Livelihood Senior Program Officer at Mercy Corps

Location: Biu, Borno

Program / Department Summary

• Mercy Corps Nigeria’s humanitarian program aims to provide assistance to populations affected by the crisis in Northeast Nigeria. With funding from humanitarian donors including OFDA, FFP, EU, and ECHO the humanitarian programs engage in several interventions including but not limited to food assistance, non-food items, protection, livelihoods, WASH and capacity building of humanitarian response actors. Mercy Corps is scaling-up and expanding its humanitarian response in Northeast Nigeria to reach more beneficiaries with additional assistance in a wider geographic area.

General Position Summary

• The Livelihoods Senior Program Officer is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of livelihood sector activities including livelihood grants and VSLAs in Borno state, Northeast Nigeria. S/he will work closely with the Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader, Head of Office, and support staff (including finance, operations, and administration) to ensure that activities are implemented according to schedule, budget and required quality.
• The position includes the daily management of program staff. The Livelihoods Senior Program Officer reports directly to the Deputy Team Leader.

Essential Job Functions
Strategy and Vision:

• Recognize opportunities to evolve the current humanitarian portfolio into a more effective and impactful portfolio addressing the changing needs of conflict-affected populations.
• Contribute to country-wide strategy development.

Representation and Coordination:

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with communities, local authorities and other stakeholders.
• Ensure effective coordination with relevant working groups, UN, ICRC and colleagues I/NGO agencies.

Program Management:

• Oversee the full program cycle for livelihood activities (VSLA and livelihood grants) and administration of the teams across program  locations; 
• Develop activity work plans and manage day-to-day activity implementation;
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to community needs, meets targets, and is carried out in line with best practices;
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to vulnerability criteria;
• Establish and maintain effective program reporting, and monitoring and evaluation systems (to track, analyze and report on results) for both internal and external use;
• Ensure community approaches, protection mainstreaming, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all livelihoods activities as appropriate;
• Ensure all livelihoods programs activities are in line with government and cluster strategies.
• Provides technical input on MC’s livelihoods programs including potential partnerships with local NGOs.
• Maintains links to sources of technical assistance and information and further disseminate technical information and assistance to program officers and assistants where necessary.
• Liaise with local government maintaining an impartial profile for Mercy Corps based on the ethos of its humanitarian mission as an INGO.
• Conduct where necessary workshops to identify livelihoods priorities with key groups and to disseminate pertinent livelihoods information.
• Bring to the attention of the Deputy Team Leader areas where formal agreements should be made e.g. MOU’s.
• Conduct surveys, need assessments, data and information collection as and when required for the on-going program or future project proposals in livelihoods.
• Participate in NGO and INGO meetings on Livelihoods and represent MC as requested in coordination forums related to Livelihoods.
• Ensure documentation is in place, adheres to internal and donor regulation and filing is regularly maintained;
• Adhere to all MC policies related to security, operations and transport/ logistics information related to programming.

Team Management:

• Supervise, hire and orient team members, as necessary;
• 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;
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives;
• 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.
• Identify any gaps or capacity needs within the team and ensure training and capacity building is incorporated into program planning.

Finance & Compliance Management:

• Ensure compliance with all donor and Mercy Corps regulations;
• Proactively follow-up on reconciliation of cash transfer activities related to livelihoods;
• Oversee the livelihood sector activity budgets and project monthly cash flow.

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.

Other:

• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Experience

• MA/MS/MBA in relevant field required.
• Minimum 4-5 years of experience working on the development, implementation, administration and compliance of a field-based international development or humanitarian program; specifically in livelihoods/income generation activities, economic recovery and market systems.
• Prior experience implementing livelihoods programs is essential, preferably in conflict settings.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders to identify beneficiaries according to criteria required.
• Experience with running assessments, monitoring and evaluation and other learning efforts required.
• Experience representing the organization and its interests to a diverse range of local and international government officials, local civil society organizations, other international organizations, the media and the public.
• Commitment to renewing and maintaining knowledge of best practices
• Demonstrated training and facilitation experience
• Ability to work under pressure
• Demonstrated strengths in analytical skills, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills
• Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills
• Fluency in English; fluency in Hausa is required.

Success Factors

• Must be able to work independently and show initiative. Strong leadership, communication, and management skills are essential.
• Understanding of humanitarian principles and their application to program implementation is required. Possess the ability to manage, supervise, mentor and coach team members.
• Must be able to problem solve and multi-task on a range of administrative and programmatic issues.