Fresh Jobs at Mercy Corps

General Position Summary

• Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in partnership with Mercy Corps, Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) and Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN) is implementing the Feed the Future Nigeria Livelihoods Project.
• The project is using a multi-sector approach to help 42,000 very poor households (HHs) in Sokoto, Kebbi state and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) gain economic access through skills building, strengthened entrepreneurial will and provision of startup grants.
• Mercy Corps and CRS lead the implementation of the Feed the Future Nigeria Livelihoods Project to grow startup businesses and incomes of the targeted vulnerable groups across the states of intervention.
• These have provided some of the community member with seed capital innovation fund (SCIF) which was designed to support provision of financing options for smallholder business enterprises across all project components both in agriculture and non-agriculture businesses.
• Also included, are in the areas of nutrition, water and sanitation through targeted investments in loan guarantees to partner financial institutions and ‘smart’ grants schemes.
• The overall objective is to catalyze growth in economic activities through increase participation of project beneficiaries in market opportunities.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Ensure project activities listed below are implemented on time, target and budget:

• Ensure the smooth flow of routine project activities coordination as directed by Project Manager.
• Work with all project staff to ensure support for and timely deliverables of activities.  
• Maintain close working relationships with colleagues and other project associates (CSOs, Franchising companies and microfinance institutions), including attending coordination meetings as assigned by supervisor.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian and development mission.
• Coordinate various field and activity reports from all project locations.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are achieved.
• Other assigned responsibilities

Deliverables:

• Ensure that all field and activity reports are coordinated and submitted to the Project Manager as at when due.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/Sc or equivalent in Statistics, Social Sciences, International Development or other relevant field
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and cooperate with team members
• Fluency in written and verbal English required. Hausa language skills essential.
• Must be computer literate with knowledge of Microsoft office packages (Word, PowerPoint and Excel)

Success Factors

• The successful candidate will have a can-do attitude.
• Ideally, s/he will have previous experience in working in large-scale emergency programs in insecure and conflict-affected contexts, including remote management.
• S/he is a problem solver, who is adept in successfully dealing with issues of complexity.
• S/he is an active listener and contributor, working to create a strong team share ideas and learn.
• Conscientious with an excellent sense of judgment.

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Program / Department Summary

• Mercy Corps works in fragile and conflict-affected environments. While we recognize that these are difficult places to operate, we believe that transitional environments – countries affected by civil wars, economic and political crisis, or natural disasters – offer tremendous opportunities for positive change.
• Since the late 1990s, Mercy Corps has managed over 100 peacebuilding projects in over 30 countries and regions, making Mercy Corps a true leader in the field. We currently implement 34 peacebuilding programs globally. In Nigeria, Mercy Corps is currently implementing several conflict management programs, focused on reducing violent conflict between farmer and pastoralist communities, increasing peace between religious groups, and preventing youth participation in extremist groups .
• Within the Conflict Management Programs portfolio Mercy Corps implementeda UKAID-funded program called “Conciliation in Nigeria through Community-Based Conflict Management and Cooperative Use of Resources (CONCUR)”; the Ford Foundation-funded “Future of Youth in Northern Nigeria” project; the GHR Foundation-funded “Inter-Religious Peacebuilding in Northern Nigerian (IPNN”) project; and is currently implementing the USAID-funded “Engaging Communities for Peace in Nigeria (ECPN)” project; the UKAID-funded  “North East Nigeria Conflict Management and Stabilization” project; and the GHR- funded “Supporting Harmonious Association, Religious Participation and Engagement for Northern Nigeria (TARE, which stands for “together” in Hausa)” project..

