Program Manager – Livelihoods US Non-profit Jobs – Mercy Corps
Organization: Mercy Corps
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: Deputy Director of Programs
About US:
Mercy Corps is an International NGO that exists to alleviate poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Mercy Corps has been fully registered in Uganda as an operational NGO. Currently Mercy Corps has an office in Kampala and is implementing Food Security programs which comprise of Water and Sanitation, Livelihood and Agriculture and Conflict Mitigation Management Program in North and North Eastern Uganda. We implement programs in the northern districts of Pader, Kitgum, Agago, Lamwo, Kaabong, Abim and Kotido with funding from USAID, USDA, Walmart Foundation, SDC, DFID as well as other private donations.
Job Summary: The Program Manager for Livelihoods will provide leadership, management and strategic vision to the implementation of the program. The Project Manager is responsible for ensuring that the project meet targets and deliverables on-time and within budget. The Project Manager will supervise staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps policies and donor rules and regulations. S/he will coordinate closely with the MEL Advisor at Mercy Corps to ensure appropriate MEL activities are planned, and supervise the management of MEL activities on the ground, ensuring that analysis of data coming from the ground feeds into the learning agenda for the program, and ensures higher level impact for program beneficiaries. He/she will coordinate closely with consortium partners to ensure the program contributes effectively to the end objectives for the program. He/she will report to and work with the Deputy Director of Programs to engage in program representation to donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers and external stakeholders.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Staff and Program Management
- Oversight of all staff members on the project, coordinate and implement activities in line with approved project proposal, budget and within the agreed time frames.
- Ensure compliance to all Mercy Corps, Donor and Government of Uganda policies, procedures and guidelines that relate to the implementation of the program with limited supervision.
- Ensure project deadlines, quality standards and targets are met, redesigning deadlines, quality standards and targets as needed.
- Make on-site field visits regularly to provide technical back-stopping and/or design recommendations.
- Develop all reports, both internal and external to the donor, with a high level of quality with limited need for revision.
- Lead the coordination, management and motivation of program teams through ensuring that they have clear objectives/individual work plans as part of performance management and receive constructive feedback on their performance. Ensure work plans are designed collectively with staff and other key stakeholders.
- Monitor and lead recruitment, capacity building and training needs for program staff.
Partnership Management/ External Representation
- Independently establish, maintain and grow productive working relationships with Local Government officials and line departments, soliciting their participation in all activities where appropriate, in close coordination with other programs in the same operating areas.
- Ensure effective communication with implementing partners
- Responsible for engagement with other stakeholders including private sector actors, community-based organizations and other key partners.
- Work with the Deputy Director of Programs to engage in program representation to donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers and external stakeholders
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
- Take a leadership role in development and revision of MEL system linked to indicators, and information management, in close coordination with MEL team.
- Coordinate data gathering and management with project staff and take overall responsibility for MEL, and ensure, in coordination with the MEL advisor, that Data Quality Audits are carried out
- Oversee scheduling and production of formal and informal reports on all aspects of the program, with a high level of quality, requiring minimal revision.
- Ensure coordination and sharing of information with other district level stakeholders.
- Ensure the program has an effective and functioning community accountability and response mechanism in place
Program Support Operations:
- Coordinate and support of finance, operations and administration staff to ensure operational systems are in place to support field activities including logistics (transport, warehousing and asset management), procurement, security, administration and human resources.
Other:
- Ensure the program upholds best practices in terms of ensuring ‘Do No Harm’ and Gender Equity throughout implementation
- Contribute to new business development, identifying new potential partners, leading negotiations of partnerships and leading implementation of any work plans related to such partnerships, building off the project learning and areas to develop further
- Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring positive recognition to Mercy Corps.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The applicant for the Mercy Corps Program Manager – Livelihoods job must hold an MA/S or equivalent in international development, economics or related field preferred.
- At least three years of senior-level experience with positions of progressively greater responsibilities;
- Demonstrated success in programs related to economic and market development programming.
- Experience with cash transfer programming
- Proven skills in financial management and staff management.
- Demonstrated ability with building, managing and leading a team of professionals and the ability to function as a team player among peers.
- A dynamic, “outside-the-box” attitude is required, with proven ability to think and act creatively in challenging environments.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills in English are required.
- Multi-tasking, organizational, prioritization skills are necessary.
- History of working effectively and respectfully with government, private sector, INGO and NGO partners in complex environments.
- Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.
- A strong leader and team player, with good communication, negotiation and diplomatic skills.
- Proven ability to work independently as part of a regional team and with international professionals.
- Excellent analytical and information management skills.
- Good organizational skills and ability to work under stress and in austere contexts of remote locations.
- Flexible and creative in planning and problem solving.
- Attention to detail, ability to follow procedures and meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
- Proven excellence maintaining professional internal and external relationships.
- A focus on building staff capacity.
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their E-mail applications including a cover letter clearly stating the salary requirements, updated CV (with three professional referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates addressed to the Senior HR and Legal Manager, Mercy Corps Uganda to: ug-mcjobs@mercycorps.org
Deadline: 12th August 2019
: List of Current Job Vacancies / Opportunities in Uganda