About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.
The Program
Mercy Corps seeks to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression around the world and has worked in the Middle East since the 1980s. 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 in 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 for the foreseeable future will be primarily focused on meeting urgent humanitarian needs across the country while building support to the recovery of economic market systems, resilience and social cohesion elements in its programming strategy. Strategies to enhance the resilience of communities to the harsh environmental and social conditions in the country cut across the portfolio.
The Position
The Performance and Quality Manager leads the performance and quality (PAQ) team in Yemen, responsible for cross-cutting information management, knowledge sharing, monitoring and evaluation, ensuring reflections on research/assessments and incorporation in current/upcoming programs, coordination of key functions including internal and external reports and quality control. The overarching goal of the PAQ team is to improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of Mercy Corps’ programs. The PAQ Manager ensures that information collected is reflected upon, used to improve ongoing programs, and is incorporated into consistently high-quality reports and proposal development.
Essential Job Responsibilities
STRATEGY & PLANNING
- Develop and provide oversight of the PAQ team’s strategy (including focus on MEL, PM@MC and CARM global policy areas)
- Lead PAQ team members (including MEL and CARM functions), ensure their work is aligned and contributing effectively to the strategy and meeting Mercy Corps’ minimum standards
- Collaborate with colleagues from the Global PAQ/MEL Team to provide country-level insights and opinions on the rollout of new processes and systems (e.g. Global MEL Policy, TolaData, Participant Count, PM@MC, CARM, MSD for MEL etc.)
- Lead the development of processes to support programs team in integrating cross-programmatic learning and ensure that lessons learned are used to inform adaptation of activities and future program design
- Build a culture of adaptive management, evidence and learning in Yemen, supporting improved program performance
- Conduct initial orientation and onboarding of new program staff (esp. MEL, program managers, and country leaders) – promote tools like Tola Data, DIG, M&E tools, and PM@MC
- Provide support to programs on meeting PM@MC and PMD Pro
- Conduct program quality reviews including implementation quality, DQAs, review meetings, reflection on research/ study/ assessments, meeting of minimum standards, quality of MEL data collection and analysis
- Documenting process and internal MEL/PAQ ways of working including DQA, SADD, how to count program participants, assessments methodologies
- In collaboration with the Director of Programs, support the development of cross-team coordination mechanisms to ensure effective collaboration and integration across key program areas and functions, and within and across programs portfolios.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & REPORTING
- Regularly conduct project site visits to provide hands-on training to field staff on how to capture and organize information for accurate documentation and reporting
- Ensure quality data, learning and other supporting information on a timely basis for all donor reports
- Facilitate the effective sharing of information around the work that we do
- Grow the influence of Mercy Corps in Yemen by elevating our presence and thought leadership
- Lead in the development of strong communications and advocacy pieces that promote our work
MONITORING, EVALUATION & LEARNING
- Lead assessments. Provide input as to M&E systems and act as a link to HQ M&E technical staff and program teams
- Lead all evaluation process in country either by implementing them internally or overseeing consultants who do so
- Develop the capacity of the national team to conduct internal evaluations
- Maintaining Sectorial or programmatic progress dashboards
- Leading activities as per MEL plan
COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY & RESPONSE MECHANISM (CARM)
- Supervise the CARM team, and provide technical guidance on implementation of country-wide CARM
- Oversee the processing of feedback, support adequate programmatic responses, and serve as a member of the case management committee (CMC)
- Facilitate adequate responses to level 5-6 feedback, by engaging with the CD, DoP, and headquarters
- Ensure CARM materials including flyers, banners are designed, printed and delivered to field locations
- Ensure program teams are oriented on CARM policy
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
- Assist in designing programs that incorporate Mercy Corps’ standards on design, monitoring, and evaluation
- Lead the drafting of results frameworks, logframes and MEL plans associated with potential new programs
- Participate in new business development processes from the kickoff to submission stages – providing input not only on MEL but also on program design, feasibility, logic, etc.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
- Strengthen the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development
- Build a pipeline of strong national PAQ staff with a focus on technical capacity development and leadership skill building
- Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance and 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.
SECURITY
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership
- Ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of security policies.
Supervisory Responsibility
MEL Senior/Officers/Coordinator, CARM Coordinator
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Director of Programs
Works Directly With: Program Managers, Information Management, Regional Technical Advisors, Headquarters PAQ Team, consultants, support departments
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.
Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills
- MA/S or equivalent, preferably public administration, economics or international development.
- 5-6 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation, including relevant experience building and managing an M&E system and team, relevant experience supervising data collection and data validation exercises, and building staff capacity.
- Must have extensive training skills and experience working with a variety of donors, including EC, USAID/BHA, French MOFA and SIDA.
- Prior experience of humanitarian response, cash, market-based programming, nutrition and WASH is highly desirable.
- A high degree of computer literacy; Power Bi, Excel and Word skills are essential.
- Excellent communication and organizational skills.
- Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.
Success Factors
A successful candidate will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in an intense and fluid work environment with a capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. S/he will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, with an ability and willingness to remain mobile for short-term and/or long-term as necessary within the region, based on programmatic needs. An ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
This unaccompanied position is based in Aden in Yemen with travel to project sites if security allows. Strict adherence to Mercy Corps security policies and procedures will be required as will respect for local cultural norms and traditions. 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 land line 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 location is eligible for hardship and R&R breaks.
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.
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 and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.