Job Vacancies at Mercy Corps

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Position Status: Full time and Regular
Supervisory Responsibility: Deep Field Office Field Managers
Reports Directly To: Humanitarian And Sustainable Solutions Director
Works Directly With: Programs, Operation And Finance

Program / Department Summary

• Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on humanitarian assistance, economic development, and conflict mitigation. With the ongoing insurgency in Northeast Nigeria causing the displacement of millions of individuals, Mercy Corps started its humanitarian response in 2014 to address the rising humanitarian needs.
• As the crisis has persisted, Mercy Corps’ strategy has also expanded to address the root causes of the conflict and seek to build the long term resilience of communities with integrated programs focusing on governance, the recovery of markets and livelihoods, social cohesion and social protection, youth empowerment, and local conflict management.

General Position Summary

• Mercy Corps is looking for a Senior Field Manager to support internal and external coordination of the humanitarian and early recovery programs.
• Under the direction of the Humanitarian and Sustainable Solutions Director (HSSD), the Senior Field Manager is responsible for liaising on MC’s behalf with various governmental ministries, departments, agencies (MDA), traditional leaders, tax, immigration authorities, security apparatus in the Northeast (Borno, Adamawa, Yobe state) with potential expansion to new areas in line with Mercy Corps humanitarian and sustainable solutions portfolio where required tofacilitate smooth implementation of MC’s programming, including timely approvals of Memoranda of Understanding and other permissions as needed and according to operating context.
• Additionally, the Senior Field Manager supervises the Field Managers based in Mercy Corps Deep Field Offices (Bama, Biu, Gwoza, Ngala, Dikwa, and Damboa - with potential expansion to new locations in line with Mercy Corps humanitarian and durable solutions portfolio), ensuring that the operational and representational needs of those offices and teams are met.
• Overall, the Senior Field Manager will support the strategic design, implementation and refinement of strong and durable systems for the improved operational, financial and compliance management of Mercy Corps’ operations in northern Nigeria.

Essential Job Functions

External Representation:
In coordination with the Humanitarian and Sustainable Solutions Director, the Senior FM will:

• Establish and implement a stakeholder engagement strategy designed to develop, maintain, and strengthen Mercy Corps’ organizational relationships with relevant stakeholders
• Build and maintain relationships with key technical managers, commissioners and decision-makers in the government,different ministries and among local/traditional authorities. Act as a key focal point.
• Promote MC’s work and raise MC image externally at relevant humanitarian fora
• Proactively coordinate and advocate on MC’s behalf with State, LGA and as well as traditional leaders to ensure that the desired outcomes for MC’s activities are achieved.
• Organize meetings and accompany HSSD, DoP, Country Director and other senior staff to meetings with government officials and facilitate conversations for smooth representation of MC in those meetings.
• Coordinate with Finance, Ethics, and compliance to facilitate timely reporting of compliance-related issues such as EFCC/SCUML, submission of TAX report/ clearance, expat monthly report to NIS, etc.
• Facilitate the timely signature of MOUs and any other relevant agreements between MC and the government and respond to queries from authorities in a timely manner.
• Familiarize and keep up with all new government requirements applicable to MC’s work in the Northeast and potential expansion to new locations based on Mercy Corps’ humanitarian and sustainable solutions portfolio to support programs, field management and grants team to ensure compliance.Develop guidelines including all requirements, procedures and processes.
• Ensure senior MC staff are aware of and understand any concerns of government officials regarding MC’s operations, and that such concerns are factored into MC’s communication strategy and programming.
• Ensure all correspondence with the government is in line with MC policies and records are retained in an organized
• Where relevant, participate in grants meetings to understand the concept of the respective program.
• Organize stakeholders meetings to allow the program team and senior staff to keep them abreast of progress, updates, challenges and seek support for smooth implementation.
• Support the field managers in addressing / managing LGA level relationships and addressing any issues at that level.

