Jobs at Mercy Corps

General Position Summary

This role will support the implementation of the EU-funded pilot program titled ‘Conflict Mitigation and Community Reconciliation in Northwest Nigeria. The project will be implemented through a Consortium led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with Mercy Corps (MC), and the Center for Democracy and Development( CDD).

Katsina has been experiencing multiple dimensions of conflict, including farmer-herder strife, and acts of Banditry. While the conflict has many factors, it is rooted in the increased competition over land tenure and mismanagement of natural resources. The lack of or unimplemented policy frameworks on land access, resource use, and weak dispute resolution mechanisms, as well as a broader absence of social protection, have created a vacuum contributing to lawlessness and conflict. The conflict had its epicenter in Zamfara, however, with a false narrative, the subsequent mobilization of vigilante groups along ethnic and community lines and impunity, and increased access to light weapons, the conflict escalated to Katsina. Coupled with repeated and lethal cycles of communal violence and wider human rights violations and abuses, especially against women and girls. This proposed pilot project will complement the Government's efforts in conflict mitigation and community reconciliation by promoting an inclusive peace-building process in Jibia, Batsari, Danmusa, and Kankara LGAs in Katsina State.

The project’s overall objective is to reduce community violence, promote locally-driven peace initiatives, and mitigate conflicts over natural resources in Katsina State of Northwest Nigeria.  The project will contribute to strengthening the capacity of communities and local governments to manage their resources sustainably; reinforce their social cohesion; and build more resilient households and societies through the establishment of dialogue mechanisms inclusive of all social groups and authorities, provision of mental health and psychosocial support and the strengthening of the local governance system.

The Infrastructure Advisor will be responsible for providing expert advice to the project team related to the definition of refurbishment project tasks, architectural design, and infrastructure upgrades implemented by the external contractors. The individual undertaking this post will have responsibilities to support the program team in the development of the initial scope of works for infrastructure upgrades, to supervise the work of designing the architectural outlines, and to provide day-to-day guidance and supervision on the construction sites performing quality control mechanism over the works of contractors.  

The Infrastructure Advisor will be scrutinized by Mercy Corps Global and in-country Infrastructure Technical Support Units (TSU) and will be responsible to provide on-request reports to both support units. The person undertaking this position will work in close collaboration with various local governance structures-formal and informal to exchange information and ensure consistent and quality delivery.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Provide technical advice in the development of the scope of works for infrastructure designs and upgrades;
• Provide effective supervision of the architectural design works;
• Provide effective monitoring and supervision of construction/rehabilitation works performed in the field;
• Provide expert input to the overall execution of all infrastructure projects;
• Facilitate information development and information sharing.

Provide technical advice in the development of the scope of works for infrastructure designs and upgrades:

• Closely cooperate with the TSU/ consultants in the development of the initial scope of works for infrastructure designs and upgrades;
• Provide advice to the TSU/consultants related to technical expertise matters about the definition of the scope of works;
• Develop the tendering documentation necessary for recruitment of the construction works company/ consultants for designing the project proposal and necessary technical documentation for construction works;
• Evaluate the technical offers resulting from the tendering process.

 Provide effective supervision of the architectural design works:

• Supervise the work of consultants to ensure the architectural design is fully in line with the initial scope of works and infrastructure upgrades required;
• Supervise the work of consultants to ensure the architectural design and project proposal meet safety and security requirements, rules, and regulations;
• Develop the tendering documentation necessary for the recruitment of the construction works company/consultant to implement the project proposal;
• Evaluate the construction works companies’ offers resulting from the tendering process.

