Latest Job Opportunities at Mercy Corps

Program / Department Summary

• Mercy Corps Nigeria implements a variety of programs with the ultimate goal of building productive, secure and just communities.
• The organization’s programs are implemented in twelve states, mainly in North and North-East Nigeria and Lagos.
• Our work covers the following sectors: economic development, livelihoods/food security, adolescent girls &boys empowerment, financial resilience, conflict mitigation and humanitarian response. 
• Common themes include community engagement, inclusive development, gender, and working in partnership with local government, the private sector and civil society actors. 

General Position Summary

• The Finance Manager is responsible for all aspects of day to day financial management of the country programs, working collaboratively to ensure compliance with Mercy Corps internal policies and procedures as well as donor regulations.
• S/he works under the direction of the Finance Director and is responsible for all financial functions in Nigeria including accounting, payments and banking, payroll, budgeting, financial reporting and grant financial management and compliance. 
• The Finance Manager, in support of the program departments, provides timely reports and assistance to the Country Director and the program team to ensure that financial resources are used efficiently and effectively.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision:

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction of finance department by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives.

Influence & Representation:

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
• Communicate with our partners to verify their systems and that they understand and follow all appropriate procedures and archiving.
• Establish high level of credibility and ensures strong working relationship with external stakeholders.

Financial:

• Ensure effective, transparent use of financial resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
• Maintain banking relations and plan and monitor country cash flow requirements to ensure the smooth implementation of Mercy Corps programs.
• Maintain appropriate local insurance coverage in coordination with the Admin. Department, to protect Mercy Corps.
• Provide monthly standard accounting submissions to Mercy Corps Headquarters, including general ledger files, account reconciliations, expenditures by award/project, required sub grantee reporting, as well as other financial information in a timely and accurate manner.
• Assist in monthly management reports to the Country Director and Program Managers, including expenditures by award/project, sub grantee reporting and other financial information, in a timely and accurate manner.
• Implement grant budgeting and forecasting systems with Program Managers.
• Up-date a master budget of the mission according to running costs and awards budget to communicate regularly the financial situation of the mission to the Country Director
• Ensure permanent and appropriate archiving (hard and soft copies) of all financial documentation
• Ensure external or internal auditors are provided access to financial information/documentation and understanding of Mercy Corps financial policies and procedures. Coordinates response, action plans and follow-up as necessary of any finance-related audit finding.
• Support all process of drafting budgets for new proposals or budget revisions for existing awards in coordination with others departments

Compliance:

• Perform financial review of purchase requests, purchase orders, and payment requests to ensure compliance with MC policies and procedures and donors grants and contracts requirements.
• Supervision of sub-office finance staff with frequent travels to relevant sub-offices and other locations.
• Provide advice, training, and consultation on compliance with Mercy Corps policies and procedures as well as donor compliance requirements.
• Promotes culture of ZERO tolerance to corruption, ensuring that all staff know the details of our corruption policy and know how to report.

Team Management:

• Supporting hiring and training of finance teams in the main office and field offices.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• 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.

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.

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.

Knowledge and Experience

• At least 4 years of progressive financial management experience is required.
• BA/S or equivalent in Accounting or Finance is required.  An advanced degree is preferred.
• At least 3 years of experience in grants management as well as an understanding of donor regulations is required (particularly USAID and EC).
• At least 3 years of experience with international NGO or business is required
• Demonstrated experience and skill with budget preparation and analysis, financial reporting preparation and presentation and the proven ability to translate technical financial data into informative reports.
• Strong accounting skills and experience, including management of the general ledger, journal entries, payroll, payables and balance sheet.
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel.
• Prior management experience and strong organizational skills.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required.

