Program Development and Quality Advisor at Mercy Corps

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
The program focuses on adolescent girls’ empowerment, economic development, and conflict mitigation. With the insurgency in North East Nigeria, Mercy Corps initiated humanitarian programming in 2014 to support the conflict-affected population.  As a result of the wide-scale needs in 2016, Mercy Corps is scaling-up its humanitarian response to establish a dynamic multi-sector platform  in order to address emergency priorities including food security, non-food items, nutrition, protection, water sanitation, while preparing to address early recovery needs for displaced households and vulnerable host communities.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Program Development and Quality Advisor supports program development, program reporting, through the provision of guidance, tools, resources, capacity building and technology. S/he will be involved in a broad range of initiatives that require close coordination with Mercy Corps’ headquarters, Nigeria program teams and other departments, peer agencies and local partner organizations.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBLITIES

• Program Strategy and Development
• Support overall strategic and annual planning and reporting for Nigeria’s emergency response.
• Track and review calls for proposals and identify new funding opportunities that match Mercy Corps’ strategic interests.
• Support the conceptualization and design of cost effective, innovative and high quality programs, ensuring relevance to stakeholders and agency strategy.
• Coordinate development of concept notes, proposals and budgets, including coordinating closely with Mercy Corps’ Nigeria technical, finance and operational staff, as well as headquarters and regional Technical Support Unit to facilitate input, and ensuring donor compliance
• Apply the agency’s best practices in proposal development efforts for institutional donors.
• Maintain grant tracker that outlines previous, current, and future/ pipeline programming in coordination with headquarters.
• Program Quality and Implementation Support
• Lead on and oversee the application and integration of Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards (‘PM@MC’), to help ensure Program Advisors are meeting the requirements.
• Hold regular trainings and other capacity building events to increase understanding and application of PM@MC.
• Conduct regular audits of adherence to PM@MC.
• Oversee improvement, mainstreaming and implementation of MEL strategy, tools and resources across all programs, including promoting use of new methods and approaches.
• Support the creation of an evidence-based learning culture through consistent analysis of lessons learned and best practices to encourage adaptive management.
• Identify strategies and build/strengthen systems, processes and tools to facilitate greater efficiency between program/MEL, finance and operations teams, including information sharing internally and externally

Program Reporting, Communication and Information Management

• Ensure appropriate knowledge and information management systems are in place to support program quality, communication and reporting.
• Support monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes within the team to promote best practices and cultivate a culture of learning.
• Coordinate the identification of key communications and visibility needs with Program Managers, and lead design of materials and modalities of dissemination, including building relationships with local and national media outlets.
• Support programs to produce professional quality reports, meeting both internal and external reporting requirements.
• Participate in internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops;
• Contribute to monthly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements;
• Contribute to monthly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements;

Coordination and Representation

• Develop and maintain working relationships and coordinate with relevant international and local agencies, including attending relevant working group and coordination meetings;
• Host and ensure logistic support for donor or other stakeholders field visits.

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.
 
Do This
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: none
 
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:  Director of Humanitarian Programs
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH:Team Leaders, Heads of Office,  M&E Manager, Program Managers, and headquarters staff as appropriate.
 
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• BA/S or equivalent in social science, management, international development, or other relevant field; MA/S in similar relevant fields preferred.
• 2 – 4 years of progressive experience and proven high level of competence in working in international settings, ideally in conflict-affected countries.
• Strong knowledge of and experience with humanitarian and development programming.
• Demonstrated success with program development and design, including conceptualizing and articulating programming ideas in concept notes and proposals, and knowledge of major institutional donors regulations
• Solid experience of developing and managing monitoring and learning systems
• Previous experience from working with local partners, preferable focused on organizational development and sub-grants management
• Consistent flexibility and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure, even under difficult circumstances
• Resource management, training , capacity building, coaching, and mentoring skills
• Good analytical skills. Effective negotiator, with the ability to positively influence cross departmental and cross sector working
• Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills.
• Previous experience with Mercy Corps preferred, as well as the Middle East and in particular the Syria response crisis preferred
• Ability to work with a multi-ethnic team in a culturally appropriate manner.
• Proficiency in English is essential; Hausa is desirable 

SUCCESS FACTORS:
A successful candidate will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. S/he will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, with an ability and willingness to remain mobile for short-term and/or long-term as necessary within the region, based on programmatic needs. An ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.
 
LIVING CONDITIONS:
The position will be initially based in Maiduguri, Borno state and it requires frequent travel (60%) between field locations in northeast Nigeria and Abuja country office. Considering the frequent travel from/to different field locations, this position will require flexibility in terms of accommodation and logistics. Housing in the field will be in the guesthouse where available and hotels.  Security in the field locations requires additional vigilance and accessibility will be reassessed continuously.Access to good medical services in north east is limited. Phone communication, internet, electricity and water is available but might be erratic. The location is eligible for hardship and R&R benefits. Given the nature of the humanitarian response, working hours require flexibility and working through weekends/evenings might be necessary.
 
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all locations.