About the Programme

General Position Summary

Essential Responsibilities

• Lead the development of a vision and strategy for the programme shared with the consortium team and key stakeholders;
• Recognise opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative

• Set direction by prioritising and organising actions and resources to achieve objectives;
• Oversee the development of annual, integrated strategic work-plans for the programme;
• Foster a culture of collaborating, learning, and adapting for program effectiveness throughout the programme lifecycle;

• Oversee programme startup, management, and administration. Provide strategic guidance, oversight and quality assurance for all programme activities, outputs and deliverables;
• Assume overall responsibility for the effective implementation of work plans and ensure delivery is on time, within budget, meets donor and stakeholder expectations and is contractually compliant;
• Monitor implementation progress, maintain up to date logs of issues and risks, work to resolve issues, manage and mitigate risks, and escalate material issues and risks as appropriate;
• Ensure that programme implementation is responsive to communities and partners and is consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant programme guidelines, principles, values, quality standards, and strategic plan.
• Ensure programme strategies and activities represent global good practice in market systems development, protection-integrated livelihoods, climate-resilient agriculture, gender equality, and social inclusion.
• Fulfil Mercy Corps’ Programme Management Minimum Standards based on the organisation-wide guide.
• Oversee efforts to design effective M&E and research & learning systems for the programme, and linkages with internal M&E systems.

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Oversee and supervise the Programme Management Unit (PMU).
• 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.
• Supervise and manage all programme staff to ensure day-to-day activities are implemented in a coordinated fashion according to schedule, budget and quality.
• Supervise and manage all programme partnerships to ensure sound coordination in the context of an overall programme strategic and resilience-building framework.
• Manage and help with the recruitment, orientation, professional development and ongoing training of PMU staff to ensure they are of the quality and technical capacity necessary to ensure the successful implementation of activities.
• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.

• In coordination with consortium partners, be responsible for the overall representation of the consortium towards peer organisations, FCDO, Government representatives and other stakeholders.
• Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field, in close coordination with the Country Director.
• Ensure close coordination and information sharing with consortium partners, sub-grantees, key stakeholders and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programmes.
• Engage with relevant coordination bodies in Ukraine.
• Coordinate with MC and partner communications and advocacy teams to promote programme successes through various forms of media in line with internal and donor priorities and regulations.

• Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
• Ensure that programmes are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.
• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
• Operationalise and maintain an incident management system for the consortium in compliance with organisational and donor requirements.

• Provide overall leadership to risk management of the programme, including maintaining programme risk registers, monitoring the contextual dynamics which may impact award performance, and leading the team to address programmatic adjustments required in light of contextual changes.
• In collaboration with the country programme’s operations and finance departments, ensure proper financial management, procurement, administration, human resources and logistics (including transport, warehousing, and asset management) needs of the programme are conducted within Mercy Corps’ policy and with the maximum benefit to the programme.
• Monitor adherence to grant agreement, Mercy Corps’ policies and procedures and relevant internal external rules and regulations.
• Work closely with the MC Country Director and Steering Committee to address and mitigate potential administrative and bureaucratic impediments to successful program implementation.

Supervisory Responsibility

Accountability

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Knowledge and Experience

• Master’s degree in a relevant field such as social sciences, international relations, development studies, etc. However, a Bachelor’s degree and five (5) additional years of relevant international development experience can be substituted for the Master’s degree.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in the successful implementation of international development and humanitarian activities, with preference given to market systems, livelihoods, agriculture, and resilience programming – at least five (5) years of which must be in senior programme management, including direct supervision of professional and support staff.
• Experience working on FCDO programmes is strongly preferred. If not with FCDO, experience with high profile institutional donors is required.
• Experience in building the capacity of staff and partner organisations.
• Professional experience in fragile contexts is required, with experience in Ukraine preferred, and with an in-depth understanding of gender, age, and other locally significant socio-cultural factors.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated ability to think strategically and communicate his/her vision to partners and colleagues.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, NGO partners, and local communities;
• Proven experience navigating complex and high-pressure operating environments.
• Conflict analysis and Do No Harm analysis experience required.
• Fluency in spoken and written English required. Knowledge of Ukrainian and/or Russian in advantageous.

Success Factors

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

Ongoing Learning

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Equal Employment Opportunity

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, programme 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. 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 elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.