Yemen: Director of Programs

Sep 6, 2017 | Mercy Corps
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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 seeks to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression around the world and has worked in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Turkey. In response to acute and increasing humanitarian needs in Yemen, Mercy Corps opened its office in Yemen in 2010. Primary program interventions include water, sanitation and hygiene; food security and nutrition; and livelihood support. Mercy Corps also develops value chains within the agriculture sector. Strategies to enhance the resilience of communities to the harsh environmental and social conditions in the country cut across the portfolio. The country program works to pivot its programming in response to exacerbated humanitarian need following from the airstrikes on Yemen, which began in March 2015.

During this critical period in Yemen, Mercy Corps is not only providing humanitarian assistance but also working closely with its Yemeni partners and local communities to implement programs that emphasize long-term development and resilience building. It is essential that Mercy Corps have strong systems in place to monitor, evaluate, and measure the impact of its work. Information gathered through these activities helps Mercy Corps to strengthen its programming and assists the country program to remain accountable to communities and donors alike.

General Position Summary

The Director of Programs (DoP) - is a critical member of Mercy Corps Yemen’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT). Tasked with managing and developing programming that is accountable to government, beneficiaries and donors, the DoP will pursues funding opportunities that strategically connect programs into a cohesive country portfolio, guided by the country strategy and annual plan. The DoP provides support and leadership in program development and management, monitoring overall program performance by tracking progress toward specified objectives. All programming requires effective program coordination with operations and finance from inception to close out. The primary focus of the DoP will be on interventions that respond to the current emergency needs of Yemenis, while keeping a close eye on any early recovery and development efforts. The Director of Programs will work with the Country Director to develop, define and refine the country office’s strategic objectives.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

Communicate a clear vision of present and future program goals of Mercy Corps Yemen to team members and stakeholders that translates into concrete programs and work plans.
Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcome.
Lead the Program team in identifying additional opportunities for programming and assist with new proposal and concept paper development that fosters and/or improves the strategic objectives of the country program.
Participate in overall country level strategic planning and assist the Country Director with preparation and implementation of the Country Fiscal Year Annual Planning process. Process is to be participatory, involving relevant key staff in each field office.

Program Management

Ensure that program implementation in specific geographical area is responsive to communities, authorities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and vision.
Provide overall leadership and direction to program staff and support the Country Director to strengthen program strategies, program quality, partnerships, and accountability in accordance with Mercy Corps and donor policies.
Effectively manage program growth and oversee the implementation of assigned Mercy Corps’ programs with a continual eye to new program development that meets the strategic interests of the country program, taking special consideration of quality, efficiency and sustainability.
Ensure program implementation is on time, on target and on budget, using effective M&E systems to demonstrate the desired impact
Oversee program implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, beneficiary targeting, distribution processes and capacity building of partners as needed.
Promote adherence to Mercy Corps’ standards, including the use of standardized indicators and internal MEL system, M&E, and adaptive management approaches, and country-level learning and strategic objectives.
Support adherence to the Mercy Corps ‘Design for Impact Guide’ (DIG) and provide consistent coaching and capacity building on the use of the DIG in project design and monitoring and evaluation plans.
Support the implementation of TOLA, an open-source software built internally to improve how we evaluate program data by providing adaptable tools, and promoting better learning and sharing of information.
Work with program teams to identify specific capacity building and coaching opportunities for all levels of leadership to develop the skills and approaches required to use adaptive management techniques in all stages of the project cycle. Set up onboarding structures that include Adaptive Management, PM@MC, Community Mobilization and gender and protection sensitive programming.
Build a culture of adaptive management, high-quality program performance, and learning.

Team Management

Build a cohesive team spirit and culture among staff and delegate functions and responsibilities to them while ensuring achievement of program objectives. Demonstrate a commitment to nationalize key program positions.
Supervise, provide leadership, mentor and build the capacity of senior program staff in program/project design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and management that creates a working atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of excellence at all levels.
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.
Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
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.

Finance & Compliance Management

Ensure compliance and transparent use of resources in compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.
Effectively stay abreast of donor policies, procedures, rules and regulations; compile and update applicable local policies; and train Mercy Corps program and partner staff in these policies.
As part of the senior management team, work within operations systems for program impact including finance, logistics, security, and administration.
Draft and/or review scope of work to hire any technical consultants and manage technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
Oversee grant and sub-grant tracking, ensuring forward planning and preparation for donor report writing and timely submission of sub-grantee reports. Maintain and update program files and grant tracking information on a routine basis.

Influence & Representation

Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
Identify, build and manage critical collaborative partnerships with donors, consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
Represent Mercy Corps programs with to funders and donors, take on representation role on specific coordination forums and participate in community activities as directed by the Country Director.
Identify and lead on relevant fundraising opportunities for sustainable growth of the country program, including proposal development.

Security

Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country
Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

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

Program Managers, Reporting & Program Development Officer

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Country Director

Works Directly With: Operations, Finance, HQ-Based Program

Knowledge and Experience

MA/S or equivalent in social science, management, international development or other relevant field.
At least 10 years of overseas experience including at least five years in a senior management position.
Experience managing emergency and transitional programs.
Previous experience working in the Middle East is desired.
Proven track record in successful proposal writing and program development.
Experience managing programs in at least some of the relevant technical area(s) including food security, livelihoods, WASH, and nutrition.
Strong understanding of conflict sensitive program mainstreaming, gender or protection mainstreaming would be an advantage;
Knowledge of major donor requirements and compliance issues.
Strong management skills with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.
Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
A high level of personal efficiency, and the ability to balance multiple urgent or important tasks without undue stress.
Solid knowledge of security protocols and ability to work effectively in an insecure environment.

Success Factors

The successful Director of Programs will skillfully represent programmatic priorities of the agency to donors and regional partners while providing effective leadership to the Mercy Corps program team. S/he will have high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity building and will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This unaccompanied position is based in Sana’a, Yemen, with travel to other offices, as security allows. When traveling around the country strict adherence to Mercy Corps security policies and procedures will be required as will respect for local cultural norms and traditions. The position will require travel to the field sites in Mercy Corps Yemen’s operational areas up to 40% time including travel to some locations that may be insecure or austere. Security conditions in the country are variable, with a range of violence and insecurity, requiring close monitoring and vigilance. Conflict and corruption have also badly damaged the country's infrastructure. Candidates must be able to work in an environment with energy, transportation and communication challenges.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit 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.