Latest Jobs at Mercy Corps

General Position Summary

The Procurement Manager will be responsible for supervising all purchases of goods, services and works of Mercy Corps’ Country program. S/he will train and oversee a team, while ensuring that a support strategy for healthy, robust, and integrated systems is in place.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY & VISION

• Analyze the procurement team set up in every office. Propose adjustment; recruit and train staff accordingly to guarantee a high performing and professional team is in place.
• Develop / improve the management tools necessary to make optimal decisions.
• Provide senior leadership with the data and analysis necessary to make optimal decisions.
• Analyze and propose changes to procedures base on needs and risk management.
• Orientate procurement staff and provide service-oriented training to enable work with other non-procurement staff effectively.

PROCUREMENT MANAGEMENT

• Provide direct support to and ensuring that all MC Nigeria offices high standards in procurement.
• Ensure that the procurement Team and all relevant employees have correctly assimilated and applied the new field procurement policies and procedure FP3.
• Provide training to staff on this news policies (or refresher training as necessary)
• Assist Program and operational personnel in regular procurement planning meetings.
• Work closely with program managers; Operations director and operations Managers to develop / update policies, procedures and set up better adapted to procurement for emergency programs.
• Lead the implementation of market surveys in all locations where Mercy Corps operates.
• Maintain file on market prices for commonly bought items.
• Organize proper filing of the procedure related documentation according to mercy corps standards.
• Maintain a comprehensive dashboard for procurement to ensure follow-up and analysis is updated on a weekly and monthly basis.
• Engage with program managers for the development and regular updating of procurement plans for each project.
• Regularly produce purchase status and completed purchases reports using the Ongoing PR Master List and PR Master List
• Maintain a comprehensive dashboard for procurement; to ensure good planning of all updates on weekly and monthly basis.
• Ensure ongoing communication with the different departments to ensure a good planning of all purchases in a collaborative and respective manners.
• Ensure maximum use of Master Agreement and yearly renewal of these agreements.
• Ensure that Mercy Corps’ procurement activities are legal and moral.
• Establish MSA&MPAs supplier agreements for commonly used items.
• Ensure all contracts and contractual terms are respected by supplier and mercy corps and respect local legislation.
• Ensure all tenders are done in accordance with procedure and archived according to mercy corps procedures.

 TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Provide team members with information, tools, and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Provide direct support to ensure that all MC Nigeria offices meet minimum standards in procurement management.
• Guide and supervise the team according to the performance revealed in the dashboard.
• Create and sustain a working environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Supervise, hire, and orient new team members as necessary and provide full orientation for the newly hired team members.
• Review job description as necessary and include performances indicators. Conduct annual performance evaluation.
• Develop and implement KPIs for the procurement team.
• Ensure training and capacity building for procurement team members in order to increase the level of technical ability and skills within the department.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
• Implement a management dashboard to provide accurate data on the department’s performance and proposals as well as implement changes.

FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy corps regulations.
• Uphold Mercy zero tolerance policy to corruption.
• Provide training to program team members on procurement compliance procurement tools use.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• Represent Mercy Corps to the relevant external meeting.
• Consult with other NGOs to identify the best potential suppliers and providers.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donors’ obligations are met.

Supervisory Responsibility: Directly supervises all Procurement team members/staff in Mercy Corps Nigeria

Accountability

Accountable for following Mercy Corps Field Procurement Manual FP3, the Mercy Corps Code of conduct regarding procurement activities and MC Conflict of Interest policy.

Reports Directly To: Director of Operations

Works Directly with: Field managers, Program Managers, Finance Manager, HR Manager, Operations Coordinators, all Operations team as required.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/BS Degree in supply chain management and/ or international business in a relevant business field.
• 5+ years of experience sitting up managing procurement systems with INGOs with supervisory responsibilities.
• Demonstrated understanding of a complex environment. Related security concerns and appropriate response with experience in secure context
• Strong organizational skills: ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel in a sensitive environment.
• Excellent oral and written English skills.
• High level of computer skills on MS Office programs. 
• A demonstrated ability to multi-task and process information into action to not delay program activities. 
• A clear understanding of procurement ethics and donor (USAID, EU, DFID, OFDA) compliance is essential.

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General Position Summary

The Senior Advisor for Financial Services is vital at the intersection of finance, community resilience, and market dynamics. An experienced professional with a deep understanding of the Nigerian financial landscape and a strong commitment to promoting economic stability and resilience in the region. This position entails leading strategic efforts to strengthen financial systems, enhance market linkages, and empower local communities to withstand economic shocks. Responsibilities include conducting in-depth market assessments, identifying innovative financial solutions, and collaborating with local partners to design and implement impactful interventions. The Senior Advisor will navigate the unique challenges and opportunities of the Nigerian context, building partnerships with government agencies, financial institutions, and community stakeholders to drive sustainable economic growth.

Essential Job Responsibilities

The Senior Advisor for Financial Services provides strategic leadership and technical expertise within the Resilience and Market Systems Development program. Key responsibilities include conducting comprehensive market assessments, identifying innovative financial solutions, and designing interventions to enhance the financial resilience of target communities. The advisor will collaborate with local partners, government agencies, and stakeholders to implement projects that improve access to financial services, strengthen financial literacy, and promote inclusive economic growth. They will navigate complex challenges, leverage financial tools, and drive transformative change to support the program's objectives, all while ensuring alignment with the unique context and needs of the region. S/he will liaise with the CoP, DCoP, Advisors, Communications Manager, and MRM Manager to identify and design key communications materials and disseminate them to identified audiences. S/he will be responsible for ensuring strong linkages between the Activity interventions and the Results Measurement team of the program. This position is based in Gombe but requires frequent travel to the other states of the Northeast.

 SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Knowledge Management

• Knowledge Dissemination: Develop and implement strategies for sharing relevant industry insights, best practices, and innovative financial solutions with financial institutions, FinTechs, and the Central Bank of Nigeria to foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Research and Analysis: Conduct in-depth research and analysis of financial trends, regulatory changes, and emerging technologies, providing stakeholders with timely information to make informed decisions and adapt to evolving market dynamics.
• Capacity Building Workshops: Organize workshops, seminars, and training sessions for financial institutions, FinTechs, and regulatory bodies to enhance their understanding of the latest financial service innovations and global best practices, ultimately influencing their strategies and policies.
• Policy Advocacy: Utilize knowledge and insights to advocate for policy changes and regulatory reforms that support financial inclusion and innovation in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, helping to shape a conducive environment for financial services development.
• Thought Leadership: Position the program and its stakeholders as thought leaders in the financial services sector by producing thought-provoking research papers, articles, and policy briefs that influence industry discourse and decision-making, promoting the adoption of inclusive and resilient financial services practices.

  Intervention Management 

• Support the implementation of teamwork plans and the successful implementation of livelihoods and market systems development activities, ensuring timely implementation of work plan activities, identification of target groups within the approved budget, and achieving program deliverables for the desired impact.
• Support the provision of technical guidance on livelihoods and market systems development and ensure that interventions are responsive to stakeholders and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards, and strategic plan.
• Formulate strategies to develop markets in the selected commodity chains and seek opportunities to work as per the RRA sector strategy. Develop intervention strategies and implementation procedures in a participatory manner with key stakeholders.
• Ensure the appropriate communication of clear intervention guidelines, expected outcomes, timeframe, and workplan to all relevant parties.
• Remain well aware of developments in the relevant sectors/markets/commodity chains
• Refine and adapt the intervention strategies in light of participant and stakeholder requests and changing needs and opportunities within the overall program of RRA.
• Help identify market failures and pressure points for addressing these; help identify ways to render a given market more functional and efficient to benefit the program targets.
• Refine and adapt the selected intervention strategies in light of participant and stakeholder requests and changing needs within the overall program.
• Identify priority areas for interventions that will change as opportunities pass or are realized, and new ones emerge.
• Collaborate closely with and support the technical advisory and implementation team to manage the Grant Facility aspect of the program to catalyze new investment in viable economic opportunities (market systems, livelihoods, agribusiness, and employment) through grants that stimulate rather than distort market development and avoid exacerbating conflict dynamics.  

 Stakeholder Management 

• Strategic Partnership Development: Forge and nurture strategic partnerships with financial institutions, FinTech companies, and the Central Bank of Nigeria to align program goals with the interests of these stakeholders.
• Needs Assessment: Conduct thorough needs assessments with financial institutions to understand their specific requirements and constraints in serving vulnerable communities.
• FinTech Engagement: Act as a liaison between the program and FinTechs, identifying opportunities for technology-driven solutions, fostering innovation, and facilitating partnerships for financial inclusion initiatives.
• Regulatory Compliance: Maintain a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks. Work closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure program activities align with financial regulations and advocate for favorable policy changes when necessary.
• Capacity Building: Provide guidance and support to financial institutions and FinTechs in enhancing their capacity to deliver financial services to underserved populations effectively.
• Investment Facilitation: Collaborate with financial institutions to explore investment opportunities and secure funding sources to sustain and scale program activities.
• Risk Management: Evaluate and mitigate potential risks associated with stakeholder engagement and ensure compliance with risk management protocols.
• Communication and Advocacy: Develop communication strategies to advocate for policy changes that promote financial inclusion and disseminate program successes to stakeholders, fostering a positive narrative around program impact.
• Conflict Resolution: Address conflicts and challenges that may arise between different stakeholder groups, working towards consensus and shared objectives.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Implement a robust system for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement efforts, regularly reporting progress and identifying areas for improvement in stakeholder management strategies.

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 international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in designing, monitoring, and evaluating our field projects.

Representation and Advocacy

In coordination with the other technical leads, develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders in Nigeria, including local communities, donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors. Ensure RRA's active representation and participation in the relevant clusters/sectors coordination. Develop strategic partnerships with local organizations. In coordination with the CoP and other technical leads, assist in organizing donor visits by supporting staff in the smooth design and running of field visits.

Supervisory Responsibility: Yes

Reports Directly To: Chief of Party

Works Directly with: DCoP, Communications Manager, Managers, MEL team, Technical Advisors, Communications Officers, Finance, and Operations teams. Coordinates with HQ Program Performance team and the Technical Support Unit.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/BSc. in Social Sciences
• The ability to work within a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Excellent communications skills
• A passion for the international development sector
• Exceptional analytical and writing skills.
• A strategic and creative thinker with proven experience in working on diverse and wide-ranging communication strategies, including all forms of media.