South Sudan: Deputy Country Director – Programs, South Sudan (219091-927)

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has been operational in South Sudan since 2005 and is currently engaged in series of development and resiliency programming in the north of the country. Yet since the outbreak of fighting on December 15, 2013, Mercy Corps is launching emergency programming throughout its current areas of operation including: Warrup State (Twic County), Unity State (Bentiu, Koch and Leer) and the Abyei Administrative Area. Unity State in particular is caught in the crossfire of the violence and, as such, there is a significant and growing level of humanitarian need. The emergency response program in Unity State provides life-saving support to IDPs and host communities affected by the current fighting. Mercy Corps strategy in South Sudan is to ensure that Communities affected by war and natural disasters access lifesaving assistance coupled with pre-emptive livelihoods assistance and protective resilience building support.

The current portfolio of programs are funded by USAID/OFDA, the European Commission, UN Agencies (WFP, UNICEF), IOM and the UN Common Humanitarian Fund

MC South Sudan has the competitive advantage of broad geographic presence and operational history in complex locations. These locations remain food insecure, underdeveloped and fraught with localized conflict.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Country Director, the Deputy Country Director (DCD) – Programs is a senior management position for the Mercy Corps team, with supervisory and managerial responsibility over all aspects of program design, development and implementation. The DCD leads the coordination, financial and administrative compliance and monitoring and evaluation of the country program, engendering a collaborative team spirit focused on achievement of program goals and objective.

The DCD is responsible for the day to day oversight of all Mercy Corps activities and travels frequently to the field. He/She maximizes budget resources and personnel development and remains flexible in a continually changing environment. The DCD ensures that the Mercy Corps Program is planned and executed with quality, accountability and measurable impact. The position working closely with the Country Director and senior management, will support strategic positioning of MC South Sudan and develop proposals and budgets for donors. With support and close coordination with HQ staff, the Director will ensure adherence to organizational program standards and procedures.

The DCD will be highly sensitive to the political and conflict dynamics of the country, ensuring that programs do not exacerbate these issues.

The DCD will guide future strategy for the organization and technical direction of the programs, including its technical assistance, capacity building and basic service delivery components to ensure that it continues to meet donor, state government and community requirements and standards.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Strategy and Program Development:

• Lead strategic planning and technical direction of Mercy Corps South Sudan programs to guarantee program impact and institutional growth.
• Maintain a central role in developing MC’s program strategy in coordination with the Country Director program staff, ensuring that existing programs meet MC’s strategic goals, objectives and targets, as well as identifying and developing new initiatives that strengthen and deepen the program.
• Ensure Mercy Corps (and partners') activities closely match state and community development priorities and directly respond to needs of the target communities.
• Lead the preparation of proposals design and compilation.

Grant Management:

• Oversee grant management and donor reporting requirements to ensure program implementation meets donor expectations and regulations.
• Establish and maintain effective program reporting, monitoring and evaluation systems for both internal and external use.
• Establish and maintain effective project reporting, evaluation and communication systems for the Joint Initiative and its partners.
• Support program goal and objectives through the development and management of work plans by personal application and delegation of responsibility.
• Provide managerial and programmatic oversight including day-to-day direction to/supervision of the program managers; provide mentoring, coaching and capacity-building/training to staff, as needed.

Finance:

• In coordination with the Finance Director ensure accurate and timely financial reports to donors and Mercy Corps headquarters.
• Work with Finance Director to generate and manage all agreements, grants and sub grants with donors and partners ensuring a streamlined process compliant with respective donor regulations.
• Manage budgets with approved spending levels and in accordance with donor rules and regulations.
• Exercise sound judgment to ensure project expenses are reasonable, allocable and prudent.
• Ensure partner budgets and grant holders, spending projections and request for funds are timely and donor complaint.

Program Management:

• Provide direction and leadership in program implementation focusing on a coordinated approach that fosters complimentary delivery of services to the communities by the different project sectors and partner agencies.
• Support program goal and objectives through the development and management of work plans by personal application and delegation of responsibility.
• Provide managerial and programmatic oversight including day-to-day direction to/supervision of the program managers; provide mentoring, coaching and capacity-building/training to staff, as needed.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Oversees a Design Monitoring and Evaluation Manager to establish and maintain effective program reporting, monitoring and evaluation systems for both internal and external use for timely and smooth monitoring of program progress and impact and make program adjustments accordingly.
• Support all efforts towards accountability - to beneficiaries and to international standards guiding relief and development work. This includes understanding and following established international guidelines and actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of projects.
• Lead research initiative for the organization and identify opportunities for Mercy Corps to professionally document and promote best practices and coordinate publicity and appropriate learning forums.

