Job Opportunities at Mercy Corps

Program/Department Summary

• The Educating Nigerian Girls in New Enterprises (ENGINE) program seeks to improve the lives of marginalised adolescent girls aged 16-19 in Nigeria.
• The project which is funded through a grant to the Coca-Cola Company as part of the UK Department for International Development’s Girls’ Education Challenge (GEC) is being implemented in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, and the FCT.
• About 18,000 adolescent girls who are either enrolled in school or are currently out of school are the target beneficiary of the program.
• The ENGINE program is being implemented by a consortium which includes Mercy Corps, Preston Health Care Consulting and the Nike Foundation.

Essential Job Functions

• Manage ENGINE data management platforms (SPSS, CSpro, Excel)
• Perform data analysis and present monthly report based on project indicators
• Conduct collation and entry of data from ENGINE data collection tool including but not limited to; post-test questionnaire, Matching Interest to Work (MiW), Attendance summary, academic curricular pretest score and School performance record
• Perform regular update of ENGINE data management platforms
• Coordinate data entry clerks
• Support development of monthly M&E report, factsheet
• Perform any other assignment as required by the supervisor

Supervisory Responsibility:

• None

Accountability:

• Reports directly to ENGINE MEL Officer (100%)

Works Directly With:

• MEL team, Programs unit, I&E team

Knowledge and Experience

• Degree in Computer Science, IT, information management, or relevant field, with a strong foundation in database management
• Minimum 1-3 years of work experience in the area of qualitative and quantitative M&E methodologies, database management and report writing
• Knowledge of program development, implementation, evaluation, and reporting
• Fluency in written and verbal English and Hausa required.

Success Factors:

• The successful MEL Assistant will have the ability to multi-task, set priorities, and work under tight deadlines within a complex team.
• S/he will demonstrate strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills and be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps.
• S/he will take initiative and contribute to team efforts, as well as demonstrate ability to communicate.

Living/Environmental Conditions:

• This position will be based in Abuja with up to 25% travel primarily to locations within Northern States where security is at times high-risk.
• Security in Abuja is generally good. Housing, health care, water, electricity and consumer goods are all reasonably accessible and there are good international and domestic travel options from Abuja Airport.
• Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of 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 Mercy Corps' policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

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Program/Department Summary

• The Household Economic Strengthening Manager will play an important role in the implementation of a five-year program in Northern Nigeria supporting the capacity of Nigerian institutions to scale up care and support services for Orphans and Vulnerable Orphans (OVC) households.

General Position Summary

• The Household Economic Strengthening Manager will provide overall technical direction on Household Economic Strengthening of the program that is funded by USAID and managed by the lead grant holder– Save the Children.
• S/he will assist with the development of innovative economic strengthening strategies for vulnerable households to compliment other Nigerian government, private sector and international donor funded program interventions by strengthening the capacity of Nigerian entities (NGOs, CSO, local financial institutions).
• S/he will guide a portfolio of approaches and activities that mitigate economic vulnerability and enable targeted households to better cope with economic shocks allowing them to protect and grow financial, human and social assets.
• S/he will facilitate relationships between households caring for OVC and public and private sector actors by identifying economic constraints and ensuring appropriate activities that have long-term viability.
• Emphasis will be placed on market-oriented strategies to ensure sustainability of livelihood gains, including: private sector demand-driven job creation, enterprise development, financial education, value chain linkages and appropriate savings, credit and insurance services for various age groups.
• The Household Economic Strengthening Manager will work closely with Save the Children, counterparts with other donor funded programs, and private sector actors in designing and implementing innovative economic strengthening and livelihoods support approaches.

Essential Job Functions
Program Management and Technical Oversight:

• Work closely with counterparts in other NGOs, donor organizations, and other stakeholder groups to re-design, plan, and implement a comprehensive OVC program.
• Provide technical support in one or more of the following areas: market-driven economic development, private sector engagement, microfinance, youth-focused financial services, financial education, village savings and loan associations (VSLA), micro-insurance, entrepreneurship development, and value chain linkages. Manage implementation of program activities, developing work plans in collaboration with counterparts in other organizations, monitoring implementation, and evaluating impact.

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:

• Liaise with private sector actors, local government officials, local NGOs and civil society organizations, local religious leaders and other notables to ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps’ programs.
• Maintain close working relationships with donors, other humanitarian and development organizations, and local partners (banks, training institutes, insurance companies, and microfinance institutions), including representing Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings as assigned.
• 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 program is contributing to and responding to safety and security plans and procedures.
• Ensure that program is implemented with a clear analysis and 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.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• This position will manage several short-term consultants.

Reports Directly To:

• Country Director, Mercy Corps Nigeria; on day to day matters reports to STEER Program Director in Kaduna.

