SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER - PSP (Applications will only be accepted if submitted online, through the link provided) - Re-post

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Program Manager’s role is to lead the management of large multi-sectoral programs/grants. Under the direct supervision of the Partnership Support Program Director, the Program Manager is responsible for coordinating mutli-sectoral emergency response programs through partner organizations; ensuring quality agricultural and livelihoods interventions as well as other humanitarian sectors including protection, WASH and food/non food items; contribute towards strategic vision of the Mercy Corps team and manage a team of program officers. The position holder will work closely with implementing partners to ensure smooth, efficient and effective implementation of the programs. The position also involves understanding how the collection of partner projects fits within Mercy Corps’ grant portfolio and Mercy Corps wider strategy, with support and guidance from the Partnership Support Program Director. The position encompasses a wide range of project activities, including planning and coordination of high quality interventions at grant and subgrant level, monitoring and verification of activities in coordination with MEL Adviser, supporting budget and proposal development at partner and donor level, collating information collected from partners, reporting to donors, arranging trainings with partners and mentoring and coaching of specific partner staff where appropriate.

This role is expected to cover for the role of Partnership Support Program Director when the position holder is traveling/on leave or as delegated.

The position holder will work closely with the Partnership Program Director, who will seek to expand the skills of the Program Manager and delegate more responsibility during the duration of the contract.  The Program Manager will also line manage Program Officer(s) staff who implement day to day administrative tasks with the PM’s oversight, support and guidance. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program Support

• Alongside the Partnership Support Program Director maintain oversight of all programming across grants, track trends, lead on adaptation and provide advice on improving programming.
• Oversee the design, planning and implementation of youth protection programming to help beneficiaries strengthen capacities to mitigate vulnerabilities, reduce exposure to potential protection problems and navigate risks.
• Ensure that the programs targets are met according to implementation work-plans. This includes being responsible for the quality of periodical reports/updates and grants tracking system by ensuring that subgrant and grant records are kept up to date.
• Decision making on projects to fund, in consultation with relevant team members according to grant and strategic objectives.
• Provide technical oversight to partner teams and mentor staff in the design and implementation.
• Maintain daily communication with partners on the implementation of projects and closely follow the implementation of partner activities from the design phase through to implementation and close out.
• Help design project frameworks/objectives with local partners and ensure that the projects funded all meet set criteria and standards and feed into the larger MC grant.
• Be responsive to the needs of partners and challenges, advocate on their behalf and ensure the same consistent approach is used throughout the team.
• Pay close attention to issues, trends or concerns that arise from partner reports, updates and meetings. In discussion with Partnership Support Program Director, make decisions and take action.
• Actively seek out new programming opportunities, through keeping abreast of the context, actively identifying new potential partners, and new geographical areas of operation.

• Support Mercy Corps’ different sectors in their efforts to mainstream sector best practices of safe, dignified and inclusive delivery of services for people of different gender, age and special needs.
• Coordinate internally with finance, compliance, humanitarian access and program development teams, ensuring a consistent approach to project design, implementation and close out. Suggest opportunities for improved integration and collaboration when possible.

• Provide professional guidance and support to the Program Officer(s) and other team members. Ensure effective line management of Program Officer(s).
• Participate in and support internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops

• Assist in any other task or duty assigned by the supervisor.

Grant Management

• Maintain up to date knowledge on donor requirements and compliance issues, relevant to specific grants.
• Lead on donor level proposal design and proposal writing in coordination with Grants Manager and Partnership Support Program Director.
• Responsible for quality report writing that accurately represents partner projects.
• As delegated by the Partnership Support Program Director review and support other team members reports and proposal development processes

Technical Support

• Work with Partnership Support Program Director and Technical Advisers to ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Work with Partnership Support Program Director and identity programmatic gaps either in current quality of implementation or potential future areas of implementation.
• Work with Partnership Support Program Director and Technical Advisers to ensure projects are aligned with context specific learning and best practice.
• Responsibility for protection and do no harm standards being mainstreamed through program activities.
• Work with PaQ team to ensure that the partners have established accountability mechanisms in line with Mercy Corps CARM manual. Support the team to ensure that communities and relevant stakeholders are adequately informed about programs, are comfortable to give feedback, that feedback is used to improve the quality of our programs and referral mechanisms are in place.
• Work with PaQ team to integrate M&E and accountability systems that are compliant with CHS, SPHERE and other relevant standards, as well as to the Donors’ requirements.