Provide effective monitoring and supervision of rehabilitation/construction works performed in the field:

• Supervise the works in the field to determine/verify delivery of contracted works according to the project proposal as developed;
• Effectively liaise with contractors and communities on the construction works sites;
• Report to the TSU on the progress in the field
• Report on issues that may arise during construction works;
• Through monitoring of the construction works sites ensure required quality, timely completion, and value for money of construction works;
• Provide certification for payments to confirm that milestones under construction contracts are achieved; including submission of the final Certificate of Completion of work

Provide expert input to the overall execution of all infrastructure projects;

• Provide technical expertise during the evaluation of bids for conformity with requirements;
• Provide technical expertise in contract management through stipulation of terms, application of special conditions if any, liability, commitments, and milestones;
• Ensure compliance with Entities’ Physical Planning and Construction Acts, by-laws regulating the construction of similar social facilities, technical regulations, general and special technical conditions, and professional codes;
• Perform other duties as delegated by the Program Manager.

Ensure facilitation of information development and information sharing in the project focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in engineering;
• Sound contributions to information sharing among project staff and project partners;
• Participate, as a resource person, in substantive and/or specific training sessions organized  for the project staff and the overall Mercy Corps teams;

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acting as a team player and facilitating teamwork;
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
• Creating synergies through self-control;
• Managing conflict;
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encouraging the learning of others.

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating the mandate of the joint impact and social cohesion projects

Results-Based Program Development and Management

• Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work; researches linkages across program activities to identify critical points of integration; and monitors specific stages of projects/program implementation.

Building Strategic Partnerships

• Maintaining a network of contacts: maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership-related issues; analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders; innovation and marketing new approaches; enhancing processes or products; generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices, and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things

 Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position; possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks; strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning; and demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

Client Orientation

• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client/community needs and reports back in a timely, succinct, and appropriate fashion; organizes and prioritizes work schedules to meet client/community needs and deadlines.

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 toward 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: None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Program Manager, with close collaboration and consultations with the in-country and global Technical Support Units (TSU), the Senior Program Office, and NRM Advisor.   

Knowledge and Experience

• University degree in Civil Engineering / Architecture. A master’s degree will be an asset.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in supervising architectural design and construction works.
• Prior fieldwork experience in infrastructure construction and rehabilitation of projects.
• Experience in working with INGO regulations would be considered an asset.
• Advanced computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Project, AutoCAD)
• Prince2 training and other related project management certification would be an asset.
• Fluency in the English language; fluency in Hausa is also desirable.

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General Position Summary

The CLA Advisor will work closely with the Technical Manager, Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP) the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager, and the thematic leads to ensure collaboration and linkages with external stakeholders across the program’s intervention areas, as well as to integrate active and intentional adaptive management exercises. The Advisor is responsible for: identifying and promoting linkages between Activity interventions and those conducted through other programs, institutions and stakeholders in the implementation area; maximizing program impact and sustainability; establishing and implementing a program learning agenda; and ensuring strong CLA processes and activities within the program.

Essential Job Responsibilities

The CLA Advisor will provide strategic guidance and management for program studies, intervention development, and planning.  S/he must establish and manage relationships with potential partners and stakeholders. This role will also work with the MRM and Program teams, developing and implementing a marketing and communications strategy across various reactive and strategically planned opportunities in print, media, events, and online.

S/he will liaise with the CoP, DCoP, Advisors, Communications Manager, and MRM Manager to identify and design key communications materials and disseminate them to identified audiences. S/he will be responsible for ensuring strong linkages between the Activity interventions and the Results Measurement team of the program. This position is based in Gombe but requires frequent travel to the other states of the Northeast.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Knowledge Management

• Lead learning, knowledge management, and adaptive programming activities.
• Facilitate strong CLA management practices in RRA and its partners throughout the program cycle.
• Assist in identifying and responding to key learning issues, coordinate efforts among implementing partners and serve as a convener for dialogue and learning around emerging issues.
• Support a RRA learning plan for that outlines key learning questions and stakeholders and their roles.
• Support strategic communications, including producing publications and organizing public events with partners and other stakeholders.
• Support a culture of CLA among RRA and its partners.
• Facilitate processes and workshops and CLA among implementing partners and other stakeholders and help develop plans for program adaptation; establish a network of key stakeholders and organize periodic learning events.
• More specific to the external side of collaboration, the incumbent will lead the Mission’s exploration and building of partnerships that can maximize the Mission’s programming impact.
• Play a lead role in the coordination and implementation of events related to engaging Implementing Partners.
• Lead role in coordinating the planning of this event, incorporating CLA as a backdrop to meeting agendas and ensuring regular follow-up and continuous refinement to these public relations events.

