Deputy Country Director
Mercy Corps
Closing date: 10 Oct 2010
Location: Uganda - Kampala
Deputy Country Director (217193-927)
PROGRAM SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006 and directly implements programs in the northern Districts of Pader, Kitgum, Kaabong and Kotido with funding from USAID's, Food for Peace (FFP), Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), Conflict Management & Mitigation (CMM), as well as Private Donations. Over the past year Mercy Corps Uganda has experienced significant growth that has resulted in the expansion into new districts and the development of new sub-grant alliances with international and national NGOs. Working in transitional environments, Mercy Corps is working in two regions of northern Uganda to assist IDPs who are voluntarily returning home, and integrating well-targeted short-term humanitarian assistance programming with a larger program of market-based investments in strategic asset-building. By addressing a number of overlapping and associated needs within a wide range of activities (livelihoods, peace building, agriculture, water and sanitation, health and nutrition, and economic development) Mercy Corps is taking a very integrated approach to ensure the greatest possible impact. The Districts in which Mercy Corps works are generally the most marginalized, poverty stricken, and conflict prone.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
[Describe overview of job mission]The Deputy Country Director is the most senior management position in the country after the Country Director. S/he is responsible for program quality and development as well as supervisory and managerial responsibility over program personnel, programs and policies. The Deputy Country Director provides support and leadership in program development and management, monitoring overall program performance by tracking progress toward specified objectives. This position will have a special emphasis on program quality, innovation, and integration in post-conflict, recovery, and development settings. The Deputy Country Director will need to be highly sensitive to the dynamics of the region and continue to identify innovative solutions through a combination of integrated programming and strategic partnerships that can be applied to areas where Mercy Corps is needed most. Working under the Country Director, the Deputy Country Director is primarily responsible for program oversight and for development and implementation of programs that add value, achieve the greatest impact, and hold Mercy Corps accountable to donors, government, and communities. As a member of the senior management team within the Uganda Country Office, the Deputy Country Director will be directly responsible for program quality and ensuring the DM&E Unit is advancing the country and agency-wide management quality strategies
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Program Management:
. Provide overall leadership and direction to Uganda program staff and support the Country Director to strengthen the program strategies, program quality, partnerships, and accountability in Uganda in accordance with Mercy Corps and donor policies.
. Effectively manage program growth and oversee the implementation of all of Mercy Corps' current programs with a continual eye to new program development that meets the strategic interests of Mercy Corps Uganda taking special consideration of quality, efficiency and sustainability.
. With the Country Director and Program Staff, develop and design innovative initiatives and open new avenues for funding.
. Ensure that regular monitoring of project activities and project impact is undertaken, in accordance with existing Mercy Corps' Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation guidelines.
Program Support Operations
. Ensure compliance and transparent use of resources inline with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.
. Effectively stay abreast of donor policies, procedures, rules and regulations; compile and update applicable local policies; and train Mercy Corps program and partner staff in these policies.
. As part of the senior management team, work within operations systems for program impact including finance, logistics, security, and administration.
. As necessary, recruit, manage and motivate an informed, skilled and efficient program team; incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management systems into team building processes.
. Draft and/or review scopes of work to hire any technical consultants and manage technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
. Oversee grant and sub-grant tracking, ensuring forward planning and preparation for donor report writing and timely submission of sub-grantee reports. Maintain and update program files and grant tracking information on a routine basis.
Team Management
. Build a cohesive team spirit among staff and delegate functions and responsibilities to them while ensuring achievement of program objectives. Demonstrate a commitment to nationalize key program positions.
. Supervise, provide leadership, mentor and build the capacity of senior program staff in program/project design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and management that creates a working atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of excellence at all levels.
. Maintain effective and positive internal communication with Mercy Corps staff in all field offices, this includes ensuring open and harmonious communication all of the different departments, offices, and programs.
Leadership and Strategy:
.Lead the Program team in identifying additional opportunities for medium to long term programming and assist with new proposal and concept paper development that fosters and/or improves the strategic objectives of the country office, whether these new initiatives utilize existing resources or require program development.
. Participate in overall country level strategic planning and assist the Country Director with preparation and implementation of the Country Fiscal Year Annual Planning process. Process is to be participatory, involving relevant key staff in each field office.
