COUNTRY DIRECTOR – NIGERIA (217924-927)
This position is contingent upon funding.
PROGRAM SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps is building a program in Nigeria, focusing on conflict
resolution and economic development. The CD will work to build
relationships with other NGOs, donors, government, and other
stakeholders to develop and build program activities that support these
themes.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps is seeking a visionary leader who is capable of successfully
managing a start-up portfolio of programs in Nigeria, resulting in
impactful and innovative programming. As Mercy Corps’ most senior
manager in the country, the Country Director (CD) shapes the strategic
direction and management of the portfolio, building a team and
recruiting new staff as needed to manage new projects. The CD will have
supervisory responsibility for the country team. The country office is
in Abuja, with projects in the north supported from Kaduna along with
activities in the Niger Delta. The CD will be expected to travel to
these locations, while at the same time making donor/representational
duties a priority in Abuja.
The CD is also responsible for strategic planning, monitoring and
evaluation, staff security,
human resource
management, financial management, agency representation, and
coordination with headquarters in Portland, OR, USA and Edinburgh,
Scotland. The CD will ensure that country program operations are of the
highest quality and standards and supportive of Mercy Corps’ global and
regional strategies.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
STRATEGY AND VISION
Lead the annual country planning process: develop and communicate to
team members and stakeholders a clear vision of present and future
program goals that translates into concrete programs and work plans that
achieve impact and accountability.
Collaborate with team members to provide high-quality reports on program activities to donors.
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PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT
Identify strategic program opportunities and design program
interventions in key thematic areas related to conflict mitigation and economic development.
Maintain oversight of all aspects of programs, ensuring progress towards
achieving program objectives and pro-actively identifying
challenges and solutions, in collaboration with team members.
Oversee the production of high-quality proposals and reports to donors,
ensuring that staff have budgeted time and resources to deliver complete
reports that effectively communicate program activities.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
Build, supervise and provide leadership to a diverse team in field programs.
Create a work environment of mutual respect that attracts motivated,
skilled, and effective team members and enables them deliver excellent
performance, both individually and collaboratively.
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.
OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
Apply Mercy Corps’ Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation (DM&E)
principles and framework to programs to ensure the country’s overall
strategy includes effective, timely reporting systems for all programs.
Ensure effective, transparent use of resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies/procedures.
Oversee budget management of sub-grantees/sub-contractors.
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Build and maintain operational systems that ensure proper administrative support for programs.
REPRESENTATION
Closely monitor and contribute to the development of UN, Donor, Governmental, and Civil Society strategies and plans;
Maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, such as NGOs, local governments, donors, etc.;
SECURITY
Coordinate with team members, including the VP of Operations and
Regional Program Director on crucial events, high-risk periods, incident
reporting, and security policy changes.
PERSONAL LEADERSHIP
Demonstrate flexibility, resilience, and an ability to maintain positive relationships with composure.
Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
Demonstrate an awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs, as well as a willingness to improve performance.
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: Between 2-5 direct reports.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Deputy Regional Program Director
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Program staff, Senior Program Officer, Assistant Program Officer, Regional Finance Officer, Technical Support Unit team members
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
7-10 years of field experience in international relief and development
programs, including demonstrable success in managing large, complex
programs in conflict settings.
5 years of senior-level leadership, capacity building, and field management experience.
Previous work experience in sub-Saharan Africa and in insecure environments, with preference for experience in Nigeria.
Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host
country government, private sector, INGO, NGO partners and other
stakeholders in complex environments.
Proven skills in financial and grants management.
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Prior experience with US, UN, DIFD, and EC grant management required.
Successful and proven negotiation, communication, and organization skills.
Ability to work effectively with an ethnically-diverse team in a sensitive environment.
Fluent verbal/written English required.
MA/S or equivalent in
social science, management, international development, or related field preferred.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
Ability to navigate complex situations with diplomacy.
Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills.
Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet
deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
Ability to train and facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of individuals with various skill sets and working styles.
Sense of humor appreciated.
LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
This position is based in Abuja and requires extensive travel (up to
40%) to project sites (e.g. Kaduna, Niger Delta), where security is at
times high-risk. Abuja is an accompanied location suitable for
spouse/partner and/or dependents.
Security in Abuja is generally good, although petty crime is a
problem and increased security issues throughout the country
occasionally spill over to the capital. Schools, health care, water,
electricity and consumer goods are all reasonably accessible, and there
are good international and domestic travel options from Abuja Airport.
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. 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.
CLICK LINK TO APPLY
CLOSING DATE: 25 May, 2012.
