Chief of Party (COP) – Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) – Uganda At Mercy Corps

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Experience 10-15

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is an international development organization that works in over 40 countries to promote community-led and market-driven development. With a strategic focus on countries in transition, Mercy Corps takes a progressive approach to supporting communities, entrepreneurs, governments and the private sector from relief to long-term economic growth. With a network of over 3,700 experienced professionals around the world, we are uniquely positioned to respond to complex environments and the needs of local communities.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been present in Uganda since 2006, focusing its interventions on economic and agricultural development, maternal child health and nutrition, governance, conflict management and humanitarian response. With funding from USAID, FCDO, DANIDA, AFD, ADA and private foundations, Mercy Corps has been able to work together with communities in Uganda to drive transformative change in the communities where we work, with a particular focus on addressing the needs of youth, refugees and adolescent girls in last mile and pastoralist communities. In 2023, Mercy Corps reached almost 1 million participants in Uganda through our work to build resilience and enable economic growth, improve access to energy, and strengthen governance and conflict management. Innovation is at the core of Mercy Corps’ work in Uganda, and we look to accelerate innovative solutions to meet the challenges Ugandans face, through a focus on climate change adaptation, access to energy, financial inclusion and economic opportunities for refugees and pastoralist communities. In Uganda, Mercy Corps operates in Karamoja specifically in Kotido, ,Abim, Amudat, Kaabong and Moroto; in Northern Region in Gulu; West Nile in Yumbe and Central region specifically Kampala district. Mercy Corps offers technical expertise in Market Development, Gender, Peace and Conflict Management, Economic Empowerment, Food Security Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, Agriculture and Agribusiness.

Mercy Corps is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) to lead the implementation of an anticipated five-year USAID Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) in Uganda. The Activity will contribute to food and nutrition security for Ugandan households and communities.

General Position Summary

The Chief of Party will provide overall leadership, management and strategic vision to the implementation of a multi-year USAID Resilience Food Security Activity. They will manage staff, resources and partnerships to ensure that the Activity meets its targets and deliverables on-time and within budget. The COP will supervise Activity staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps’ policies and donor rules and regulations. They will be the primary representative for donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers and external stakeholders for this Activity.

Technical Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

Provide leadership and strategic vision in all aspects of Activity implementation, development and management. Ensure that Activity implementation is responsive to communities, and aligned with Mercy Corps’ principles, values and strategic plan.
Outline and maintain a strategic plan for the implementation of program activities, including finalizing target areas/interventions, methods of operation and means of evaluation.
Recognize opportunities for innovative action, create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed and foster a safe, diverse and inclusive workplace.

Program Management

Oversee Activity start-up and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various country locations.
Lead the development of detailed implementation plans, flowing from annual strategic work-plans, and ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems and adaptive management principles to reach desired impacts.
Provide managerial and programmatic oversight to partners and sub-grantees.
Document processes and achievements to ensure impact and best practices are captured and disseminated. This will include the continual re-evaluation of program activities and information, with resulting Activity adjustments in keeping with new insights.
Create and follow effective stakeholder engagement plans, ensuring sound and proactive communications with Mercy Corps Uganda, headquarters, USAID, Government of Ugandan authorities, partner organizations and colleague agencies.
Ensure integration of community approaches, gender and social inclusion sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate. Certify all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
Reinforce a culture of reflection and learning based on programmatic data.

Human Resources, Safeguarding and Diversity

Support Mercy Corps’ global and regional initiatives for human resources, including safeguarding and diversity, and talent development.
Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
Manage and help with the recruitment, orientation, professional development, and ongoing training of staff to ensure they are of the quality and technical capacity necessary to ensure the successful implementation of activities.
Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.

Finance, Compliance & Risk Management

In collaboration with the country program’s operations and finance departments, ensure proper financial management, procurement, administration, human resources and logistics needs of the Activity are conducted within Mercy Corps’ policy and with the maximum benefit to the RFSA.
Monitor adherence to grant agreement, Mercy Corps’ policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations, including those of the Government of Uganda.
Collaborate with country leadership to support preparedness and response to major disruptive events.

Influence & Representation

Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events, in close coordination with the Country Director and Director of Programs.
Ensure close coordination and information sharing with consortium partners, sub-grantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.
Establish and maintain relationships with communities, partners and local government.

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 the Activity is implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

Safeguarding Responsibilities

Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work. ·
Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members. ·
Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory Responsibility

National and international team members working on the program, as well as partnerships with international and national organizations. The number of direct and indirect reports is to be determined.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director of Programs

Works Directly With: Country Director; Senior Director, Africa Resilience Programs; PaQ Director and other Uganda program Directors, Activity team members, finance, administration and operations teams, HQ Regional Program Team, HQ Technical Support Unit and partner organizations

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our projects.

Knowledge and Experience / Qualification and Transferable Skills

MA/S or equivalent experience in development studies, international relations, agriculture, nutrition, public health, business administration or other relevant field.
At least 7 years of relevant international development experience (10 years+ with a Bachelor’s degree) with positions of progressively greater responsibilities, at least five years of which must be based in country programs.
At least five years in a senior management role is required with experience managing integrated, multi-sectoral programs of a similar size and scope in developing countries facing complex, volatile, and uncertain contexts.
Prior experience managing USAID development or resilience Activity(ies).
Proven success serving in a leadership role for a project addressing issues related to food security, nutrition, resilience, graduation approach, market system development, agriculture, natural resource management, livelihoods, or similar, preferably in Uganda.
Must demonstrate expertise in food, nutrition and economic security (FNES).
Understand and demonstrate commitment to the importance of gender and youth dynamics in FNES programming.
Demonstrated experience in adaptive management and learning techniques is highly encouraged.
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners.
Experience managing program implementation financial reporting, reporting procedures and systems, and staff.
Demonstrated experience in recruiting, retaining, and developing program staff.
Experience with USAID and U.S. Government regulations preferred.
Prior humanitarian and/or development experience working in Uganda preferred. Familiarity with Uganda’s social, political, economic and cultural landscape.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.

Success Factors

The successful COP will combine exceptional management skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships. They will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. They will also have proven experience with cross-cultural teams and capacity building, individual staff development, working with local partners, and strong mentoring and interpersonal skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps team 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

Mercy Corps offers a competitive benefits package for positions based in Kampala. Housing is family accommodation with unlimited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. There are several international schools in Uganda. Staff have a high degree of access to services (medical, electricity, water, etc). This position requires 50% travel by road and air to field offices.

This position requires obtaining medical clearance through the successful completion of a medical assessment by an external third party prior to deployment and following any medical evacuation if applicable. If you are not medically cleared and Mercy Corps cannot reasonably accommodate a medical condition if required, you may not be able to deploy for/return to this position.

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.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.