. Develop key relationships that will help Mercy Corps in its area of operation and to enhance its program opportunities.
Representation
. Coordinate with Mercy Corps headquarters and regional offices and staff, international and local NGOs, UN agencies, donor community officials, national government, vendors, media and the general public in a way that fosters linkages, optimizes communication, avoids overlap, shares resources, and ensures program success.
. Maintain critical relationships to ensure program success including contacts with District and National government offices, donors, beneficiaries and the general public.
. Represent Mercy Corps Uganda programs to funders and potential donors, conducting programmatic briefings as well as new initiative developments and programmatic proposals.
. Provide management support during R&Rs, transitions, and home leaves of staff and serve as Acting Country Director during his absence.
Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation
. Establish and maintain effective program reporting, monitoring and evaluation systems for both internal and external use in coordination with the program staff.
. Oversee and provide direct support to the DM&E support unit to ensure monitoring and evaluation efforts of Mercy Corps' Uganda programs are not only strengthened but that the information is managed to ensure quality that can be accurately demonstrated with measurable impact.
. Maintain strong relationships and be the key focal point for various M&E initiatives (Mission Metrics, LAYERS, Google, IEHA, and UMEMS)
Coordinate effective program and project reporting, personnel and project evaluations, and communication systems and timelines.
. Ensure Country Director has up to date program information at both project and country levels.
. Manage all internal and external reporting with programs, ensuring high-quality, well-written and timely reports meeting donor and Mercy Corps requirements. Lead in the preparation and completion of all donor reporting.
Security
. Conduct prudent and timely assessments of security environment, initiate and/or enforce necessary security protocols balancing program needs with security constraints.
. Assist the Country Director in ensuring that all security protocols are properly adhered to by both expatriate and national staff and team members are operating in a secure environment.
Assist in the development and update of Security Management Policies/Procedures.
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 towards 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 Directors, DM&E Support Unit and technical heads.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Uganda Country Director
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Finance, Administration, Logistics team members, and all Program staff national and expatriate.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
. A Bachelor's Degree in business, economics, international studies or related field with MA/S preferred
. 7- 10 years' experience in international relief and development
. 5-7 years in senior leadership position, in building teams, developing programs and financial oversight
Experience with USAID, EC and other traditional donors
Trained and knowledgeable in DM&E concepts and methodologies. M&E experience should include conducting assessments and surveys, program design using a logical framework approach, selecting indicators, implementing monitoring plans, coordinating evaluations and data analysis.
Experience supervising national and expatriate staff, starting up programs and working in difficult environments.
High level of proficiency in English is required.
Experience managing programs in relevant technical area(s) including Livelihoods, Agriculture, Health, Water and Sanitation, Economic Recovery, Peacebuilding, and Youth.
Experience managing complex and complicated activities with time sensitive deliverables in unstable environments.
History of working effectively with host country government, National and International NGO partners, and collaborating with other actors.
SUCCESS FACTORS: The successful candidate will be able to manage large programs in diverse environments; have a demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program environments; be focused on team-building and capacity-building of national staff; have effective verbal and written communication proficiency; and have excellent information management skills. The individual will be a strategic thinker able to bring ideas to implementation in growing program operations. He/She will have exceptional proposal development skills and an outstanding ability to design, implement and manage innovative programs that respond to current needs and reinforce the future program structure of Mercy Corps in the country.
LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: Kampala is susceptible and has been the target of terrorist attacks but continues to provide a fairly secure living environment with many of the amenities you would expect in a capital city. With preparation and strong foresight one can avoid many of the frustrations that occur. The city center is congested with major traffic delays. One can anticipate the occasional power and/or water outages. The position holder will have the opportunity to reflect on the inconveniences and has the flexibility to choose her/ his own housing within budgetary limitations.
This is an accompanied post for spouse and children.
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. The position holder is expected to conduct him/herself in a professional manner and respect the local laws, customs and Mercy Corps' policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
How to apply
APPLY VIA URL:
http://hostedjobs.openhire.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjob&jobid=217193&company_id=15927&jobboardid=479
Reference Code: RW_888C6J-75
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