Research

• Conduct research into relevant market systems and trends to identify opportunities for interventions.
• Assist in stakeholder analysis of selected commodity chains and identify and establish contact with potential firms and other market actors.
• Liaise with the Results Measurement team on developing appropriately tailored research tools and methods for collecting and collating relevant intervention information from the field.
• Assist in updating and supervising MRM Team aspects of the intervention activities, including establishing baselines, indicators, and results.
• Support the conduct and/or update of market assessments involving direct stakeholders and public and private sector actors working within the target value chains and market systems.  
• Assist in collecting baseline data related to interventions targeted for study or implementation by the project.

Intervention Management

• Support the implementation of teamwork plans and the successful implementation of livelihoods and market systems development activities, ensuring timely implementation of work plan activities and identification of target groups within the approved budget, and achieving program deliverables for desired impact.  
• Support the provision of technical guidance on livelihoods and market systems development and ensure that interventions are responsive to stakeholders and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards, and strategic plan.
• Formulate strategies to develop markets in the selected commodity chains and seek opportunities to work as per the RRA sector strategy. Develop intervention strategies and implementation procedures in a participatory manner with key stakeholders.
• Ensure the appropriate communication of clear intervention guidelines, expected outcomes, timeframe, and work plan to all relevant parties.
• Remain well aware of developments in the relevant sectors/markets/commodity chains
• Refine and adapt the intervention strategies in light of participant and stakeholder requests and changing needs and opportunities within the overall program of RRA.
• Help identify market failures and pressure points for addressing these; help identify ways to render a given market more functional and efficient to benefit the program targets.
• Refine and adapt the selected intervention strategies in light of participant and stakeholder requests and changing needs within the overall program.
• Identify priority areas for interventions that will change as opportunities pass or are realized, and new ones emerge.
• Collaborate closely with and support the technical advisory and implementation team to manage the Grant Facility aspect of the program to catalyze new investment in viable economic opportunities (market systems, livelihoods, agribusiness, and employment) through grants that stimulate rather than distort market development and avoid exacerbating conflict dynamics.  

Stakeholder Management

• Create a stakeholder map and stakeholder analysis to guide collaboration with other programs, initiatives and institutions to link beneficiaries to sustainable outcomes and enable continual refinement of the program’s theory of change.
• Create and manage a linkage plan to ensure collaboration between local actors, USAID-funded activity stakeholders, host country government stakeholders, donor agencies, the private sector, and other implementing agencies managing programs and creating policy in the target geographic areas. 
• Lead the formulation and implementation of a detailed program learning plan/ learning agenda, and manage associated learning partnerships and processes.
• Manage a program “change log”, documenting changes to program design (including theory of change) required as a result of formative research findings and operational planning discussions.
• Manage learning events and processes. Work with M&E team members to ensure adaptations to the program theory of change (ToC) as new information comes to light.
• Lead the creation and management of a detailed program knowledge management platform, ensuring full integration with other relevant knowledge management platforms.
• Create guidelines for CLA in the context of the program. Manage CLA ‘pause and reflect’ events and resulting adaptive management analysis, decision-making, program/ approach adjustments, training and follow-through.
• Contribute to the creation of a culture of openness, trust, and continuous improvement within the program team and with partners and key stakeholders. Train team members on CLA in addition to ensuring peer-to-peer learning, knowledge sharing and application, activity-based capacity strengthening, evidence and data utilization within the team.
• Lead the production and dissemination of documentation pertaining to the above.
• Support overall effective external communication for the program.

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 toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in designing, monitoring, and evaluating our field projects.

