Deputy Country Director Vacancy at Mercy Corps

Job title: Deputy Country Director

Closing date: 10 Oct 2010

Location: Uganda - Kampala

Deputy Country Director (217193-927)

PROGRAM SUMMARY:


ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program Management:

Provide overall leadership and direction to Uganda program staff and support the Country Director to strengthen the program strategies, program quality, partnerships, and accountability in Uganda in accordance with Mercy Corps and donor policies.

Effectively manage program growth and oversee the implementation of all of Mercy Corps' current programs with a continual eye to new program development that meets the strategic interests of Mercy Corps Uganda taking special consideration of quality, efficiency and sustainability.

With the Country Director and Program Staff, develop and design innovative initiatives and open new avenues for funding.

Ensure that regular monitoring of project activities and project impact is undertaken, in accordance with existing Mercy Corps' Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation guidelines.

Program Support Operations

Ensure compliance and transparent use of resources inline with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.

Effectively stay abreast of donor policies, procedures, rules and regulations; compile and update applicable local policies; and train Mercy Corps program and partner staff in these policies.

As part of the senior management team, work within operations systems for program impact including finance, logistics, security, and administration.

As necessary, recruit, manage and motivate an informed, skilled and efficient program team; incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management systems into team building processes.

Draft and/or review scopes of work to hire any technical consultants and manage technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

Oversee grant and sub-grant tracking, ensuring forward planning and preparation for donor report writing and timely submission of sub-grantee reports. Maintain and update program files and grant tracking information on a routine basis.

Team Management

Build a cohesive team spirit among staff and delegate functions and responsibilities to them while ensuring achievement of program objectives. Demonstrate a commitment to nationalize key program positions.

Supervise, provide leadership, mentor and build the capacity of senior program staff in program/project design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and management that creates a working atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of excellence at all levels.

Maintain effective and positive internal communication with Mercy Corps staff in all field offices, this includes ensuring open and harmonious communication all of the different departments, offices, and programs.

Leadership and Strategy:

Lead the Program team in identifying additional opportunities for medium to long term programming and assist with new proposal and concept paper development that fosters and/or improves the strategic objectives of the country office, whether these new initiatives utilize existing resources or require program development.

Participate in overall country level strategic planning and assist the Country Director with preparation and implementation of the Country Fiscal Year Annual Planning process. Process is to be participatory, involving relevant key staff in each field office.

Develop key relationships that will help Mercy Corps in its area of operation and to enhance its program opportunities.

Representation

Coordinate with Mercy Corps headquarters and regional offices and staff, international and local NGOs, UN agencies, donor community officials, national government, vendors, media and the general public in a way that fosters linkages, optimizes communication, avoids overlap, shares resources, and ensures program success.

Maintain critical relationships to ensure program success including contacts with District and National government offices, donors, beneficiaries and the general public.

Represent Mercy Corps Uganda programs to funders and potential donors, conducting programmatic briefings as well as new initiative developments and programmatic proposals.

Provide management support during R&Rs, transitions, and home leaves of staff and serve as Acting Country Director during his absence.

Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation

Establish and maintain effective program reporting, monitoring and evaluation systems for both internal and external use in coordination with the program staff.

Oversee and provide direct support to the DM&E support unit to ensure monitoring and evaluation efforts of Mercy Corps' Uganda programs are not only strengthened but that the information is managed to ensure quality that can be accurately demonstrated with measurable impact.

Maintain strong relationships and be the key focal point for various M&E initiatives (Mission Metrics, LAYERS, Google, IEHA, and UMEMS)

Coordinate effective program and project reporting, personnel and project evaluations, and communication systems and timelines.

Ensure Country Director has up to date program information at both project and country levels.

Manage all internal and external reporting with programs, ensuring high-quality, well-written and timely reports meeting donor and Mercy Corps requirements. Lead in the preparation and completion of all donor reporting.

Security

Conduct prudent and timely assessments of security environment, initiate and/or enforce necessary security protocols balancing program needs with security constraints.

Assist the Country Director in ensuring that all security protocols are properly adhered to by both expatriate and national staff and team members are operating in a secure environment.

Assist in the development and update of Security Management Policies/Procedures.

Organizational Learning


SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Program Directors, DM&E Support Unit and technical heads.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Uganda Country Director

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Finance, Administration, Logistics team members, and all Program staff national and expatriate.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

A Bachelor's Degree in business, economics, international studies or related field with MA/S preferred

7- 10 years' experience in international relief and development

5-7 years in senior leadership position, in building teams, developing programs and financial oversight

Experience with USAID, EC and other traditional donors

Trained and knowledgeable in DM&E concepts and methodologies. M&E experience should include conducting assessments and surveys, program design using a logical framework approach, selecting indicators, implementing monitoring plans, coordinating evaluations and data analysis.

Experience supervising national and expatriate staff, starting up programs and working in difficult environments.

High level of proficiency in English is required.

Experience managing programs in relevant technical area(s) including Livelihoods, Agriculture, Health, Water and Sanitation, Economic Recovery, Peacebuilding, and Youth.

Experience managing complex and complicated activities with time sensitive deliverables in unstable environments.


How to apply

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Reference Code: RW_888C6J-75