Field Manager at Mercy Corps

Reference Number: MDG/HUMOPS/2018/00014
Location: Gwoza, Borno State
Supervisory Responsibility: Yes
Reports Directly to: Team Leader
Works Directly with: Finance, Programs and Operation Teams.

General Position Summary

• Field Manager is responsible for leading and managing Mercy Corps operations and multi sectoral program of Humanitarian Assistance, early recovery and long term development in the Field Location.
• Field Manager is responsible for project management and the implementation of program quality and accountability and ensuring Mercy Corps policies and procedures are adhered to by all staff all other contractors for Mercy Corps.
• She/he is responsible for enforcing strict ethical and integrity standards and ensures that those cases of violation of ethics such as fraud, corruption and breach of code of conduct are reported, documented and dealt with according to Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• As the most senior staff for Mercy Corps in the Field location, the Field Manager is responsible for representing Mercy Corps to partner organizations and local authorities and for coordination with other NGOs.
• The post holder will represent Mercy Corps on local government level on all coordination platforms.

Essential Functions
Project Management:

• Oversee ongoing programs and startup of new programs in field locations.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to achieve the desired impact
• 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
• Fulfill Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Conduct monitoring visits to the field to ensure that all targeted program beneficiaries are rightly benefiting from Mercy Corps interventions.
• Supervise and be responsible for all technical aspects of project implementation, ensure that all interventions are completed in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner according to standard engineering methods.
• Ensure a safe working environment for all people involved in project implementation.
• 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.

Quality, Accountability and Compliance:

• Provide Field Leadership in the roll out and implementation of Community Accountability and Response Mechanism according to established Standard Operating Procedures.
• Promote and encourage openness to welcoming feedback and complaints from beneficiaries and communities, and learning from staff.
• Ensure that those cases of violation of ethics such as fraud, corruption and breach of code of conduct are reported, documented and dealt with according to Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Ensure that Standard Operating Procedures for all program activities are developed and adopted, strictly followed in the Gwoza
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity, resilience approach and capacity building into all activities as appropriate
• 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

Operations Management:

• With support of Team Leader and Operations Manager, ensure operation systems (procurement, transport, storage, communications, estate / buildings management, asset management etc) are in accordance with Mercy Corps systems and policies
• Ensure adequate operational systems are in place to provide adequate support to the field team.
• In conjunction with the Senior HR Officer and HR staff, ensure local recruitment is consistent with Mercy Corps HR recruitment policies, the legal context and local practice
• And that HR policies and procedures are understood by the project team and implemented.
• Provide leadership to the Field team, ensuring clarity over project plans and priorities, encouraging effective team work and inclusiveness, and building a team spirit through regular meetings.
• Oversee the administrative functions for the project team, line managing staff where appointed.

Security Management:

• Responsible for security management for the Field team, including providing inputs to the location-specific Security Plan, ensuring staff are fully briefed/trained on the agreed security measures appropriate to the area, staff understand individual and collective responsibilities for safety and security and ensuring incidents are reported, critical learning is recorded and corrective actions taken.

External Representation:

• Develop and maintain good lines of communication and relationships with local authorities and the local community.
• Represent Mercy Corps to local authorities (whether formal governmental or informal
• Authorities), securing the necessary appointments for visitors and local authority approvals and attendance to Mercy Corps functions.
• Represent Mercy Corps to other NGOs, and visitors, ensuring coordination and constructive working relations and attendance at relevant inter-agency coordination meetings as delegated by the Team Leader.

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.
• Work closely with Mercy Corps Nigeria country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its implementation process.

Finance & Compliance Management:

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• Ensure compliance with all Mercy Corps finance regulation in carrying out activities as a Driver

Influence & Representation:

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

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.
• Complete routine progress reports and submit reports as required by supervisor;
• Provide weekly progress reports on implementation to supervisor;
• Assist MC management with any requests for information or data regarding program expansion or development.

Requirements
Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• At least 5 years field experience in Humanitarian 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;
• 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.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage effective working relationships in multi-cultural environment
• Pro-active and able to work independently to complete project tasks
• Attention to detail and ability to follow through on task assignments
• Experience working in humanitarian context projects is an essential.
• Maintain effective communications with the local authorities and local community.
• Supervise and be responsible for all technical aspects of daily project implementation.
• Ensure regular filed monitoring visits of targeted area and provide on job support & monitoring.
• Good English written and spoken and Hausa language.

Success Factors:

• The successful candidate will provide effective leadership to the Mercy Corps program team in Gwoza.
• 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 Condition:

• The position is based in Gwoza, Borno state, Nigeria and might require frequent travel to other field locations.

Security:

• 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.
• 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.