Team Leader at Mercy Corps

 General Position Summary
The Team Leader will be responsible for leading the implementation and delivery of quality and accountable programs in Southern Borno. The position is specifically responsible for field leadership of well-integrated humanitarian, recovery and resilience projects. This includes management of daily program activities and staffs, ensuring appropriate systems and support mechanisms are in place to track, analyze and report on results as well as engagement with senior management on the strategic direction of the overall emergency and recovery program. The post holder will represent Mercy Corps on local government level on all coordination platforms.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision
Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.

Program Management

• Oversee program start-up and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities, authorities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria
• Develop and oversee program implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, beneficiary targeting, distribution processes and capacity building of partners as needed
• Ensure that Standard Operating Procedures for all program activities are in place, staff are trained and strictly adhere to them.
• Initiate needs assessments, surveys and other data gathering tools to ensure that Mercy Corps has continued access to updated information and is able to address emerging needs in timely manner
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity, resilience approach and capacity building into all activities as appropriate
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to achieve the desired impact
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources and timely, accurate and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures
• Fulfill Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.

Team Management

• Lead the program team in implementation of all field program activities.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect in which team members strive to achieve excellence
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews
• Hire, orient and supervise new team members as necessary
• 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.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to programming and operations.
• With the support of the Operations Manager ensure adequate operational systems are in place to provide for programs
• Manage program budget(s) as primary budget holder
• Strictly follow Mercy Corps Fraud and Corruption Prevention guidelines.

Influence & Representation

• Identify, build and manage partnerships on state and local levels with different stakeholders such as state and local government, civil society, UN agencies, peer INGOs, businesses and program participants.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall program targets and donor obligations are met.
• Host and ensure logistic support for donor or other stakeholders field visits
• Recognize and bring forward opportunities for innovative action and create an environment of empowerment, inclusion and participation
• In coordination with management set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve objectives and contribute to country-wide strategy development

Security

• Maintains ultimate responsibility for the security and safety of Mercy Corps staff and resources in the field.
• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.

Personal Leadership

• Consistently demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure, even under difficult circumstances
• Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity
• Demonstrate an awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs

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: Operations Manager, MEAL Officer, Senior HR Officer, Deputy Team LeaderAccountability
• Reports Directly To: Deputy Director of Humanitarian Programs
• Works Directly With: Operations, Finance, Program Managers, TSU team members, and others.

Knowledge and Experience

• MA or equivalent in relevant field
• 7 – 10 years of field experience in international relief and/or development programs, including demonstrable success in managing humanitarian programs in transitional environments.
• Proven experience in managing programs in relevant technical area(s) including E-Vouchers, Cash Transfers, Livelihoods, Financial Services, and/or services for Internally Displaced Persons. Strong understanding of conflict sensitive program mainstreaming would be a key advantage;
• Previous working experience in Africa required
• At least 5 years of management, capacity building and field management experience.
• Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country governments, private sector, INGO, NGO partners and other stakeholders in complex environments
• Proven skills in finance and grants management; prior experience with emergency response grant management for both private and institutional donors desired.
• Strong field leadership skills and proven experience in managing diverse and multicultural teams the cooperate and deliver results.
• Must be a person of high morality and integrity standards both at personal and professional level.
• Knowledge of SPHERE and other humanitarian programming standards
• Proven experience of remote management/monitoring in insecure environment.
• Successful and proven negotiation, communication and organization skills
• Excellent oral and written English skills
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment
• Fluency in Hausa is a plus.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

• The successful candidate will skillfully represent programmatic priorities of the agency to donors and regional partners while providing effective leadership to the Mercy Corps program team.
• S/he will be capable of multi-tasking, rapid decision-making, have initiative, drive and a lot of energy, as well as high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity building.
• S/he will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level.
• Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority

LIVING CONDITIONS:
The position will be based in Biu, Borno state, Nigeria and it requires frequent travel to field locations in Borno, Gombe and Adamawa states. 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 hotels or guesthouse where available. Security in the field locations require additional vigilance and accessibility will be reassessed continuously.

Access to good medical services in northeast 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.