Works Directly with:

• Mercy Corps Nigeria team, STEER/Save the Children Program Director, Organizational Development Director

Knowledge and Experience

• MA/S in Business, Finance, Economics, Agriculture, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, or related field
• At least 5 years work experience with for profit organization, non-governmental organization (NGO) or for-profit agribusiness working with vulnerable, marginalized groups in West Africa, preferably Nigeria
• Proven knowledge of international best practices of household economic strengthening for OVC and OVC caregivers.
• At least 5 years proven experience in innovative value chain development or business models using best practices.
• Proven experience in one or more of the following: market-driven economic development, private sector engagement, microfinance, village savings and loan associations (VSLA), micro-insurance, entrepreneurship development, and value chain linkages.
• Fluency in English required, including report development, writing and editing. Strong desire for applicants with fluency in Hausa.
• Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.
• Previous experience in Nigeria, especially in Northern Nigeria.
• Demonstrated experience in training, 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 with strong familiarity with Microsoft Word and Excel are mandatory.
• Candidate must be willing to travel and work throughout Nigeria.

Success Factors:

• A successful candidate will have strong diplomacy skills in managing a team with different backgrounds, abilities, and technical knowledge and will have contextual knowledge of Northern Nigeria.
• 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.

Living Conditions/Environmental Conditions:

• The Economic Strengthening Advisor will be based in Abuja and work collaboratively with the Save the Children, Nigeria with frequent travel to the states of Kano, Sokoto, Bauchi, and Plateau
• Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of 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.

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Job Description
Program/Department Summary:

• Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on conflict mitigation, adolescent girls’ empowerment, economic development and humanitarian assistance. With funding from variety of government donors and foundations, Mercy Corps has been able to work together with communities in Nigeria to respond to these needs, bringing benefit to more than 50,000 beneficiaries per year. All Mercy
• Corps interventions in Nigeria are implemented in a conflict and gender sensitive manner.
• With the rapid growth and increasing activities in Mercy Corps, there is the need for a middle management staff to complement management’s efforts at sustaining the resolve to meet its HRM objectives.

General Position Summary

• The HR Manager is responsible for coordinating activities within the HR unit, ensuring excellence and timely delivery on job requirements. The HR Manager is required to provide efficient oversight function in the management of human resources activities for Mercy Corps programs in Nigeria; assist in the achievement of Mercy Corps program objectives with the facilitation of recruitment, remuneration and staff development issues.
• The Human Resources Manager will be based in Abuja with frequent travels to project locations including the North East

Essential Job Functions

• Ensure an effective and efficient HR system
• Assist Operations Manager in designing and implementing improvement strategies in the HR unit
• Responsible for ensuring efficient filing of personnel files for all staff - including recruitment documents,
• CVs, valid contracts, PAFs, timesheets, employee data sheets, disciplinary papers and performance evaluations:
• Ensure recruitment of national staff adheres to Mercy Corp approved standard Recruitment Policies and Procedures
• Ensure adequate participation of HR Department in interviews for new staff;
• Ensure approved Salaries and benefits adhere to Mercy Corps salary scales and protocols
• Ensure Mercy Corps Nigeria personnel policies strictly adhere to Nigerian labour law as applicable; this includes payment of appropriate taxes, benefits etc.;
• Maintain a tracking system for all leave types taken by employees;
• Maintain up-to- date staffing lists; preferably filing by program and department;
• Ensure that employee performance evaluations are completed as scheduled;
• Ensure that all national staff have an up-to- date relevant job description;
• Coordinate coverage for operations during annual leave of key national staff with management;
• Oversee the monthly procedure of timesheets for all staff including collection, review and compilation into payroll; train new staff on timesheet procedure;
• Process monthly payroll in conjunction with finance staff and ensure payroll is delivered in a timely manner;

Position Description

• Responsible for ensuring adequate orientation of all new, national staff on Mercy Corps Nigeria
• Ensure all new staff receive copies of Nigeria National Staff Policy Handbook and are alerted to
• Support and advice on policies, as required;
• Advise staff (national and international) on disciplinary procedures;
• Advise staff (national and international) on raise policies and procedures;
• Assist management in conducting or arranging for trainings and/or other human resource
• Oversee the clearance of terminated employees, as per Mercy Corp policies and procedures;
• Participate in disciplinary, hiring and termination meetings with program staff upon request;
• Maintain confidentiality of all national staff personnel issues including disciplinary procedures and
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• The HR Manager directly supervises the HR Officer

Accountability:

• Reports directly to: Operations Manager
• Works directly with: Program, logistics and finance team

Knowledge and Experience

• Education: at least Bachelor Degree in Business Management / Administration or equivalent professional certificates in Human Resources Management;
• At least three (3) years' HR management experience, preferably with an NGO and in a managerial capacity.
• Ability to translate letters, reports and meetings as required.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, following procedures, meeting deadlines and working and problem-solving independently and cooperatively.
• Knowledge of Mercy Corps systems and procedures (esp. procurement systems) desirable; M&E experience preferred and knowledge of US, EU and DFID regulations helpful.
• Excellent negotiation and representation skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication, organizational, prioritization and Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required;
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment systems, policies and procedures;

Benefits

• Development activities;
• Contracts/ pay rates;
• Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

Success Factors:

• A successful candidate will have strong diplomacy skills in managing a team with different backgrounds, abilities, and technical knowledge and will have contextual knowledge of Northern Nigeria. 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 humor.
• 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 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.
• Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of 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 Mercy Corps' policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.