Representation and Advocacy

In coordination with the other technical leads, develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders in Nigeria, including local communities, donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors. Ensure RRA's active representation and participation in the relevant clusters/sectors coordination. Develop strategic partnerships with local organizations. In coordination with the CoP and other technical leads, assist in organizing donor visits by supporting staff in the smooth design and running of field visits.

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Reports Directly To: Chief of Party

Works Directly with: DCoP, Communications Manager, Managers, MEL team, Technical Advisors, Communications Officers, Finance, and Operations teams. Coordinates with HQ Program Performance team and the Technical Support Unit.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/BSc. in Social Sciences
• The ability to work within a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Excellent communications skills
• A passion for the international development sector
• Exceptional analytical and writing skills.
• A strategic and creative thinker with proven experience in working on diverse and wide-ranging communication strategies, including all forms of media.

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General Position Summary

We are looking for an HR Administrative Assistant to perform a variety of personnel-related administrative tasks. You will support the HR department in duties like posting job ads, updating the HR database and processing employees’ requests. S/He will be responsible for ensuring adherence to HR policies and procedures, recruitment according to Recruiting Guidelines as well championing national hiring and national & expatriate onboarding process.

S/he will also work with the HR Manager and HR team to support the Human Resource function across MCN including employee engagement & management, performance management, employee welfare and HR project management in Abuja and to support other Mercy Corps Nigeria field offices.

The HR Assistant should be passionate about Human Resource functions and will work alongside the HR Officers, HR Manager and HR Director to implement HR policies and procedures and want to help create a nourishing workplace

Ultimately, you will gain HR experience in a fast-paced work environment by supporting and improving all HR functions.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Ensuring accurate and proper record-keeping of employee information in electronic and digital format.
• Update HR databases and HRIS with relevant changes (e.g. new hires, separations, vacation and sick leaves)
• Support HR Officer learning and development plans for all MCN Offices.
• Prepare paperwork for HR policies and procedures.
• Administer HR correspondence to new and existing team members
• Process employees’ requests and provide relevant information
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
• Coordinate HR projects, meetings, team bonding and training seminars
• Collaborate with the Talent Acquisition officer to post job ads on careers pages and process incoming resumes
• Provide orientations for new employees by sharing onboarding packages and explaining company policies
• Ensuring that all employees are organized and satisfied in their work environment.
• Provides communication systems by identifying needs; evaluating options; maintaining equipment; approving administrative procurement purchase orders and invoices.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

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.

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 toward 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.
• 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.

Accountability:

• Supervisory Responsibility: N/A
• Reports Directly To: HR Manager
• Works Directly With: HR Manager, HR Officers, Talent Acquisition Officer, All Hiring Managers, Senior Management Team, Mercy Corps operation staff, finance, program team and partner organizations.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in HR Management/ Administration or relevant field.
• 1 - 2 years of professional experience in multiple human resource disciplines specifically Recruitment, Selection, Orientation, Onboarding and Talent Management.
• Proven work experience as an HR Intern, administrative or assistant
• Hand-on experience with HR software, such as Bamboo HR, HRIS or HCM
• Computer literacy and experience with MS Office applications
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills
• Proficiency in MS Office, internet searching, and applicant tracking systems and use of social media for sourcing talent.
• Ability to communicate, influence and solve problems effectively across diverse cultures and geographical distances with sensitivity
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in any other Nigerian language will be an added advantage.

Success Factors

• The successful candidate must have excellent interpersonal skills, strong oral and written communications skills and should be an excellent listener. S/ he must have excellent analytical skills, good reasoning abilities, and sound judgment.
• S/he will also be able to thrive in a fast-paced environment, demonstrate a strong understanding of the cultural and social environment that exists both in and out of Nigeria, and have the willingness and ability to work effectively with a wide variety of people.
• S/he will develop and maintain productive professional relationships with a broad spectrum of stakeholders within the organization and throughout the relief and development community.
• S/he will be flexible, resilient and possess the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside 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, proc