General Position Summary

• The Conflict Management Programs Officer will support the implementation of activities related to capacity building for traditional and religious leaders, state and local government authorities in negotiation and dispute resolution; facilitation and implementation of quick impact projects; monitoring the interaction of project beneficiaries around joint natural resource management projects; facilitation of community meetings, and other activities as needed.
• The Conflict Management Programs Officer will also provide support to all other activities related to conflict management programs and will ensure smooth, timely, and compliant implementation. 
• The Conflict Management Programs Officer will liaise frequently with implementing partners, community members, local leaders, and government officials, and represent Mercy Corps at relevant meetings.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Operations and Finance Support:

• Maintain procurement, financial, and administrative systems to support the implementation of MCN conflict management programs.
• Liaise with operations and finance departments to resolve any issues that hamper the timely implementation of the programs.

Program support:

• Support technical aspects of conflict management and programs by assisting with the development of activities/agendas related to peacebuilding and CVE programs.
• Provide support to meetings, events, and trainings as required, including logistical arrangements.
• Liaise with conflict management programs partner organizations and potential resource persons as needed.
• Provide regular reports on activities and challenges.
• In collaboration with M&E staff, implement relevant surveys, needs assessments, and other data collection activities for on-going monitoring and learning.
• Coordinate closely with other Mercy Corps conflict management staff to ensure all objectives of the projects and specific activities are met.
• Leverage Mercy Corps’ relationships to identify Nigerian partners – government institutions, NGOs, etc.– to participate in ECPN, TARE and NE CMS activities, and help to build these relationships.
• Provide backstopping support for partner activities as agreed with the partner.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Provide support in the maintaining MCN conflict management M&E systems, database, & deployment of baseline/end line surveys.
• Support documentation of lessons learned and coordinate learning activities across all MCN conflict management programs. 

Knowledge and Experience

• Fluency in Hausa and English, both written and spoken, including report development
• BA/BSc or equivalent in Conflict Management, Social Sciences, International Development or other relevant field.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience working in the non-profit sector in conflict management/peacebuilding or community development.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in working with financial, administrative and procurement systems.
• Demonstrated experience setting up administrative, financial, and/or procurement systems.
• Experience working in rural areas in Nigeria, particularly in the Middle Belt and Northeast.
• Experience working in a multi-organizational team (international and national partners) is a plus.
• Experience working with country- and state-level ministries and government officials.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills in the local cultural environment.
• Familiarity with community-based peacebuilding initiatives, good personality and reputation, dynamic, committed, and dedicated to the work.

Success Factors

• The successful Conflict Management Programs Officer will combine exceptional management, communication, and relationship-building skills, with an ability to strategically develop systems, which support successful implementation of programs. 
• S/he will have an outstanding ability to supportively and diplomatically engage with partners. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and attention to detail are essential.

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Location: Biu, Maiduguri Borno

Program / Department Summary

• For years, the Northeast of Nigeria has been plagued by insurgency and a dire humanitarian crisis. The intense focus on humanitarian and counter-violence activities, coupled with increasingly complex conflict dynamics in the region, has exposed gaps in the international community’s response to new and emerging sources of violence. Tensions between IDPs and host communities, resistance of communities to accept former fighters and their victims, fear of IDPs to return home and face tensions with those who stayed behind - these are just several evolving sources of conflict. If these issues are not addressed in a timely manner through locally- owned solutions, they have the potential to intensify and worsen the on-going crisis in the NE. Therefore, a pool of strong local partners capable of addressing existing and newly emerging tensions and conflicts is essential to prevent NE from falling further into a vicious cycle of conflict and poverty.
• Mercy Corps has expanded its portfolio of conflict management in the Northeast of Nigeria with the program Engaging Communities for Peace in Nigeria (ECPN), funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). This two-year expansion of ECPN program aims to build the capacity of influential local CSOs with mandates in peacebuilding and conflict management/mitigation. The two-year extension will enable Mercy Corps to guide NE-based CSOs through the full cycle of capacity building and project management while utilizing an experiential approach that encourages learning-by-doing.
• By the end of the project, we will have built a network of local partners with the capacity to apply for grants from international donors and implement high-quality peacebuilding programs. This increased local capacity will enable greater local ownership of peacebuilding initiatives, and ensure more impactful and cost-efficient investments that can be sustained over the longer-term.