Success Factors

• The successful candidate will have an ability to interact effectively across program and finance teams successfully, both in a managerial as well as training capacity. S/he will be able to support programmatic objectives with timely and meaningful financial information, have a demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities.
• An impeccable professional standard of finance and procurement ethics and the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential.
• The Finance Director must be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites.
• The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
• Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside 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 MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

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Program / Department Summary

• Mercy Corps Nigeria’s humanitarian program aims to provide assistance to populations affected by the crisis in Northeast Nigeria. With funding from humanitarian donors including OFDA, FFP, EU tryst Fund and ECHO, the humanitarian programs engage in several interventions including but not limited to food assistance, logistics and relief commodities, protection, livelihoods, WASH and capacity building of humanitarian response actors.
• Mercy Corps plans to scale up and expand its humanitarian response in Northeast Nigeria to reach more beneficiaries with additional and varied assistance in a wider geographic area.
• Mercy Corps plans to implement a program in 3 states “ISING” or Investing in the safety and integrity of Nigerian girls targeting adolescent girls and boys affected by the conflict in the Northeast.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Under the direction of the Deputy Program Manager, the Intern will be responsible for the day to day support to the department specifically:

• Work with the program assistant’s in collecting and compiling all the I-SING documents such as safe spaces data, beneficiary lists ensuring they are filed both ins hard and soft copy.
• Under  supervision raise PR’s for hotel bookings for any trainings and workshops
• Track all the items that shall be purchased for the use of safe spaces such as training material, and refreshments
• Support in conducting spot checks for mentors and coordinators, whilst collecting data on attendance
• Support the protection officer in conducting community sensitization in identified communities
• With the support of the assistant’s, track I-SING costs and take the department’s inventory and make request in time to ensure there is no stock out for the safe spaces
• Support the M&E officer in data cleaning as requested

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/S in Social Sciences and related field preferred.
• Good organization skills.
• Ability to work under pressure
• Good oral and written skills and computer skills
• Strong computer skills on MS office programs
• Fluency in English; fluency in Hausa and Kanuri  is required

Success Factors

• The program has lots of activities to be implemented that need to be completed within strict timelines. The intern will be expected to work beyond the normal working hours some days and should be able to cope with pressure of doing every task fast, effectively and efficiently. Office space as well as working equipment is limited and Intern will have to cope with sharing space as well as equipment with the other team members.
• Mercy Corps interns and volunteers represent the agency both during and outside of work hours and 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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Locations  Maiduguri, BIU, Gombe

Program/Department Summary
The Educating Nigerian Girls in New Enterprises (ENGINE) Programme is an initiative to improve learning outcomes and the economic status of marginalized adolescent girls aged 16-19 in the Northern Nigerian states of Kano and Kaduna, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the metropolis of Lagos, Nigeria.

General Position Summary

• The Finance and Compliance Officer will ensure compliance with donors regular as well Mercy Corps internal policies and procedures.
• S/he will support all financial functions in Nigeria country including accounting, banking, payroll, budgeting, financial reporting and grant financial management and compliance.
• The Finance and Compliance Officer will ensure accuracy and completeness of Mercy Corps accounting roles and will support the monthly accounting cycle and sub award management.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• Support in the preparation of monthly cash flow projections.
• Prepare the month end accounting close process
• Support documentation in country office
• Prepare  sub-journals and upload data  to the general ledger
• Follow up with maintaining  the general ledger software
• Assist in the training and support of all partner finance officer in field offices
• Monitor cash and bank balance and accounts consolidation
• Participate in conducting sub grantee assessment and preparation of sub grantee agreement
• Support in conducting sub grantee assessment and preparation of sub grantee agreement
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support. 
• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
• 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.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant discipline
• At least 3 years field experience of general ledger accounting (at least 2 years’ experience in NGO setting)
• Excellent negotiation and representation skills and the ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse staff in a very sensitive environment
• Effective skills in coordination, organization and prioritization as well as in Microsoft Office applications
• Demonstrated attentions to detail, the ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work cooperatively with team members.
• Proven ability to work and solve problems independently without direct supervision.
• Demonstrated knowledge of USG, DFID, ECHO, EU and other donor regulations
• English proficiency required

Success Factors:

• The successful candidate will combine exceptional leadership, management and technical skills with a focus on innovative interventions to engage adolescent girls in informal education and skills building linked with private sector entrepreneurship and employment opportunities in a culturally and religiously conservative environment.
• S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative and complex programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region.
• Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential.

