Tracking Code: 218962-927
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. At the present time, there are at least
8,000 IDP beneficiaries. However in the event of an upsurge in violence and
further displacement, this may likely revise upwards. Serving as WASH Focal
Point and working with local partners, Mercy Corps (through an IOM grant)
implements a WASH program targeting 8,000 beneficiaries which is intended to
include:
- Beneficiary
registration;
- Water
trucking and provision of water purification tablets;
- Emergency
latrine construction;
- Hygiene
Promotion Training and WASH NFI distribution;
- Solid
waste disposal.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY
The WASH Program Manager (PM) will manage the implementation
and start-up for newly funded emergency WASH programs in Unity State on an
anticipated 4 – 6 months assignment. Currently, WASH activities are being
developed in support of a growing number of IDPs and host communities affected
by the fighting, with support of such donors as IOM, OFDA, CHF and ECHO. In
this regard the PM will responsible for the: 1) implementation and scale-up of
the WASH program activities 2) management of WASH activities, 3) 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 technical WASH skills related
to displacement of populations, 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
- Communicate
program goals and objectives with all team members, local beneficiaries,
local and central government and the international community and other
stakeholders;
- Convey
information and ideas to the team members and effectively coordinate the
projects and activities to ensure overall program targets and donor
obligations are met;
- Provide
leadership and direction to all aspects of the WASH program activities and
participate in the design and management of program extension and/ or
future programs;
- Examine
and pursue funding opportunities from donors and partners, in coordination
with senior management (including developing and submitting concept
papers, proposals, etc.);
- Develop
and maintain working relationships and coordinate with relevant
international and local agencies active in the water and sanitation sector
of an emergency response, including donors, other humanitarian and human
rights organizations, local authorities and local partners;
- Represent
Mercy Corps at the WASH cluster meetings. As WASH focal point in Unity
State, the PM maintains a tight collaboration with the WASH Cluster and
represents it whenever necessary.
Program Management
- Manage
implementation of the WASH program, including hygiene education, water and
sanitation infrastructure rehabilitation and construction (water
extraction, treatment, storage and distribution, construction of latrines,
showers and washing areas, drainage systems, as well as training of water
point committees, etc.;
- Develop
a targeting strategy to identify potential beneficiary households.
Engage community members and local partners in the verification of
beneficiary households that promote accountability;
- Manage
the distribution of hygiene kits that are an integral part of the program;
- Oversee
the successful implementation of program activities, ensuring that teams
are following work plans, that activities are on schedule, and that
program deliverables are completed as promised;
- Identify
priorities in term of assessments, designing and overseeing Knowledge,
Attitudes and Practices (KAP) and other surveys;
- When
security permits, conduct field assessments, makes recommendations about
the needs and vulnerabilities of the target populations in regard to
water, sanitation and hygiene issues, and develop and implements feasible
yet sound technical solutions;
- Conduct
regular monitoring of project activities and project impact, as per Mercy
Corps Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning requirements, and in accordance
with existing related guidelines; (HAP, SPHERE and donor regulations)
- Actively
participate in preparation of tender and contracts, including technical
specifications of works to be performed by contractors;
- Write
monthly reports and other donor based reports or organizational based
notes for PD to review and submit;
- Work
closely with field teams and local partners and participate in partner
assessment and selection;
- Develop
Concept notes and Budgets’ as needed. Assist in proposal and donors report
writing as necessary;
- Budget
management;
- Ensure
that communities are involved as from the earliest phase of the projects,
that they are informed about our programs and what we do, are aware of
their entitlements, are comfortable to give feedback and that feedback is
used to improve the quality of our programs;
- Coordinate
with program, finance and administrative staff to ensure program
activities are in compliance 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 government, armed groups, etc.
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;
- Provide
technical direction and advice in emergency response in insecure
environment, and develop work plans in collaboration with the team;
- Hire,
Supervise, train and mentor the national staff and local partners;
- 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;
- Develop
and implement a comprehensive staff and local partner training series to
build team capacity in the area of WASH and M&E;
- Work
with partners, WASH committees and/or Utilities to strengthen linkages
with other actors to enhance organizational learning which directly
impacts staff performance and productivity;
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: Program field teams in
Unity State and any other states where Mercy Corps implements WASH activities.
ACCOUNTABILITY
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Country Director
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Other programs’ managers,
Operations and Finance managers, Program support team in Kenya, as well as with
Technical Support Units in at Regional level and
Headquarters
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
- BS/BEng
in WASH-related studies or Civil Engineering. MS/MEng preferred.
- 3-
5 years of overseas experience managing WASH in Emergency programs is
required; with particular focus on managing WASH projects with
time sensitive deliverables in complex settings.
- Experience
with IDP/returnee programming is desired.
- Experience
managing OFDA/ECHO/DFID/ERF funded projects is a strong asset.
- 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.
- 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 living overseas and ability to work comfortably in the Muslim
cultural environment is required.
- Fluency
in written and spoken English required. Arabic language skills
highly desired.
SUCCESS FACTORS
The successful Program Manager will recognize that Mercy
Corps’ ability to function safely and successfully in Southern 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: Bentiu, Unity State, South Sudan, ,
Sudan
Position Type: Full-Time/Regular
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