Democratic Republic of the Congo: Chief of Party, Development Food Assistance Program - DRC

This position is contingent on funding.

PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since August 2007, with a staff of approximately 250 people working in North and South Kivu. Mercy Corps' national office is in Goma with field offices in Katwe, Mweso, Butembo (North Kivu), and Bukavu (South Kivu). We support vulnerable communities, while fostering strong relationships and partnerships across government, civil society and the private sector to deliver programs that build resilience and promote sustainable change. Our current activities focus on the provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in camps of internally displaced people, and large-scale WASH infrastructure and service delivery development in urban centers. Mercy Corps also has Food Security, Economic Recovery/Development and Governance programs, with an increasing shift towards transitional and integrated development programming. The DRC team has a strong commitment to providing entrepreneurial and innovative solutions to development challenges, and actively seeks and facilitates market-based solutions.

Mercy Corps is currently implementing a Multi-Year Assistance Program funded by USAID/Office of Food for Peace (FFP); and is recruiting a Chief of Party (CoP) for a future Development Food Assistance Program (DFAP) to be implemented in Eastern DRC. This proposed five-year program will improve food and nutrition security and economic well-being of vulnerable populations through outcomes focused on agriculture, natural resources, livelihoods, health, nutrition, WASH and governance.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Chief of Party will provide overall leadership, management and strategic vision to the implementation of a five-year, multi-million dollar USAID/Food for Peace funded Development Food Assistance Program. S/he will manage staff, resources and partnerships to ensure that the program meets its targets and deliverables on-time and within budget. The CoP will supervise program staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps' policies and donor rules and regulations. S/he will be the primary program representative to donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers and external stakeholders.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy and Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve objectives.
• Oversee the development of annual, integrated strategic work-plans for the program.
• Be an active member of the Country Leadership Team and contribute to setting country program and operations strategy and priorities.

Program Management

• Oversee program start-up and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations.
• Lead the development of detailed implementation plans, flowing from annual strategic work-plans, and ensure the delivery of the same.
• Introduce the program to Government of DRC stakeholders, ensuring necessary approvals and collaboration as required.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to transparent criteria.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
• Provide managerial and programmatic oversight to partners and sub-grantee(s).
• Document processes and achievements to ensure best practices are captured and disseminated. This will include the continual re-evaluation of program activities and information, with resulting activity adjustments in keeping with new insights.
• Produce written reports on program activities, capturing the impacts of activities.
• Oversee efforts to design effective M&E systems for the program, and linkages with internal M&E systems.
• Create and follow effective stakeholder management plans, ensuring sound and proactive communications with Mercy Corps DRC, headquarters, USAID, Government of DRC authorities, partner organizations and colleague agencies.
• Conduct frequent field visits to all project sites - spend up to 25% of time in the field.

Team Management

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Supervise and manage all program staff to ensure day-to-day activities are implemented in a coordinated fashion according to schedule, budget and quality.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• 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.
• Supervise and manage all program partnerships to ensure sound coordination.
• Manage and help with the recruitment, orientation, professional development and ongoing training of DFAP staff to ensure they are of the quality and technical capacity necessary to ensure the successful implementation of activities.

Finance & Compliance Management

• In collaboration with the country program's operations and finance departments, ensure proper financial management, procurement, administration, human resources and logistics (including transport, warehousing and asset management) needs of the program are conducted within Mercy Corps' policy and with the maximum benefit to the program.
• Ensure that commodity tracking and food distribution activities are in compliance with USAID FFP Regulation 11 and Mercy Corps procedures and policies.
• Monitor adherence to grant agreement, Mercy Corps' policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations, including those of the government of DRC.

Representation

• Liaise with and represent program to USAID, other USAID/FFP-funded organizations and stakeholders.
• Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field, in close coordination with the Country Director.
• Ensure close coordination and information sharing with consortium partners, sub-grantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.
• Establish and maintain relationships with communities and local government.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Work closely with the country team's security focal point to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of all team members.
• Ensure programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security management priorities.

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.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: National and international team members working on the program, as well as partnerships with international and national program partners. The number of direct and indirect reports is to be determined.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Country Director

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Director of Programs, Finance Director, Director of Operations, Head of Offices, HQ Regional Program Team, Technical Support Unit and partner organizations

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• MA/S or equivalent experience in development studies, international relations, management, agriculture, public health, economic development or other relevant field.
• At least 10 years of relevant international experience with positions of progressively greater responsibilities.
• At least five years in a senior management role is required with experience managing integrated, multi-sectoral programs, USAID/FFP-funded activities strongly preferred.
• Prior experience managing USAID-funded assistance projects of a similar size and scope in developing countries; experience managing multi-sectoral projects including agricultural development, maternal child health and nutrition, and governance.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners.
• Experience managing programmatic and financial reporting requirements.
• Experience with USAID rules, regulations and requirements is preferred.
• Experience working in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and French.
• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful CoP will combine exceptional management skills and experience in building and maintaining donor and partner relationships. S/he will have an ability to think creatively about improving food security and economic well-being of vulnerable populations. The CoP will have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail as well as strategic vision are essential. 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.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

This is an accompanied post if residing in Cyangugu, Rwanda, otherwise unaccompanied if residing in Bukavu.

While conditions in the country are improving, and security is quite stable in Bukavu, there are still pockets of violence and insecurity and petty crime is present. Mercy Corps' sub-offices experience variable levels of insecurity, with the situation closely monitored by UN peacekeepers. Years of conflict and corruption have badly damaged the country's infrastructure. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. Mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is limited, but available in all Mercy Corps offices. Travel to field sites will be required where living conditions are clean and secure, but basic. There are a number of health services available with several evacuation options for serious illnesses. There's reasonable access to most consumer goods, although they can be expensive.

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.

Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=dGNoYWJvdW5pLjI4MzkzLjM4MzBAbWVyY3ljb3Jwcy5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20