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 seeks to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression around the world and has worked in the Middle East since the 1980s. Yemen is in the midst a major humanitarian crisis impacting the entire country. In response to acute and increasing humanitarian needs in Yemen, Mercy Corps opened its office in Yemen in 2010. More than 22 million people are need and reliance on humanitarian assistance continues to grow. The main thrust of the work of Mercy Corps along with its national and international partners is to meet urgent humanitarian needs across the country while building resilience and social cohesion. Strategies to enhance the resilience of communities to the harsh environmental and social conditions in the country cut across the portfolio.
General Position Summary
The Director of Programs (DoP) will provide overall leadership, technical oversight, management and strategic vision of the multi-sector program while managing staff and resources to ensure that the program meets its targets and deliverables on-time, on-scope and within budget. The DoP will ensure high program quality while ensuring strict adherence to internal Mercy Corps policies and procedures as well as donor rules and regulations. The DoP will also have representation duties to donors, relevant government entities, other local and international NGOs, interagency coordination platforms and other external stakeholders. The DoP will ensure the different sectors are effectively coordinated in their planning and implementation of activities and allocation of resources including staff and vehicles. The DoP will supervise Program Managers, Technical Advisors and the Program Performance and Quality Teams across the country to ensure effective program implementation. The DoP is part of the Senior Management Team and represents Mercy Corps at the highest level and is able to develop, articulate and deliver a strategic vision in line with the rapid evolution of the context and the strategic decisions made by the organization’s executive leadership
Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategic Vision & Leadership
● Contribute to countrywide strategy development and prioritize and organize actions and resources to achieve objectives set through those processes;
● Follow analysis of the Yemen crisis and the impact of policy, political, and military changes on the context, ensuring that this analysis is recognized and incorporated in planning for both short-term humanitarian and longer-term recovery and resilience programming;
● Provide leadership in the development of a coherent strategy for the implementation of the multi-sector program activities, mostly humanitarian, early recovery and social cohesion. Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve program objectives and contribute to the delivery and development of the countrywide strategy, in line with both the evolving contextual needs and MC Global Strategy and Vision for 2030
● Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed and considered;
● Ensure that Mercy Corps strategy is developed as a collaborative process with MCY team, well communicated and guides decision-making.
Program Performance & Quality
● Communicate a clear vision of program goals and strategies to program team members and stakeholders, translating into concrete work plans;
● Provide leadership to increase coordination, collaboration, communication and harmonization of Mercy Corps programming and operations in Yemen;
● Facilitate sharing and learning across offices and teams, incorporating local, regional, and global learning into program design and management;
● Support the PaQ Team in ensuring the planning and proactive implementation of high-quality data collection (assessments, evaluations etc…) along with the development and implementation of a learning agenda across programs
● Build consensus around priorities to improve the delivery of assistance and implement consistent program strategies and frameworks across the response;
● Build consensus around a common vision of what shared success looks like, including developing and tracking appropriate indicators;
● Ensure programs are able to meet donor and internal obligations on scope, time, and budget, including efficient coordination of program, operational, and financial issues;
● Engage program leadership in ongoing context analysis that enables programs and teams to adapt to significant changes in the geopolitical/conflict environment;
● Create and maintain systems to ensure efficient and transparent capture of program data for management decision-making and timely and informative internal and external reporting;
● Oversee the establishment of systems, policies, and approaches necessary to ensure and demonstrate the quality of programs and ensure technical coherence and promote creative programming across the portfolio
● Ensure that all the program staff have received training in line with their level of responsibility and receive technical support relevant to their programs.
● . Closely track and lead implementation to ensure program is on-time, on-scope and within budget.
● Ensure all program management minimum standards are met (including risk management, issues management) in line with PM@MC 2.0, and with different sectors
Strategic Business Development
● Track and review new program development opportunities and identify opportunities that match Mercy Corps’ strategic interests in Yemen in a coordinated and timely basis with the Grants Unit
● Strategically lead and coordinate with the Grants Department in identifying new opportunities for funding in line with MCY and MC Global strategies
● Coordinate with partner organizations and field program staff on proposal development and design, including gathering information for concepts and proposals and serving as primary drafter/editor of proposals and needs assessments.
● Apply the agency’s best practices in donor cultivation, pre-positioning, and proposal development efforts for institutional donors.
Team Management
● Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence;
● Promote accountability, ownership, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews;
● Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary;
● Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives;
● 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.
● Recruit and lead the program team and ensure that program staff receive necessary inductions and training (including program management certification where required).
● Create a work atmosphere of mutual respect conducive to professional growth and development of excellent personnel at all levels.
● Implement, and ensure all staff members are effectively using, the performance planning and management system, establishing performance expectations and regularly providing constructive feedback.