Field Manager Coordination:

• Responsible for the effective supervision of deep field site Field Managers, including their effective recruitment, onboarding, mentorship and performance management.
• Support the strategic design, implementation and refinement of strong and durable systems for the improved management of Mercy Corps’ field operations in northern Nigeria.
• Provide leadership to the deep field office Field Management team, ensuring clarity over organizational priorities and associated support to deliver on priorities, effective cross-office learning, building a culture of teamwork and inclusiveness.
• Represent Field Management needs and priorities relevant forums including NE Coordination meetings, all-staff meetings, etc.
• Responsible for supporting Field Managers in maintaining operational security in field sites, elevating any security concerns to the Security Team, providing inputs to the location-specific security plans, and ensuring smooth and effective communications between deep field sites and the security team.
• Act as a liaison between Field Managers and Operations team, ensuring that operations systems are smoothly functional in field sites and representing field perspectives in the development and/or review of relevant operations plans/guidelines, etc.
• Regularly travel to Deep Field Locations to ensure strong operational understanding and connection to Deep Field team needs.
• In coordination with the HSSD, support regular coordination meetings for the humanitarian and early recovery portfolio, encouraging cross-team learning and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in related fields such as Public Administration, Humanities, Social Sciences, etc.
• At least 7 years of field experience in humanitarian and/or development programs, including experience working with the government at a senior level
• Strong field leadership skills and proven experience in managing diverse and multicultural teams that cooperate and deliver results.
• Extensive knowledge of the NE states system of government and administration
• Familiarity with at least some sectoral work common in Mercy Corps’ activities, including e-vouchers, cash transfers, food security, livelihoods, crisis analytics, shelter, etc.
• Excellent written and spoken English language, knowledge of Hausa and Kanuri a plus
• Self-driven, independent and motivated.
• Diplomatic nature, excellent negotiation skills plus negotiation experience;
• Strong communication, organization and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to travel at least 40% of the time to different states, LGAs as required.
• Excellent written and spoken English and local languages
• Good computer skills, including confident use of Microsoft Office applications.

Success Factors:

• The successful candidate will provide effective leadership to the Mercy Corps team in the Northeast, representing our humanitarian and early recovery portfolio.
• S/he will be capable of multi-tasking, rapid decision-making, have initiative, drive and high energy.
• S/he will have excellent communication skills, is able to adapt messages to different audiences, strong listening skills as well as verbal and written presentation skills.
• S/he will have 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.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions:

• The position is based in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria and it requires frequent travel to field locations in and around northern Nigeria.

Security:

• Security in the field locations requires additional vigilance and accessibility will be reassessed continuously.
• Access to good medical services in the 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.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

• Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges.
• We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
• We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

• Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis.
• We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact.
• We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all.
• We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics:

• Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.
• We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

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Position Status: Full-time
Supervisory Responsibility: None
Reports Directly to: Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP)
Works Directly with: CoP, and the activity Team Members

Program / Department Summary

• The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched one of its most comprehensive peacebuilding programs in Nigeria to date with Mercy Corps, a leading global humanitarian aid and development organization, which has been working with communities in Nigeria since 2012. The goal of the Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) program, which commences in 2019, is to prevent violent conflict in the most at-risk communities across 6 states and 24 local government areas (LGA) in Nigeria’s Northwest and North Central regions. CIPP builds on the accomplishments and deep contextual knowledge gained by USAID and Mercy Corps through their previous peacebuilding programs in Nigeria.
• Mercy Corps’ strategy has also expanded to address the root causes of the conflict and seek to build the long-term resilience of communities with integrated programs focusing on governance, protection of the vulnerable population, social cohesion, inclusion of women, youth and persons living with disabilities, and local conflict management.
• The CIPP program is implemented in six North Central & North-Western Nigerian States: Benue, Plateau, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano and Katsina. Since 2019 is strategically building on the past four years of the Mercy Corps former peacebuilding programs to:
  • Improve local capacity and skills to manage disputes.
  • Strengthen and enable more sustainable Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) mechanisms.
  • Increase collaboration among communities with government agencies, CSOs, and local leaders to address root causes of conflict.
  • Strengthen women’s capacities to prevent and resolve conflict.
  • Improve ability to address violent extremist recruitment tactics.

General Position Summary

• The Program Intern will provide full support to CIPP activity and ensure proper management of the day-to-day affairs of the program and will handle sensitive and complex issues in a professional and objective manner; also take initiative as appropriate.

