Senior Officer - Cash For Work/CASH Grants at Mercy Corps

Location  Benue  Application Link

Location  Kebbi Application Link

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps, an international humanitarian NGO and has been operating in Nigeria since 2012 and is looking for Senior Officers - Cash Grants/CFW officers to be based in Kebbi state, covering Kebbi/Niger to support the implementation of a rapid COVID response program through Mercy Corps’ USAID - funded Feed the Future NigeriaRural Resilience Activity. The rapid response program will support vulnerable populations and livelihoods through Cash for Work and strengthen supply chains through smart Cash Subsidies.

General Position Summary

The Senior Officer – Cash Grants/Cash for Work position will be based in Birnin Kebbi and will travel across states and across the local governments identified for support on a regular basis.

The responsibilities of the position will include technical support to programs in implementation of cash and voucher transfer, mentoring and guidance for staff working on CTP, support in set-up of CTP projects, and capacity building to field level team members within Mercy Corps programs and locations. The position will monitor the context and implementation environment as well as the program quality to ensure it remains conducive for CTP expansion (this includes yet not limited to: market viability, financial sector viability, security and community acceptance of CTP). The position will also contribute in exploring local partnerships for both immediate programming with an eye to long-term development and create those linkages along with senior management.

The Senior Officer – Cash Grants/Cash for Work supports the State Manager in the day-to-day implementation of project activities in the field locations.  S/he reports directly to the State Manager.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.

Program Management

• Directly support the State Manager in managing all operations and activities related to all cash transfer programming in Kebbi/Niger according to the work plan, project document and implementation strategy.
• Troubleshoot, as needed, to prevent disruptions in daily program activities and liaise with State Manager as necessary.
• In close collaboration with the State Manager build the Cash Transfer team members’ capacity ensuring that there are fluent communication channels that the reporting schedule is timely met and that projects objectives are achieved.
• Participate and facilitate coordination and collaboration with other agencies.
• Provide inputs to the design and implementation of trainings in any areas related to the Cash activities for staff, communities and project beneficiaries.
• Closely coordinate and share information with MEL/PAQ and the various sectors, participate in general program support with regular program meetings and activity plans as required.
• Coordinate closely with the State Manager and relevant administrative and finance staff to ensure proper logistics, administration, human resources and transport needs of the projects are conducted within MC policy and with the maximum benefit to the projects.
• Support the State Manager in forecasting expenditure surpluses and deficits to enable adjustments to the different projects in a timely fashion.
• Ensure establishment and maintenance of relationships with communities, and local government in the target locations.
• Mobilize communities to participate in the design, implementation and maintenance of projects as well as design viable strategies that are both respectful with the local culture and are gender-sensitive and effective in engaging women in the activities of the project.
• Provide written and oral translation and report writing for program staff, as necessary.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other duties as assigned.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency cash transfer interventions.
• Responsible for expenditure tracking of activities carried out in the field.

Influence & Representation

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with the community, government and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets are met.

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.
• Report on any problems encountered in the field such as project participant complaints, local authority interference, and security threats to MC staff and activities. Coordinate with MC Security Officer and State Manager on any threats to MC staff and activities; follow up on incidents/security threats in areas of operation.

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 coordinator will supervise the Cash Officer.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: State Manager

Works Directly With: Finance, Program, MEL, and Operation Teams

Knowledge and Experience

• Demonstrated skills in planning, organizing and reporting
• At least three years of cash transfer programs in Nigeria.
• 3-4 years of experience in project implementation, or work with local partners or in any role that included training and capacity building of staff or partners.
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field or equivalent Master’s degree is preferred
• Ability to work under pressure
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills
• Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills
• Fluency in English; fluency in local languages is highly recommended.

Success Factors

• Strong Work Ethic, having the ability to learn the most efficient way to complete tasks and finding ways to save time while completing daily assignments. Dependability and Responsibility, having the ability to come to work on time, are there when they are supposed to be, and are responsible for their actions and behavior. Adaptability, being adaptable and maintaining flexibility in completing tasks in an ever-changing workplace.
• Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours.
• 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.

Qualifications

Education

Required

Bachelors or better.

Preferred

Masters or better.