     Capacity Building

• With the support of Capacity Building Officer, responsible for developing capacity building plans and objectives for partners.
• Responsible for delegated training and coaching to partner staff to improve best practice.
• Responsible for the oversight and monitoring of capacity building within the Partnerships Support Program

Representation and Coordination

• Pay close attention to issues, trends or concerns that arise and in discussion with Partnership Support Director make decisions and take action as delegated.
• As required participate in relevant working group meetings and if needed with donors, representing Mercy Corps work.

Finance and Compliance

• Ensure that partner projects are executed in alignment with the donor agreement and the applicable donor regulations, staying abreast of changes in regulatory environment related to donor/grant compliance; updating partnership process, tools, policies and procedures as necessary
• In close coordination with Mercy Corps’ Humanitarian Access Team (HAT), ensure appropriate due diligence mechanisms are in place to mitigate against fraud, corruption, aid-diversion and that all stakeholders are properly vetted
• In close coordination with the procurement team, ensure partners are compliant with donor and Mercy Corps’ procurement policies, which includes training on procurement minimum standards and procedures, supporting procurement planning and tracking major procurements.
• Act as the focal point for full compliance with PM@MC minimum standards for partner projects.
• In coordination with Finance and the Head of Grants Management, ensure programming activities are accurately reflected in donor budgets and reports.
• Ensure a solid understanding of Mercy Corps’ operations, and how this relates to due diligence processes initiated by donors.

Security

• Ensure security procedures, mitigations and policies are followed by partners.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
• Alongside the Security Coordinator support implementing partners to improve security mitigation approaches, ensure tools and processes are in place to manage staff safety and security and report incidents appropriately

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 Officer(s) and Program Coordinator

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:

Partnership Support Program Director

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH:

All Mercy Corps department and staff as well as staff from partner(s) organizations

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• University Degree or Higher in relevant field is required.
• 5—7 of professional experiences in humanitarian programming including in livelihoods, protection and WASH programming or equivalent combination of NGO sector experiences and education.
• 3-5 years experience in working in partnerships programming.
• Grant report and proposal writing experience is essential.
• Experience of line management is required.
• Experience of representation and acting up into senior roles is preferred.
• Strong understanding of humanitarian and protection principles and likely protection concerns for women and youth arising in the Middle East context.
• Experience of humanitarian training and facilitation – including desirable knowledge of designing and/or adapting curriculum relevant for target groups.
• Demonstrated experience in emergency response programming in highly insecure environments.
• Commitment to local capacity development and past experience of engaging and working with local stakeholders in project design and implementation.
• Demonstrated capacity to collaborate closely with INGOs, national NGOs and Community Based Organisations.
• Proven ability to work cooperatively with colleagues from other departments in a team environment, and to lead a diverse group of people.
• Understanding of participatory methodologies for project design, implementation and evaluation.
• Good organizational and project management skills.
• Knowledge of humanitarian standards and codes, including SPHERE, CHS is an asset.
• Working understanding of procurement, administration and finance systems.
• Demonstrated familiarity with the MS Office software (i.e., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) is required.
• Show great initiative and be able to work well in a team and independently.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the Middle East conflict context and understands project needs.
• Commitment to high level of confidentiality with sensitive information.
• Proficiency in Arabic and English language written and spoken is essential. Excellent written English is desired.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful candidate will have proven experience working effectively and respectfully with NGOs and CBO representatives, and will have effective verbal and written communication as well as multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills. S/he will have demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members. S/he should have excellent coordination skills, the ability to manage multiple deadlines and show initiative to improve program implementation. Sensitivity to multi-cultural humanitarian and development work and ability to train and facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of individuals with various skill sets and working styles are all critical. An ability to creatively solve problems, juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines, and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected and sudden events impacting program operations are also essential.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours. 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 venues, in such a manner as to bring positive recognition to Mercy Corps and to not endanger Mercy Corps’ humanitarian mission.