Democratic Republic of the Congo: Program Director, IMAGINE, Goma, DRC

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since August 2007, with a staff of approximately 200 people working in North and South Kivu Provinces. Mercy Corps' national office is in Goma with a provincial office in Bukavu and field offices in Mweso, Masisi (North Kivu). Current Mercy Corps activities focus on the provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in camps of internally displaced people and affected communities, but also large-scale WASH infrastructure and service delivery development in urban centers. Mercy Corps also has Food Security, Economic Recovery/ Development 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 is actively seeking and facilitating market-based solutions.

In 2008, Mercy Corps and USAID launched a project to rehabilitate and extend the municipal water system of Goma. In 2013, Mercy Corps signed a new 36M Pounds grant agreement with DFID-DRC to replicate and scale-up the Goma water project in two cities in Eastern Congo. The integrated program involves designing, rehabilitating, extending and constructing city water and sanitation infrastructure as well as working to reform management structures to ensure that the systems are managed profitably and sustainably while addressing issues concerning Governance, Behavior Change Communication and crosscutting gender aspects.

General Position Summary

The Program Director (PD) is a member of the Country Leadership Team and will provide overall leadership, technical oversight, management and strategic vision for the program while managing staff and resources to ensure that the program meets its targets and deliverables on-time, on scope, and within budget. The PD will supervise key program staff and ensure high program quality. The PD will be responsible for ensuring strict adherence to internal Mercy Corps policies and procedures as well as donor rules and regulations. The PD will also have representation duties to donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers and external stakeholders.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for program and convince stakeholders to provide support.

Program Management

• Ensure Program is on Scope, on Budget and on Time and report/liaise with IMAGINE Program Board on progress, challenges and critical issues quarterly and as required.
• Structure his/her team to ensure that all program aspects meet the highest programmatic standards and adhere to industry norms/regulations.
• Track program objectives and deadlines.
• Ensure the monitoring of all grant agreements to be compliant with Mercy Corps policies and procedures as well as donor/government/external rules and regulations.
• Oversee the performance of sub-grantees, consultants and contractors.
• Oversee all aspects of design, monitoring, evaluation and learning, and ensure that all program aspects are documented and archived according to internal/donor requirements.
• Ensure the program is in alignment with Mercy Corps' principles, values and the program's strategic plan.
• Ensure all program management minimum standards are met (including risk management, issues management
• Ensure optimal Integration of all program components for maximum impact.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.

Team Management

• Recruit a program team and ensure that program staff receive necessary inductions / training (including program management certification where required).
• Create a work atmosphere of mutual respect conducive to professional growth and development of excellent personnel at all levels.
• Implement, and ensure all staff members are effectively using, the performance planning and management system, establishing performance expectations and regularly providing constructive feedback.
• Promote accountability by conducting staff annual performance reviews with direct supervisees, and ensuring that supervisory staff personnel do the same.
• 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.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure all internal control procedures adhere to and that necessary measures are put in place to ensure high standards of accountability and compliance.

Ensure all internal and external reports are produces to donor and Mercy Corps standards.

Programme Support

• Coordinate with program, finance and administration staff to ensure operational systems are in place to support field activities (including logistics, procurement, security, administration and human resources).

Influence & Representation

• Represent Mercy Corps to government, donors, NGOs and other relevant events in the field.
• Coordinate activities with partners, sub-grantees, government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps global staff.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

Security

• Work closely with country-level security focal points to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its work.
• Ensure that 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 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.

Supervisory Responsibility

Deputy Program Directors, Program Managers, Grant Officer, consultants.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Country Director

Works Directly With:** DRC senior Directors (e.g., Finance, Operations, and the Country Leadership Team). Program staff, IMAGINE Program Board, HQ Program Operations team members and Technical Support Unit (TSU) team members.

Knowledge and Experience

• MA/MSc or equivalent in engineering or an MSc/MBA in management with construction management experience and strong technical knowledge.
• 7 years+ of management experience in progressively responsible positions – preferably as Technical Director for a comparable infrastructure project or a lower level position on a larger project.
• Private sector experience highly desirable. Knowledge of non-profit organizations required.
• Experience leading the implementation of multi-sector integrated projects needed.
• PMD / PRINCE 2 or other program management certification is required.
• Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.
• Fluency in oral/written English and French and/or Swahili is required.
• Previous experience in the DRC or other developing context is strongly desired.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

Success Factors

The successful Program Director will combine exceptional management skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships. S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative program within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. The PD must have demonstrated experience managing large programs, preferably involving infrastructure construction. S/he will have demonstrated skills in managing programs in challenging, insecure environments. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and 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

The position is based in Goma, DRC and it requires up to 30% travel to Bukavu and Kinshasa. This is an accompanied position and is eligible to R&R.

While conditions in the country are improving, and security is quite stable in Goma, there is mounting insecurity and violence in parts of the country. 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 and some field locations. There are virtually no telephone landlines in the DRC, though 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 is reasonable access to most consumer goods, although they can be expensive.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside 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.

PI99310895

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