EWER Technical Manager at Mercy Corps

Position Status:Full-time, Regular
Reports Directly To:Chief of Party

Program / Department Summary

• Waves of resource-based, ethnic, and sectarian conflict, rising criminality and banditry, and expanding violent extremism are rendering North Central and Northwest Nigeria increasingly insecure.
• While multiple initiatives seek to address the complex causes of violence, community and security responses to drivers and triggers are often piecemeal at best, and ineffectual at worst.
• Existing Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) systems suffer from slow responses, poor coordination, top-down mandates that limit community ownership, weak dispute resolution skills among responders, little political and financial investment, leadership structures that exclude women and youth, and scant rigorous evidence.
• The result of ineffective EWER systems is that unchecked, violence proliferates.
• To examine and mitigate these barriers, Peace Action for Rapid and Transformative Nigerian Early Response (PARTNER) will pursue a bold approach to collaboration across local, international, government, non-government, community, state, and security stakeholders. Our consortium of Government Agencies and CSOs will be led by Mercy Corps in a mentorship capacity in Years 1 and 2, after which local partners will assume leadership, working hand-in-hand with other consortium members.
• Local ownership, fueled by iterative organizational performance assessment and capacity strengthening, will inform each component of the proposed sustainable, flexible, and evidence-based national EWER system that builds on existing locally-led and gender-sensitive conflict management mechanisms for vertical integration; incentivizes quick responses through horizontal coordination; and fosters increased trust in security and government actors to promote inclusive and collective action.
• By embedding EWER innovations within formal structures from the beginning, PARTNER will increase Nigeria’s self-reliance in leading a holistic, coordinated, and effective effort to promote sustainable peace.

General Position Summary

• The EWER Technical Manager will have the overall responsibility of establishing standards in support of strategic interventions, development and planning of the Early Warning and Early Response systems for the PARTNER program.
• S/he will be required to establish and manage relationships with potential partners and stakeholders. The EWER Technical Manager will be a key member of the technical advisory team.
• S/he will liaise with the Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party and the MEL Advisor to promote the articulation of the technical processes of data acquisition, data sharing, threat modelling and forecasting in support of the PARTNER program EWER strengthening systems in Nigeria.
• S/he will be responsible for coming up with intervention plans and implementing them.
• S/he will identify and design key communications materials and disseminate them to identified audiences.
• S/he will be responsible for ensuring strong linkages between the PARTNER program interventions and the Results Management team of the program.
• The EWER Technical Manager will supervise PARTNER program staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps policies and donor rules and regulations.
• S/he will be the primary program representative to donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers and stakeholders.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision

• Promote strategies for the engagement of stakeholders in support of sub-regional and national EWER systems strengthening in Nigeria.
• Articulate strategies for public-private partnerships in support of early warning and early response systems
• Facilitate collaboration and cooperation among state and sub-regional institutions which support the national vision for Early Warning and Early Response systems in the North Central and Northwest regions.
• Promote the consolidation of national integrated multi-threat Early Warning and Early Response systems strengthening in Nigeria.
• Promote the standardization of alerts for different threats and harmonization of key messages. Promote the expansion of the community-based EWER system including consideration of gender and vulnerable groups.
• Lead in the development of a harmonized national action plan for advancing EWER systems
• Support resource mobilization efforts in support of EWER systems
• Support monitoring, evaluation and reporting on EWER systems
• Lead the development of a vision and strategy for the program and share with the program team and key stakeholders.
• Play an active role in identifying and developing new initiatives that foster and/or improve strategic objectives of the program and the country office.
• Support the development of a mentorship strategy and transitional plan for the PARTNER Project

Program Management:

• Oversee program start-up, management and administration. Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Confirm beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to transparent criteria.
• Develop partnership frameworks, partner agreements/Memorandum of Understandings, and oversee partner capacity building.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate. Certify all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
• Ensure program strategies and activities represent global good practice in EWER
• Supervise and/or review the work of program consultants.
• Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, administration, and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.
• Fulfil Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.

Team Management:

• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Mentor the PARTNER Consortium team including clear delineation of responsibilities and authority
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

Finance & Compliance Management:

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps' regulations.
• Create and maintain systems to ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with program, donor and Mercy Corps’ needs.
• Ensure systems are in place for capacity development of PARTNER Sub grantees

Influence & Representation:

• Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events, in close coordination with the Chief of Party.
• Coordinate activities with consortium partners, subgrantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.
• Strengthen the Convening powers of the PARTNER Project Consortium to bring together key actors in the EWER

Security:

• Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
• Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

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:

• The EWER Technical Manager will supervise the Program Officer, EWER Technical Advisor for IPCR and WANEP

Accountability:

• Reports Directly To:Chief of Party
• Works Directly With:DCoP, MEL Advisor, PARTNER Consortium members, other program managers in-country, finance and operations teams, HQ Regional Program Team, HQ Technical Support Unit

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Law, Development Studies, etc.
• At least ten (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the successful implementation of international development activities, with preference given to conflict mitigation and/or Early Warning and Early Response programs – at least three (3) years of which must be in program management, including direct supervision of professional and support staff.
• Experience working in the conflict mitigation/preventing violent extremism sector in Nigeria is essential.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated ability to think strategically and communicate his/her vision to partners and colleagues.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and sustain interpersonal and professional relationships with different donors, civil society organizations and host country government counterparts
• Effective personnel management, coordination, and decision-making skills, with proven ability to be accountable for all components of the program.
• Competent in building networks, strong problem-solving skills, and ability to influence with effective listening, persuasion, negotiation and other techniques.
• Strong understanding of USAID compliance issues.
• Persuasive written and oral communication in English, including report writing.
• Experience in Nigeria is preferable.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

Success Factors:

• The successful EWER Technical Manager will combine exceptional management skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships.
• S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region.
• S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural teams and capacity building, individual staff development, and strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem-solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential.
• The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions:

• The EWER Technical Manager is based in Abuja. This position requires 50% of travel by road and air to field offices in both secure and insecure environments. There may be instances where exceptional work schedules are necessary such as weekends.
• 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, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
• Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.