STRATEGY AND VISION

• Formulate and plan, in consultation with key stakeholders, a clear vision of present and future program goals and strategies which can be clearly communicated to team members, local beneficiaries, international partners, governmental counterparts, and donors.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve goals and objectives.
• Explore, evaluate and present new project funding opportunities that leverage impact and integrate initiatives and activities, support and direct related fundraising activities with both institutional and private donors.
• Evaluate program priorities within the country and participate in regional prioritization.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Recruit, manage, motivate, and onboard an informed, skilled and efficient team with an emphasis on excellence and achievement; encourage a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, incorporating staff development strategies and performance management systems into the team building process.
• Establish leadership and personal credibility with the Mercy Corps team, and implement by example an organizational culture of accountability, responsibility and quality of services.
• Ensure excellent human resource plans are available and consistent with Mercy Corps policies, including position descriptions, personnel orientation and professional development plans, personnel evaluation system, field, personnel policy manual, and personnel grievance procedure system.
• Institute a disciplined culture of performance management and regular feedback between supervisors and their direct reports.

PROGRAM IMPACT, MONITORING AND EVALUATION AND LEARNING

• Oversee program quality and impact by ensuring programs are based on sound design principles and utilize Mercy Corps and donor required M&E systems.
• Gather evidence of program impact through robust agency standard procedures for data gathering, reporting, and evaluating program outputs and outcomes
• Lead country team to strive for impact at country and regional level leading to sustained change based on solid systems and incorporation of learnings into programs.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and program participant accountability standards, including an effective Community Accountability Reporting Mechanism and safeguarding mechanisms across all programs.

PERSONAL LEADERSHIP

• Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.
• Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
• Demonstrate awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• Maintain productive relationships with internal and external constituents such as private partners, national government, foundations, the private sector, etc.
• Maintain productive relationships with the international community inclusive of the United Nations, International NGOs, Think Tanks, Research Institutes and Foreign Governments.
• Anticipate needs, understand the donor pool and contribute to shaping donors’ views on humanitarian and development strategies.
• Represent Mercy Corps programs with national and international media.

PROGRAM OPERATIONS AND COMPLIANCE

• Coordinate overall country budget; manage budget within approved spending levels and establish an annual cash flow plan to ensure a steady and adequate supply of funds for program activities.
• Build and maintain operational structures that ensure proper segregation of duties between finance, administration and logistics and fully support field programs.
• Build and maintain an environment of collaboration among program, finance, operations and human resource team members resulting in optimal support for program activities.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations, policies and procedures, and the implementation of appropriate risk mitigation measures to reduce Mercy Corps exposure to potential risk.

SECURITY

• Manage security and safety of the entire country team and Mercy Corps assets according to best practices, MC operating standards and field realities.
• Liaise with the Regional Director and Global Security Advisor on crucial events, high risk periods, incident reporting or security policy changes.

• MA/S or equivalent in social science, management, and international development preferred.
• 10 plus years of field experience in international relief and development programs with demonstrable success in managing complex emergency response and its transfer into early recovery or development.
• Prior experience in setting country level strategy with annual implementation plans and resource managing towards the strategy.
• Great communication skills and prior experience in building, managing and leading a team of professionals.
• History of working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGO and NGO partners in complex environments.
• Excellent writing skills and experience directing successful proposal development processes with prior experience with USAID, FCDO, EU and other bilateral funding agencies.
• Prior experience working and managing a program in a high security alert area, with demonstrated knowledge and skills to manage the security in conflict and post-conflict situations.
• Previous work experience in the Middle East and demonstrated ability to work comfortably, and sensitively, in the environment required.
• Proven skills in financial management.
• English proficiency required; Arabic and Kurdish language skills preferred.