General Position Summary

• The Senior Project Officer for Biu will support selected Northeast CSOs improve their technical and organizational capacity to deliver high-quality peacebuilding programming that meets USAID and other international development partners’ expectations.
• The Senior Project Officer will support the implementation of activities related to organizational, technical and leadership capacity of local peacebuilding organizations in Gombe, Bauchi, and South Borno, with high potential for working in post-insurgency conflict context.
• The Senior Project Officer will also provide support to all other activities related to the ECPN program in the above mentioned locations, and will ensure smooth, timely, and compliant implementation.
• The Senior Project Officer will liaise frequently with implementing partners and local peacebuilding organizations, and represent Mercy Corps at relevant meetings.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Ensure implementation of activities is on time, target and budget.
• Represent the organization in a professional manner at all times, acting with the highest levels of integrity and personal accountability.
• Support technical aspects of conflict management and economic development program by assisting with the development of activities/agendas/curriculum related to peacebuilding.
• Facilitate and co-facilitate community meetings, events, and trainings as required.
• Liaise with ECPN partner organizations and potential resource persons as needed.
• Provide regular reports on activities and challenges.
• In collaboration with M&E officer, implement relevant surveys, needs assessments, and other data collection activities for on-going monitoring and learning.
• Coordinate closely with other Mercy Corps conflict management staff to ensure all objectives of the proposal and activities are met.
• Contribute to ongoing strategic communication; solicits support and feedback from Senior Program Manager and Director of Conflict Management Programs as needed.
• Ensure implementation of activities is on time, target and budget.
• Liaise with ECPN partner organizations and potential resource persons as needed.

Requirements

• Knowledge of local and international conflict prevention and peacebuilding organizations.
• Flexibility and adaptability in managing and prioritizing high workloads, multiple tasks, and multiple teams in a fluid environment.
• Ability to work in emotionally stressful context while respecting security considerations and operational boundaries.
• Strong ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
• Able to adapt to different cultures and communication styles, as well as to establish and maintain effective and productive working relationship with colleagues from varying cultures, functions, organizations and positions.

Knowledge and Experience

• Fluency in Hausa and English, both written and spoken.
• BA/BSc or equivalent in conflict management, social sciences, international development or other relevant field (Masters preferred).
• A minimum of 5 years of experience working in the non-profit sector in conflict management/peacebuilding, community development, or organizational capacity building of CSOs.
• Experience working in rural areas in Nigeria, particularly in the Northeast.
• Experience working in a multi-organizational team (international and national partners) is a plus.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English required, including report development, writing and editing.
• Willingness to travel to the field and between Mercy Corps offices.

Success Factors:

• The successful Senior Program Officer will combine exceptional implementation skills and technical skills with a focus on innovative interventions to bring conflicting communities together.
• An ideal candidate will be conversant with the challenges inherent in peacebuilding work and will be a self-starter who has led grassroots development efforts. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential.
• The candidate must have excellent attention to detail.

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Location: Maiduguri

Program / Department Summary

• The Deputy Project Manager will play an integral role in the implementation of a Strategic Resilience Assessment (STRESS) that is being conducted in North East Nigeria from May 2017 to February 2018.
• The STRESS is taking place to gain a better understanding of the humanitarian and development challenges faced in Borno and Adamawa States, and furthermore identify strategic axes of intervention not only for Mercy Corps, but for a wider group of stakeholders engaged in supporting the long-term success of the North East.