Representation:

• Maintain effective external relations with partner and donor agencies, national and local government officials, cluster and coordination forums, media and general public.
• Represent Mercy Corps and its partners at the National and State level to ensure government coordination and participation in programming and public relations and visibility for Mercy Corps donors and partners.
• Maintain close links with partner agencies ensuring their full participation in the decision making process and project implementation through regular and ad hoc meetings and briefing.
• In the absence of the Country Director, act on behalf of Mercy Corps as the senior representative for Mercy Corps South Sudan.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to the Mercy Corps and partner organizations.

Team Management:

• Lead a dynamic team of both international and national staff striving to ensure adherence to MC policies whilst bolstering team spirit.
• In consultation with the Mercy Corps Human Resources to recruit and manage an innovative, informed, motivated and efficient team with a particular focus on individual and team capacity development.

Operations Management:

• In consultation with the Operations Director and Operation Managers, oversee procurement; asset, fleet and estate management ensuring donor and agency policies are respected Manage security and safety of the team and field offices supported by necessary systems and training.
• Build and maintain structures that ensure proper segregation of duties between finance, administration and procurement.
• Ensure coordination between departments to ensure efficiency and impact.
• Liaise with the Operations and Finance units for payments, financial monitoring/compliance and closeout procedures, including property and equipment acquisition, disposition and management in compliance with internal and donor requirements.

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 Corpsteam 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:

The Deputy Country Director – Programs supervises all MC South Sudan Program Managers and the Design, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager. Works closely with the Finance and Operations Director.

ACCOUNTABILITY:South Sudan Country Director

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• MA/S or equivalent in International Development or relevant field
• 5 – 6 years management experience with specific experience and skills in program development including community-based project design, assessment and evaluation and grants management.
• Experience managing consortiums with international partners and multiple donor experience (USAID, OFDA, EC, ECHO, UN Agencies etc).
• Five years overseas experience including listening to, learning from, training, and mentoring key staff regarding development and other relevant issues.
• Proven success managing the administration and compliance of donor funding and the ability to develop proposals for new projects and programs from conception to submission is required.
• Solid analysis and strategic planning skills as well as a proven practical and theoretical understanding of the project cycle, issues of community development and relief are necessary.
• Proven ability to develop a program and to conceptualize and successfully lead and manage a team throughout the entire program cycle is vital.
• Demonstrated experience and ability to professionally and appropriately represent the organization and negotiate and defend Mercy Corps interests with a diverse range of government officials, local organizations and other groups.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills are necessary.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.
• Experience with emergency response and development programs and staff training and mentoring is also required.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful DCD will apply a strong combination of team leadership, program development and relationship building abilities. As this position requires a significant amount of new program development to complement existing programs, the successful DCD will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative programs within the current and future structure of Mercy Corps South Sudan operations and have excellent writing skills. Flexibility and public relations skills are integral success factors in this position. The incumbent must have wide ranging knowledge in livelihoods, capacity building and institutional strengthening and hands-on experience in relief and development projects to be direct programming. Excellent negotiation and communications will provide for continued development of donor and partner relationships.

Other factors include:

• Strong team leader who will give direction and has the interpersonal skills to create enthusiasm and commitment in the teams.
• A sincere commitment to engaging communities and local government administrations in interlinked developmental initiatives.
• A deep commitment to the highest standards of accountability and resource management.
• Experience with living and working in unstable or conflict areas.
• The incumbent should be able to keep abreast socio-political developments in order to inform management and take requisite actions to ensure staff and assets safety.
• Willingness to be based in Sudan in extremely challenging operational, travel, and housing contexts.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Working knowledge of Arabic and/or other Sudanese languages strongly preferred.
• Versatile multi-tasker with the proven ability to organize and prioritize many urgent tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles, follow procedures, and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.
• Proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results.
• Ability to understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details
• Even temperament and a good sense of humor appreciated.
• Awareness of and sensitivity to multi-cultural international development work.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The position will be based in Juba, South Sudan. Juba is the capital city of South Sudan with a significant international community presence. While most basic items and services are fairly available in Juba, living conditions are generally basic in Southern Sudan and staff members are still staying in tents in some of Mercy Corps field sites. The climate is very hot, humid and dusty. Medical facilities are basic, and tropical diseases including malaria are endemic.

In order to best address the current needs of the South Sudan program, this position will initially be based in Agok for a short period before transitioning to Juba.

Because of the level of insecurity, this location is unaccompanied.

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.

Please apply directly at:
http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjo...