MCEurope recruits 01 Program Development and Reporting Manager

MCEurope recruits 01 Program Development and Reporting Manager

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been operational in the Central African Republic (CAR) since September 2007. With offices in Bangui, Bouar, and Bambari, 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 protection and gender-based violence, governance, capacity building, social cohesion and early economic recovery. Funding comes from a range of donors including USAID, the European Commission, OFDA, UNHCR and private foundations. 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.

General Position Summary

The Program Development and Reporting Manager will work closely with the Programs Director to build a donor’s strategy to increase the portfolio of the country ensuring that proposals are aligned with the country strategy. S/he will be a focal point in seeking new funding including the drafting of concept notes and contributing to larger proposal development efforts. S/he will ensure high quality and timely reports to Mercy Corps and its donors for the CAR program. The PDRM will facilitate internal coordination, providing support to the Country Director and the Director of Programs as well as other members of Senior Management Team.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY & VISION

 Lead and coordinate proposal development in line with the country strategy and recognize opportunities for innovative actions, with support from technical Units, HQ and field staff  Participate in the designing of assessments, baselines, midterm & end-line survey tools and analysis for the projects and proposals.
 Draft program updates and respond to information requests for donors and other key stakeholders
 Assist in advocacy efforts and strategy development to convince stakeholders to provide support for priority sectors.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

 Lead the coordination, review, approval and submission of program reports in French and English in adherence in the grant agreement and timelines.
 Collect and organize key project management tools and manage grant administration and reporting
 Provide support to program teams at key programmatic moments, such as program start-up, kick-off meetings, 90-day inception meeting check-ins, quality audits and spot checks, collecting lessons learned, 90-day end of program transition meetings.
 Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan..
 Create and maintain effective systems ensuring timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

 Manage multiple donors in different countries to deadline.
 Build the capacity of CAR staff and local partners in grant reporting to enable them to develop high quality reports and other documents
 Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve program performance to reach objectives.
FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT
 Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
 Assist with project level budgeting and forecast expenditure surpluses and deficits to enable adjustments to be made to the program in a timely fashion.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

 Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, donors, UN agencies and other NGOs.
 Support the design and drafting of communications material (annual report, social media, speeches, editorials, press releases, website content, newsletters, drafting success stories, etc)
 Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
 Organize and conduct site-visits to the project sites and host visitors and donors, as needed.

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 toward 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: None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Program Director
Works Directly With: Country Director, Program Managers, Finance Manager, M&E Manager, regional and headquarters program officers, donors, NGO partners and humanitarian agencies

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have an ability to work independently, take initiative in tasks and self-learning, and be proactive in communications and development of professional relationships. S/he will be able to live and travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites, working closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment. The successful candidate will have good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels. Tact and diplomacy are essential, with demonstrated sensitivity to the people and issues in the region, especially in high stress environments. S/he will be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps; can creatively problem-solve, to juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected and sudden events impacting program operations with patience, dynamism, tenacity and a good sense of humor.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Bangui, Central African Republic and it requires up to 20% travel to the field offices in Bambari and Bouar, as well as the surrounding areas (security permitting). This is an unaccompanied post and eligible for Hardship and R&R (one week every 10 weeks). The Central African Republic is a nation of 4.6 million people, ranked as one of the poorest nations in the world, with an average life expectancy of only 49 years. Hospitals and access to medicines is very limited. Malaria is prevalent, and it is estimated that 7-8% of the population may be HIV positive. The location is unaccompanied however if security improves this could be revisited. Housing is in-group housing with freedom of movement beyond the house/office. Staff will have access to electricity, water, and internet, though they should expect occasional outages. Access to health care is limited. As an unaccompanied position, this role qualifies for hardship allowance.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside 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.