Essential Job Functions

• Manage the CIPP activities’ travel arrangements.
• Maintain the office systems, including data management and filing.
• Assist Supervisor in researching and following up with actions on matters which fall within the program/administrative responsibility.
• Produce documents, briefing papers, reports, and presentations for Supervisor.
• Support in organizing meetings and ensure that the Team is well prepared for those meetings.
• Support in preparing agendas and minutes of meetings.
• Process activity budget, PRs and write activity report.
• Receive, record, and keep custody of supplies such as workshop materials etc.
• Any other administrative duties as may reasonably be required by the DCOP / COP.

Finance & Compliance Management:

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to peace and conflict programming.

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.

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.

Ethics and Integrity:

• All Mercy Corps staff members/interns are expected to behave ethically and demonstrate the highest integrity in their professional and personal life. Mercy Corps has zero tolerance for any form of fraud, corruption, abuse, harassment, or exploitation. Any breach of our policies or misconduct will lead to disciplinary action or may lead to termination.

Knowledge and Experience

• B.Sc. / B.A in any Social Science field.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, to enable professional interaction with a wide range of contacts.
• Ability to organize and plan work schedule.
• Excellent attention to detail, with the ability to maintain a high level of accuracy.
• A flexible, pro-active approach to work including the ability to prioritize and re-prioritize.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and take initiative.
• Ability to deal with sensitive information with discretion and to maintain confidentiality.
• Excellent IT skills, including a working knowledge of presentation software packages, preferably Microsoft Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Internet surfing skills.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

• Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges.
• We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
• We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

• Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis.
• We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact.
• We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all.
• We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Ethics:

• Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.
• We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Remuneration
For the duration of this internship assignment, the intern will receive N100,000 Monthly.

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Position Status: Full-time, Regular
Supervisory Responsibility: None
Reports Directly To: EWER Technical Manager
Works Directly With: Program Officer, MEL Officer, PARTNER consortium members, other program managers in-country, finance and operations teams

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; incentives 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

• Based in the office of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), the EWER Technical Advisor will be responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the PARTNER program in IPCR.
• S/he will support the implementation of activities by IPCR related to capacity building for various stakeholder groups.
• The EWER Technical Advisor provide support to all other activities related to the PARTNER Early Warning and Early Response system strengthening in Nigeria.
• S/he will ensure smooth, timely, and compliant implementation across the PARTNER program implementation states.
• The EWER Technical Advisor will liaise frequently with EWER Technical Advisors of implementing partners, 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 other stakeholders.
• The EWER Technical Advisor will liaise with the EWER Technical Manager 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 ensure smooth, timely, and compliant implementation across the PARTNER program implementation states.
• S/he will work closely with the MEL Officer, CARM Officer and Operations staff (including finance and operations) to ensure that activities are implemented according to schedule, budget and required quality.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision:

• Support technical aspects of the peace-building and EWER system strengthening in Nigeria by assisting with the development of activities/agendas/curricula as appropriate
• Facilitate and co-facilitate community meetings, events, and training as required
• Ensure implementation of activities is on time, target and budget
• Liaise with PARTNER implementing partner organizations and potential resource persons as needed
• Promote the consolidation of national integrated multi-threat Early Warning and Early Response systems strengthening in Nigeria.
• Support the standardization of alerts for different threats and harmonization of key messages.
• Support the expansion of community-based EWER system including consideration of gender and vulnerable groups.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to community needs, meets targets, and is carried out in line with best practices
• Establish and maintain effective program reporting and monitoring and evaluation systems (to track, analyze and report on results) for both internal and external use
• Integrate community approaches, protection mainstreaming, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate
• Ensure effective community engagement to create enabling environment and ownership
• Submit weekly program updates including success stories to the supervisor
• Update Program Issue Log, Risk Register & Incident Tracker as appropriate
• Ensure program filing system is in place, adheres to internal and donor regulation and filing is regularly maintained
• Adhere to all MC policies related to security, operations and transport/ logistics information

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.
• Fulfill 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 EWER Technical Manager.
• 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.

Additional Tasks

• Support with other tasks as needed.

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.

