Field Program Manager (NE-CORE) -Bama at Mercy Corps

General Position Summary

Mercy Corps is looking for a Field Program Manager that is responsible for leading a diverse team and managing Mercy Corps operations and multi sectoral program of Humanitarian Assistance, early recovery towards more resilience and self-sufficient communities in the Deep Field Location of Bama. Under direct supervision of Senor Program Manager (NE CORE) Field Program Manager is responsible for day-to-day field level activities coordination and management with focus on program quality and accountability, while ensuring Mercy Corps policies and procedures are adhered to by all staff and 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 Program 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 Job Responsibilities

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
• Contribute to overall program workplans, take the lead on planning for his/her target area of operation
• 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
• Complete routine progress reports and submit reports as required by the supervisor.
• Provide weekly progress reports on implementation to the supervisor. Assist MC management with any requests for information or data regarding program expansion or development.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Conduct regular monitoring visits to the field sites in the communities to ensure that all targeted program beneficiaries are rightly benefiting from Mercy Corps interventions.
• Coordinate, supervise and be responsible for project implementation in the target location, ensuring that all interventions are completed in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner according to the sector and Mercy Corps minimum standards.
• Ensure a safe working environment for all people involved in project implementation.

 Quality, Accountability and Compliance.

• Provide Field Leadership in the roll out and implementation of Community Accountability Response Mechanism (CARM) according to established Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
• 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/Bama.
• 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 Senior Field Manager and Operations, ensure operation systems (procurement, transport, storage, communications, estate / buildings management, asset management etc) in the target location 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 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 teamwork and inclusiveness, and building a team spirit through regular meetings.
• Oversee the administrative functions for the project team, line managing program and operations 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 strong relationships with local authorities, partner agencies and the local community leaders in the area of intervention.
• 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 Senior Field manager/Humanitarian sustainable Solution Director.
• 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.

 Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

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 project.

Qualification, Experience and Skills.

• 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, is required
• 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 that cooperate and deliver results.
• Must be a person of high morality and integrity standards both at personal and professional level.
• Demonstrate ability to build and manage effective working relationships in multicultural environment
• Be proactive and able to work independently to complete project tasks
• Demonstrate attention to detail and ability to follow through on task assignments.
• Ability to strengthen and maintain effective communications with the local authorities and local community.
• Ability to provide concise written program reports.
• Excellent English written and spoken and Hausa language are required.