Emergency Program Manager

Position description

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.

In disaster, in hardship, in more than 35 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.

The Team

Mercy Corps helps communities develop their own ideas to tackle Haiti’s most complex challenges, using innovative approaches that offer Haitians new social and economic opportunities and help make their country safer and more productive. Active in Haiti since January 2010, Mercy Corps has offices in Port-au-Prince, Miragoane and Jérémie, and employs over 80 people who implement programmes in food security, agriculture, protection, financial inclusion, natural resource management, disaster risk reduction and preparedness, access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), nutrition and humanitarian aid. Mercy Corps takes a progressive approach to development, supporting communities and entrepreneurs from establishing sustainable livelihoods to building their resilience.

Mercy Corps is seeking applications from qualified candidates for a Project Manager role within the planned ‘Saving Lives Together’ project, a position based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The overall objective of the ‘Saving Lives Together’ project is to improve food and nutritional security and the resilience of vulnerable populations in the targeted municipalities within the West Department. The main areas of intervention planned are: Multiple Purpose Cash Transfers (MPCA), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Food Security (FS), Nutrition (NUT) and Protection.

Within the consortium, Mercy Corps works specifically in the sectors of Food Security, Nutrition, Protection and WASH, in order to provide targeted assistance to vulnerable households in the Western Department and to address their urgent needs in these areas.

The Position

The Emergency Project Manager will provide overall leadership, management and strategic vision for the implementation of the project across all its components. The incumbent will oversee the implementation of the project using a participatory approach at all stages, including planning, coordination, organisation, quality control, implementation, monitoring, evaluation of results and analysis of lessons learnt, in the West Department of Haiti. He/she will manage the project’s staff, resources and partnerships to ensure that objectives are met on time, to a high standard and within budget. The Project Manager will also lead the development of a robust results monitoring and measurement system (RMM) as well as the analysis of lessons learnt from the project (learning and impact). He/she will also represent the project to consortium partners and external partners, notably by participating in relevant coordination and learning events. He/she will lead the project management team, which will contribute to defining and implementing the project strategy. The Project Manager will ensure accountability for project activities to participants, donors and stakeholders, including government authorities, notably through the production of regular reports and the incorporation of feedback. He/she will ensure that the project adheres to deadlines, scope and budget at all times. He/she will report to the Programme Director of Mercy Corps Haiti.

The Project Manager will also work closely with other key department heads at Mercy Corps. This role requires excellent knowledge and skills in project/programme management, as well as experience in project/programme design and management.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSABILITIES

Strategy, vision and planning

• Identify opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set the direction by prioritising and organising actions and resources to achieve objectives and contribute to the development of the national strategy.
• Develop and organise activities aimed at securing resources for the project and persuading stakeholders to provide their support.
• Provide leadership and strategic vision in all aspects of project implementation, development and management.
• Ensure that project implementation is tailored to the needs of communities and partners, and that it aligns with Mercy Corps’ principles, values and strategic plan.
• Maintain a strategic plan for the implementation of project activities in line with best practices in resilience-building through cash transfers, including updating and finalising activities, operating methods, and means of monitoring and measuring success.

Program Management

• Ensure that the project is implemented on time, in line with objectives and within budget, using innovative systems to achieve and measure success.
• Prepare high-quality monthly, half-yearly and annual reports in collaboration with the MEL, CARM and Finance teams.
• Ensure that the project has adequate and sufficient resources, including the teams, tools and equipment necessary to deliver high-quality outcomes to participants, whilst adhering to the agreed budget, timelines and scope.
• Establish and support systems to regularly monitor the quality of implementation, and take corrective action to address quality issues.
• Create and foster an environment conducive to adaptive management, in particular by encouraging the timely use of data for decision-making.
• Integrate community-based approaches and capacity building into all activities, where appropriate. Ensure that all interventions comply with Mercy Corps’ policy: the ‘do no harm’ principle and standards of accountability to beneficiaries.
• Collaborate with finance, procurement, logistics, security, administration and human resources teams to ensure that operational systems support field activities.
• Comply with Mercy Corps’ minimum project/programme management standards, in accordance with the organisation-wide guide.

Human Resources, Protection and Diversity

• Help new members of the management team settle in, ensuring they are well prepared for success and familiar with the agency’s systems, procedures and protocols.
• Develop the project team’s capabilities, deepen their understanding of their roles, identify and secure support for technical capacity building, and contribute to their career development.
• Foster accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback both informally and formally through regular one-to-one meetings and performance reviews.
• Create and maintain a working environment based on mutual respect, where team members strive for excellence.
• Support Mercy Corps’ global and regional human resources initiatives, particularly in relation to child protection, diversity and talent development.

Budget, Financial and Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.
• Develop and maintain systems that enable the efficient and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting, in line with the needs of the project, donors and Mercy Corps.
• Ensure the project meets its budgetary targets. This responsibility includes collaborative work planning that empowers all team members, accurate budget forecasts and analysis of monthly budget-versus-actual reports, as well as adequate procurement planning in collaboration with the operations team.
• Support the development of financial management tools and budget monitoring.
• Verify detailed transactions and review expenditure reports against budget (BVA) to determine the status of project expenditure rates.
• Collaborate with the country finance manager to ensure that cost-cutting plans and cash flow forecasts are developed and monitored.
• Make a significant contribution to the project regarding budget revisions or financial reports.

Advocacy and Representation

• Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events, in close coordination with the Programme Director and Country Director of Mercy Corps Haiti.
• Coordinate activities with partners, sub-beneficiaries, local authorities and other implementing organisations, as well as with other Mercy Corps projects and programmes.

RISK MANAGEMENT

• Engage and support countries across the region to ensure that adequate risk management systems are in place.
• Collaborate with country leadership to support preparedness and response to major disruptive events.
• Engage with country teams on the internal audit process to track findings and ensure country team compliance with IA findings and recommendations.
• Engage with country level Ethics and Assurance managers as well as the global Ethics and Assurance department to track and analyze trends and needs across countries.

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

The Project Manager will supervise the technical staff recruited for the project, who are responsible for cash transfers, social assistance, water and sanitation, protection and nutrition.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports Directly To: This role reports directly to the Programme Director of Mercy Corps Haiti.

Works directly with: finance and operations teams, human resources, MEL & CARM managers, the technical support unit at head office, 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 field projects.

Qualifications

• A Master’s degree (MA/S) or equivalent qualification in medicine, economics, international development, international relations, project management, agricultural economics or another relevant field is strongly preferred, ideally with experience in emergency projects/programmes and in the following sectors: cash transfers, WASH, food security, protection and nutrition.
• A minimum of 7 years’ relevant experience, with proven experience in programme/project management; experience in Haiti is preferable.
• Proven experience in nutrition is required.
• An internationally recognised qualification in project or programme management, or a commitment to obtain such a qualification within the first few months of employment.
• Proven experience in resilience approaches and the design of cash transfer sector development activities.
• Experience in the assessment and analysis of emergency markets.
• Experience in integrating market-based approaches into emergency programmes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and communicate effectively with team members with diverse working styles
• Proven ability to learn quickly and lead a programme to achieve set results and objectives
• Knowledge of best practices in DOS funds, UN (Pooled Funds) and global best practices.
• Experience of DOS projects/programmes is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with colleagues, implementing partners, donors, local organisations and partners.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in French and English (desirable).
• Strong skills in programme advocacy, communication and marketing.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on Globaljobs.org