General Position Summary

• The Deputy Project Manager will work closely with the STRESS Manager to design and conduct the assessment process in Borno and Adamawa States, contributing technically and operationally to all critical assessment activities.
• S/he will assist with the overall design of each phase, assist in the development of technical assessment tools and communications products, and lead coordination for key activities at each stage as determined by the Manager.
• As such, s/he supports the overall implementation of the STRESS process through both technical research-related work, and operational process management. 
• The Deputy Project Manager will also play an important role with internal and external coordination as s/he will interface with and manage relationships across Mercy Corps’ program teams who are engaged in the STRESS, supporting the Manager to build capacity and practical use of the findings.
• S/he will also work closely with STRESS implementation partner(s) and play a leadership role in coordination with an identified group of external stakeholders, ensuring their on-going inclusion and participation.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Project Management and Technical Oversight:

• Work closely with the STRESS Manager to design assessment phases and lead implementation of key activities under each stage, helping ensure the STRESS activities both progress on time and maintain high standard of quality.
• Assist in the development of research frameworks and data collection plans, conduct and organize data collection, help train enumerators, and supervise field-level collection, as directed by the Manager.
• Support the STRESS Manager to recruit, contract, and manage external research firms.
• Lead identification of further external STRESS partners and plan activities for their participation.
• Liaise with internal program directors and managers to coordinate participation and engagement of Mercy Corps program teams at key moments of the STRESS process.
• Work with the STRESS Manager to organize major workshops and informal working group sessions, as needed. 
• Develop and manage clear organisational structures to maintain documentation of all project materials and iterative learning outputs, in line with Mercy Corps’ document retention procedures and program management standards.
• Support the development and management of the STRESS strategic communications plan, helping produce key communications materials and reporting products, as well as tracking their dissemination.
• Develop a strategy for staff engagement and capacity building with the STRESS Manager and track its on-going progress.

Operations and Management:

• Oversee the smooth flow of routine project operations in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
• Ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.

Representation and Coordination:

• Proactively liaise with private sector actors, government officials, NGOs and civil society organizations, university contacts, religious leaders, and other notable local stakeholders to gather and share information, as well as advocating for the Mercy Corps’ STRESS process. 
• Maintain close working relationships with such stakeholders and external partners, including representing Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings, as assigned.
• Ensure high-quality communication and strong coordination with STRESS implementing partners, facilitating regular partnership reviews.
• 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.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Security:

• Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to ensure that all activities under the STRESS assessment prioritize safety and incorporate the latest security plans and procedures.
• Ensure that the STRESS process is implemented with a clear understanding of security management priorities.

Organizational Learning:

• As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.
• Accountability to Beneficiaries
• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards 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.

Knowledge and Experience

• MA/S in a related field, such as International Development, Public Policy, Economics, Food Security or Agriculture, with coursework in qualitative and quantitative research and analysis.
• Minimum 5 years of active work experience in humanitarian and/or development programming required as a Deputy Project Manager. The ideal candidate will combine proven skillsets in project management with both theoretical and practical background in research and/or M&E, with demonstrable knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research techniques.
• Experience working in North East Nigeria required, with familiarity of resilience programming preferred.
• Fluency in English and Hausa required, while a working knowledge of other local languages is valued.
• Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.
• Demonstrated experience in training and capacity building of partners and team members.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members required.
• Highly developed computers skills (including expertise in Microsoft Word and Excel) are mandatory. Further experience working with GIS, and any of the following will be considered a plus: Epi-Info, Epi-Data, SPSS, Access, SQL, and any other statistical packages.
• Candidate must be willing to travel and work in Borno and Adamawa States in North East Nigeria.

Success Factors

• The successful candidate will have strong project management skills combined with relevant experience managing or helping coordinate multi-sector assessments, integrated research and/or program monitoring, evaluation and learning.
• S/he also will have a keen interest or passion for resilience and/or improving integration of humanitarian and development interventions for sustained impact.
• S/he will bring excellent proactive diplomacy skills in coordinating across a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders to balance expectations, increase engagement, and produce results.
• S/he will have excellent contextual knowledge of North East Nigeria and ideally established relationships with key external actors.
• She/he will use effective communication and team-building techniques, have excellent organizational and strong interpersonal skills, and display an even temperament and good sense of humour.