Knowledge and Experience

• B.Sc / B.A or equivalent in Conflict Management, Social Sciences, International Development or other relevant fields.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience working in the non-profit sector preferably on peace-building and EWER systems.
• Experience working in rural areas in Nigeria, particularly in target states of PARTNER.
• Experience working in a multi-organizational team (international and national partners) is a plus
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English required, including report development, writing and editing. Knowledge of Hausa is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Experience engaging with State and Local Government authorities, religious leaders and local partners.
• Experience managing community-based peace-building and EWER interventions.
• Strong training and capacity-building experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of the conflict dynamics in the Middle Belt & Northwest Nigeria.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Demonstrate strong emotional intelligence.
• Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills.
• Fluency in English; fluency in local languages required.

Success Factors:

• 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 communication 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 Conditions / Environmental Conditions:

• The position is based in Abuja and requires travel to project states.
• 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.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

• Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges.
• We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
• We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

• Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact.
• We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics:

• Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity.
• We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.
• We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members.
• As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times.
• Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

go to method of application »

Position Status: Full-time, Regular
Supervisory Responsibility: None
Reports Directly To: EWER Technical Manager
Works Directly With: Program Officer, MEL Officer, PARTNER consortium members, other program managers in-country, finance and operations teams

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

• Based in the office of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), the EWER Technical Advisor will be responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the PARTNER program in IPCR.
• S/he will support the implementation of activities by IPCR related to capacity building for various stakeholder groups.
• The EWER Technical Advisor provide support to all other activities related to the PARTNER Early Warning and Early Response system strengthening in Nigeria.
• S/he will ensure smooth, timely, and compliant implementation across the PARTNER program implementation states.
• The EWER Technical Advisor will liaise frequently with EWER Technical Advisors of implementing partners, 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 other stakeholders.
• The EWER Technical Advisor will liaise with the EWER Technical Manager 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 ensure smooth, timely, and compliant implementation across the PARTNER program implementation states.
• S/he will work closely with the MEL Officer, CARM Officer and Operations staff (including finance and operations) to ensure that activities are implemented according to schedule, budget and required quality.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision:

• Support technical aspects of the peacebuilding and EWER system strengthening in Nigeria by assisting with the development of activities/agendas/curricula as appropriate
• Facilitate and co-facilitate community meetings, events, and training as required
• Ensure implementation of activities is on time, target and budget
• Liaise with PARTNER implementing partner organizations and potential resource persons as needed
• Promote the consolidation of national integrated multi-threat Early Warning and Early Response systems strengthening in Nigeria.
• Support the standardization of alerts for different threats and harmonization of key messages.
• Support the expansion of community-based EWER system including consideration of gender and vulnerable groups.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to community needs, meets targets, and is carried out in line with best practices
• Establish and maintain effective program reporting and monitoring and evaluation systems (to track, analyze and report on results) for both internal and external use
• Integrate community approaches, protection mainstreaming, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate
• Ensure effective community engagement to create enabling environment and ownership
• Submit weekly program updates including success stories to the supervisor
• Update Program Issue Log, Risk Register & Incident Tracker as appropriate
• Ensure program filing system is in place, adheres to internal and donor regulation and filing is regularly maintained
• Adhere to all MC policies related to security, operations and transport/ logistics information.

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 EWER Technical Manager.
• 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.

Additional Tasks

• Support with other tasks as needed.

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.

Knowledge and Experience

• B.Sc / B.A or equivalent in Conflict Management, Social Sciences, International Development or other relevant fields.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience working in the non-profit sector preferably on conflict management/peacebuilding and community development.
• Experience working in rural areas in Nigeria, particularly in target states of PARTNER.
• Experience working in a multi-organizational team (international and national partners) is a plus.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English required, including report development, writing and editing. Knowledge of Hausa is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Experience engaging with State and Local Government authorities, religious leaders and local partners.
• Experience managing community-based peacebuilding and EWER interventions.
• Strong training and capacity-building experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of the conflict dynamics in the Middle Belt & Northwest Nigeria.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Demonstrate strong emotional intelligence.
• Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills.
• Fluency in English; fluency in local languages required.

Success Factors:

• 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 communication 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 Conditions / Environmental Conditions:

• The position is based in Abuja and requires travel to project states.
• 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.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

• Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together.
• Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges.
• We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
• We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

• Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact.
• We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics:

• Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.
• We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.