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● Actively collaborate with Advisors to develop and implement a team capacity building plan
● Coordinate all program units for the timely preparation of quality internal and external reports.
Finance & Compliance Management
● Recognize the high level of donor scrutiny in Yemen programming and ensure continuing effective, transparent and responsive compliance mechanisms are in place;
● Maintain oversight of overall program budgets ensuring appropriate allocation of resources to meet program objectives;
● Ensure adequate technical, analytical and administrative support for programs;
● Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.
● Ensure all internal control procedures are adhered to and that necessary measures are put in place to ensure high standards of accountability and compliance.
● Create and maintain systems for regular review and implementation of corrective measures based on regular budget variance analysis in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies.
Coordination with Program Support
● Coordinate with Finance, Operations and HR to ensure operational systems are in place to support field activities (including logistics, procurement, security, administration and human resources).
Influence & Representation
● Represent Mercy Corps programs with national and international media and participate in community activities as appropriate;
● Work with formal and informal governance structures and representatives, maintain and develop relevant and productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders;
● Maintain productive relationships with internal and external constituents such as private partners, local NGOs, civil society organizations, and academic institutions;
● Anticipate program needs, understand donor pool and contribute to shaping donor views on the evolving context and its impact on civilians in Yemen;
● Ensure that Mercy Corps maintains a high degree of risk awareness and impartiality;
● Respect and understand cultural and ethnic differences and nuances and have the ability to navigate between them, recognizing the complexities involved;
● Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, governments and other stakeholders.
● Participate in shaping policy positions and advocacy messages pertaining to the overall humanitarian situation in Yemen.
Security
● Maintain oversight of access provisions to ensure Mercy Corps’ continued ability to access our most vulnerable and hard-to-reach participants;
● Coordinate with the CD on crucial events, high-risk periods, incident reporting and any security policy changes;
● Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies;
● Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
● Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
● Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
● Work closely with Mercy Corps Yemen High risk program advisor, security focal points and Area Directors to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its implementation process.
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 Participants
● Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our program participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.
Supervisory Responsibility: Program Managers, Technical Advisors, MEL Manager, Grants & Reporting Specialist
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Yemen Country Director
Works Directly With: Senior Leadership Team, Regional Program and Technical Team, Headquarters Technical Support Unit, additional headquarters-based teams as needed.
Knowledge and Experience
● Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in international development, management, economics or other relevant field. Strong management skills, with good knowledge of relevant cross-cultural issues. Masters preferred
● At least 7 years of progressive program leadership and management experience on multi-sector and integrated projects.
● Strong ability to work independently in the field and show initiative. Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work cooperatively with team members.
● Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to develop good relationships with a wide range of actors required.
● Substantial knowledge of the international humanitarian system, institutions and donors, and of compliance requirements, accountability frameworks and best practices; prior experience with funding from USG, DFID, ECHO and other leading donors;
● Robust experience in developing, operationalizing, and implementing program strategies;
● Demonstrated expertise in representation and negotiation resulting in securing significant new opportunities for the organization;
● Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGO, NGO partners and other stakeholders in complex environments;
● Experience leveraging data systems within humanitarian programs to evaluate program outcomes;
● Experience in managing strategic transitions from humanitarian to early recovery, social cohesion programs in a post- conflict transition phase;
● Highly-developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching;
● Solid project management skills related to international, cross-functional teams;
● Experience of solving complex issues collegially, defining a clear way forward, and utilizing best practices in management to ensure shared success;
● Outstanding analytical and strategic thinking skills, with a focus on results and impact;
● Excellent oral and written English skills required, proficiency in Arabic preferred.
Success Factors
A successful Director of Programs will combine exceptional leadership and management skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships while being able to be hands-on and very operational. They will be able to develop, implement and manage a large, multi-sector program, including with expertise in remote programming setting They will have the ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel and experience in building and/or strengthening the capacity of individual staff and teams. The DoP will have a demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of adaptive management whenever deemed compliant and necessary. The successful candidate will have outstanding communication skills, a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability and will thrive in evolving and challenging environments to make effective communication and decision a priority in all situations.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
This is an unaccompanied position based in Taiz with travel to Aden, Sana’a and Taiz-Howban, Yemen, and eligible for hardship and R&R breaks. Housing is in group housing. 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. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other, though the road network is good, the security situation often precludes travel by road. There is a landline telephone system, a somewhat reliable cellular phone system and internet is available in the residences and offices. Candidates must be able to work in an environment with energy, transportation and communication challenges. The position will require travel to the field sites in Mercy Corps Yemen’s operational areas up to 50% of the time including travel to some locations that may be insecure or austere.
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.
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.
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
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 field projects.
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.
SAFEGUARDING & ETHICS
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.