NGO Managerial Job Opportunity – Country Director at Mercy Corps

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Organisation: Mercy Corps
Supervisory Responsibility: Chief of Party (2), Program Director, Program Manager , Finance Director, Deputy Director, Economic and Market Development Manager, M&E Coordinator.
Reports Directly To: Regional Program Director, East and Southern Africa
Works Directly With: Senior Program Officer, Assistant Program Officer, TSU, Regional Finance Officer and Africa Security Advisor.
About Us:
Mercy Corps implements high-quality programs in the world’s toughest places. Since the Uganda Country Office opened in 2006, Mercy Corps has experienced significant growth that has resulted in geographic expansion and the development of new sub-grant alliances with international and national NGOs and private sector actors. Mercy Corps integrates targeted assistance for the immediate needs of critically vulnerable populations with a larger strategic focus on market facilitation that promotes long-term systemic change by addressing a number of overlapping and associated needs within a wide range of activities (market development in support of agriculture/livestock husbandry, water and sanitation, health and nutrition; conflict mitigation and governance). Within Uganda, Mercy Corps works principally in post-conflict or transitional areas, including the Karamoja and Acholi and Regions.
Job Summary: The Mercy Corps Uganda Country Director is an innovative and visionary leader responsible for resourcefully managing all programming in Uganda, resulting in lasting improvement in the lives of over a half a million Ugandans. S/He has held senior roles in formulating strategic direction within an international development context. The Country Director has supervisory responsibility for the country team and implementation of all security protocols. The Country Program supervises a budget of approximately $100 million with the generous support from the United States Government, the European Commission, and the Swiss Government. The Country Director works closely with his teams to ensure sustainable, multi-sector programming across all programs that is accountable to beneficiaries and donors. High value is placed on innovative solutions to development issues along with creative partnerships in tough environments.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Strategy and Vision
·         Design and communicate a clear vision of present and future program goals and strategies to team members and stakeholders that translates into mutual understanding, concrete programs and work plans.
·         Lead the annual country level strategic planning process and provide strategic updates.
·         Use technical support teams collaboratively.
·         Ensure program innovations and successes are effectively publicized internally and externally.
·         Prioritize and coordinate the preparation of concept papers, proposals and other funding requests to strategically position Mercy Corps country programming.
Program Operations Management
·         Ensure all aspects of quality program design and implementation; establish and maintain effective program reporting, monitoring/evaluation systems for internal and external use and build and maintain structures that ensure proper segregation of duties between finance, administration and procurement.
·         Apply Mercy Corps’ Design M&E principles and framework to programs and ensure the country’s overall strategy includes effective, timely reporting systems for all donors.
·         Ensure effective, transparent use of resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies/procedures.
·         Oversee budget management of sub-grantees/sub-contractors, if applicable.
·         Build and maintain operational systems that ensure proper administrative support for programs, as well as segregation of duties between finance and operations.
Personal Leadership
·         Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.
·         Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
·         Demonstrate awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs.
Representation
·         Build strong constituencies to include Mercy Corps headquarters, international and local civil society leaders, private sector, foundations, government officials (at local and national levels), donor community officials, diplomatic corps/ military and embassies, vendors, media and the general public.
·         Develop and nurture culturally sensitive internal and external relationships and networks to ensure optimum communication and program success.
·         Anticipate needs, understand donor pool and contribute to shaping donor’s views on development.
·         Explore, evaluate and present innovative funding opportunities that support the objectives for the country as a whole.
·         Represent Mercy Corps programs with national and international media and participate in community activities as appropriate.
Team Management
·         Create a sustainable work environment of mutual respect that attracts motivated, skilled and effective team members and enables them individually and collectively to strive to achieve excellence.
·         Supervise and provide leadership to a diverse team of direct and indirect reports in field offices.
·         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
·         Liaise with the VP of Operations and Regional Program Director on crucial events, high-risk periods, incident reporting and security policy changes.
·         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.
Knowledge and Experience:
·         BA/S or equivalent in relevant field required; MA/S preferred.
·         7-10 years of field experience in international relief and development programs, including demonstrable success in managing large complex development programs with focus on effective market development.
·         5 years of senior-level leadership, capacity building and field management experience.
·         Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGO, NGO partners and other stakeholders in complex environments.
·         Proven skills in financial and grants management; prior experience with USAID and experience with EC funding desirable.
·         Successful and proven negotiation, communication and organization skills.
·         Excellent oral and written English skills required.
·         Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
·         Previous working experience in Africa, with Multi-Year Assistance Programs (MYAPs), and in insecure environments preferred.
Success factors:
The successful Uganda CD will skillfully represent programmatic priorities of the agency to donors and regional partners while providing effective leadership to the Mercy Corps program team. S/he will have high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity building and will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members are deeply engaged in programming, have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.
Living /Environmental Conditions:
The CD is based in Kampala. The location is accompanied and secure. Housing is individual accommodation with freedom of movement beyond the house/office. There are three main International schools in Uganda. There is regular access to services – medical, electricity, water, etc. This position requires thirty-five percent travel by road and air to field offices in secure and insecure environments.
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.
How to apply: 
Deadline:  01 Dec 2012
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