English required. Local language skills highly desired.

SUCCESS FACTORS
The successful Emergency Response Program Manager will recognize that Mercy Corps’ ability to function safely and successfully in South Sudan depends on the ability of staff to understand the context in which programs operate.  The successful Program Manager will apply a strong combination of team leadership, program development and implementation skills and will be able to maintain a sense of humor in stressful conditions. S/he will have an excellent understanding of emergency and transitional issues and programmatic approaches and will be able to work across a wide range of stakeholders, working with local community members, governmental authorities, NGO partners, and donors.  S/he will bring a positive approach to the job, embracing challenges as opportunities to innovate.  S/he will write well and communicate in a manner that is confident and clear, yet diplomatic, enabling him/her to forge positive working relationships with donors and other stakeholders.  Finally, the successful Program Manager will work well under pressure in a fluid operating and security environment.

LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
The Program Manager is based in Unity State with the field office base to be determined.  This location is unaccompanied as accommodation is provided in group housing, but does not offer hardship allowance and R&R.  Staff will have access to basic medical services and will need to access Nairobi for anything requiring more advanced treatment.  In Unity State, electricity and water are working only sometimes. Housing is group accommodation with limited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. This position requires regular travel by vehicle across the state and to other field offices, travel by air to Juba.  

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 MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Job Location: Unity State, Unity, South Sudan
Position Type: Full-Time/Regular


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