Mercy Corps recruits 01 Technical Lead – Partnership for Development in the Eastern Congo (P-DEC)
Program Pending funding – start date around April 2021
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 operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since August 2007, with a staff of around 500 people and programs focused in Eastern Congo in North and South Kivu and Ituri, with the overall country goal to support vulnerable communities through crises, while fostering programs that build resilience and promote long-term change. Mercy Corps’ key programming areas include a combination of longer-term development and immediate humanitarian response programs in order to: 1) Improve water service delivery and ensuring equitable access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services, in urban and rural areas; 2) Improve food security and nutrition; 3) Promote diversified livelihoods, economic recovery and development. All Mercy Corps interventions in DRC are implemented in a conflict and gender sensitive manner.
Mercy Corps is seeking a Technical Lead to guide the technical approaches and manage the technical team for the anticipated five-year USAID-funded Partnership for Development in the Eastern Congo (P-DEC). P-DEC will strengthen the foundations for durable peace in Ituri and North Kivu provinces. P-DEC will adopt cross-sectoral stabilization approaches to address drivers of conflict that gave rise to and continue to fuel the activities of armed groups and community militias.
**This position is contingent on funding**
General Position Summary
The Technical Lead will work in concert with the Chief of Party (COP) to oversee and lead the technical approaches of the program and consortium partners. When needed, the COP will deputize the Technical Lead to oversee the program. The Technical Lead will also have experience in and advise the program on one technical area including stabilization, peacebuilding, governance, or civic engagement.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy, Vision, and Program Management
- Work with the COP to create a coherent and integrated overall strategy that is shared with program team and key stakeholders.
- Oversee the implementation of the program’s technical strategy and approaches providing leadership, mentoring, quality control and coordination to strengthen program outcomes.
- Provide technical guidance to the program in one area such as stabilization, peacebuilding, governance, or civic engagement.
- Ensure that cross-cutting aspects of the program such as adaptive management, gender equality, social inclusion and resilience are included and well integrated into the program strategy.
- Liaise with Mercy Corps’ support departments (finance, operations, HR/Admin, etc.) for operational support and of the program.
- In coordination with the M&E staff, monitor the implementation of activities through regular field visits and assessments to ensure program quality and impact.
- Work with COP to develop and oversee partnership frameworks, partner agreements/Memorandum of Understandings, and partner capacity building.
- Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
Team Management
- Oversee the P-DEC technical team.
- Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
- Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.
Influence & Representation
- Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events, in close coordination with the COP and Mercy Corps’ DRC Country Director.
- Coordinate activities with key stakeholders, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.
Security
- Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
- Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security and conflict dynamics.
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
P-DEC technical team members
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Chief of Party
Works Directly With: PDEC Team, DRC Programs and Technical Team, DRC Finance and Operations Teams, HQ Regional Program Team, HQ Technical Support Unit
Knowledge and Experience
- An MA/S or equivalent in conflict management, peacebuilding, governance, development studies, or international relations or similar field; or 8 years of implementation experience and demonstrated technical knowledge in conflict management, peacebuilding, governance, or civic engagement.
- At least 5 years team management experience in a similar size of program with a demonstrated ability to inspire, build, and foster a high performing and adaptive team culture.
- Experience working in rural development in conflict-affected settings.
- Experience working with partnerships or in a consortium of implementing organizations.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, and to liaise with donors and government
- Experience with USAID programs is strongly preferred.
- Experience working in Africa required.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. French fluency preferred
Success Factors
The successful Technical Lead will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members and other stakeholders of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. This position requires an ability to think creatively about conflict dynamics and how to increase stabilization through cross-sectoral approaches working closely with actors in the DRC. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous 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
The Technical Lead is based in Beni. The location is unaccompanied. The position is entitled to individual housing in Beni and is eligible for hardship. Beni has a population of 400,000 habitants approximately; water and electricity available but can be unstable as well. There is reasonable access and availability of main consumer goods. Security is highly volatile and a curfew is in place. Mercy Corps’ sub-offices experience variable levels of insecurity, with the situation closely monitored by UN peacekeepers. Years of conflict and corruption have badly damaged the country’s infrastructure. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. There are virtually no telephone landlines in the DRC, though mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is limited, but available in all Mercy Corps offices. Travel to field sites will be required (up to 50%) where living conditions are clean and secure, but basic. There are a number of health services available with several evacuation options for serious illnesses.
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 Mercy Corps policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.
How to apply
Please send your resume and cover letter to: https://app.jobvite.com/j?cj=oxHDdfwO&s=email