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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, preventing election-related violence, and increasing peace between religious groups.
• Mercy Corps has added to its portfolio of conflict management in the Middle Belt of Nigeria with the program Engaging Communities for Peace in Nigeria (ECPN), funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). This two-year program aims to reduce violence in Nigeria's Middle Belt states by peacefully preventing and resolving farmer-pastoralist conflicts. The program works in select Local Government Areas in Benue and Nassarawa, with the following planned outcomes: 1) Communities increase their capacity to resolve disputes in an inclusive, sustainable manner; 2) Communities build trust across lines of division through creating shared social and economic opportunities; and 3) Communities engage local authorities and neighbouring communities to prevent conflict.

General Position Summary

• The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer will ensure that M&E systems, procedures, performance monitoring and results reporting are in place, effectively implemented and well synchronized with all MCN conflict management projects. The M&E Officer will be responsible for supporting the Program Manager and MEL Manager to ensure that program decisions are based on quality, up-to-date evidence and will promote an atmosphere of constant learning within the project team. The M&E Officer will travel frequently to Middle-Belt states of Nassarawa and Benue at different times.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• M&E System Maintenance - Collaborate closely with colleagues and partners in maintaining the M&E system serving the needs of the overall program. Harmonize with other Mercy Corps Nigeria conflict management projects and partners’ approaches with utility and program quality in mind, providing the Program Manager and the team real time information that can steer program implementation as well as improves the ability to analyze and represent impact to donors, government, colleague agencies, and communities themselves.
• Staff Training and Capacity Building - Support the project team to build the capacity of all relevant team members as well as partner staff to maintain an excellent M&E system and enable them to develop high quality reports and other documents.
• Monitoring and Learning - Implement data collection, analysis, reporting, and sharing of all monitoring activities to ensure quality implementation and sound management decisions.  Ensure that monitoring systems meet donor requirements.

Grants and Reports Management:

• Provide training and support to local partners in monitoring and reporting.
• Regularly conduct project site visits in order to maintain current information for accurate documentation and reporting.
• Assist in training colleagues and partner teams, as necessary.
• Any other duties related to grants and program reports.
• Assist the program implementation team in timely and accurate reporting to donors.

Representation:

• 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.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
• Participate in coordination meetings as requested by the ECPN Program Manager.
• Facilitate and co-facilitate community meetings, events, and trainings as required.
• Ensure implementation of activities is on time, target and budget.
• Liaise with ECPN partner organizations and potential resource persons as needed.
• Support the Program Manager in overseeing the performance of project implementation by partners, and conduct frequent field visits to project sites.
• Other duties as assigned by the Program Manager.

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.

Knowledge and Experience

• Fluency in Hausa and English, both written and spoken.
• BA/S or equivalent in Conflict Management, Social Sciences, International Development or other relevant field.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience working in the non-profit sector in monitoring and evaluation, ideally in conflict management/peacebuilding, community development, or economic and market development.
• Prior experience of carrying out surveys, conducting interviews, and undertaking assessments.
• Understanding of qualitative and quantitative indicators and measurement strategies for collecting data regarding both types of indicators.
• Experience working in rural areas in Nigeria, particularly in the Middle Belt.
• 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.
• Computers skills - word-processing and spreadsheets experience required.  Computer database experience preferred.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

Success Factors

• The successful M&E Officer will combine exceptional monitoring and evaluation technical skills with an ability to move tasks forward in a difficult, unpredictable environment.
• An ideal candidate will be conversant with the challenges inherent in peacebuilding work and will be a self-starter who has participated in grassroots development efforts.
• S/he will have an outstanding ability to support innovative and complex programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and excellent attention to detail are essential.