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.
Mercy Corps has been operational in the Central African Republic (CAR) since September 2007. With offices in Bangui, Bouar, Bambari and Bangassou, Mercy Corps works to integrate short-term humanitarian assistance with programs to strengthen community resilience and support market-led economic development, with a cross-cutting accent on governance and gender. Mercy Corps takes a sustainable approach to its programming, seeking to change behaviours and create institutions to foster long-term development in the sectors of protection and gender-based violence, civil society capacity building, water/sanitation, social cohesion and socioeconomic activities. Funding has come from a range of donors including BHA, the European Commission, UNICEF, OCHA, AFD and private foundations. By addressing a number of overlapping and associated needs within a wide range of sectors, Mercy Corps CAR takes an integrated approach to ensure the greatest possible impact.
Area Manager; Two bases Bambari and Bangassou. It is a senior management position for Mercy Corps CAR with supervisory and managerial responsibilities based in Bambari.
The Area Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Bambari and Bangassou offices, ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps’ and donors’ policies and procedures, ensuring internal and external coordination, and representation in both bases. This includes training staff as needed and supervising administrative, logistics, and finance staff members. The Area Manager is responsible for maintaining very strong relationships with the CAR Bangui-based Senior leaders, especially with the Country Director, Operations Manager and Director of Programs.
Essential Job Responsibilities
● Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
● Lead the identification of new initiatives and opportunities that respond to identified needs in his area of supervision and the country strategy, in coordination with the Program Director and Country Director as well as headquarters-based Senior Program Officer, Technical Advisors and other relevant staff.
Operations and Management
● Oversee the smooth flow of routine program support functions (e.g., finance, administration, logistics) of the Mercy Corps office and compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
● Maintain regular contact with Operations Manager/Director and Finance Manager.
● Oversee management, supervision and training of all aspects of finance, administration, HR, and logistics in the Bambari and Bangassou office.
● Ensure that procurement is completed, documented, and delivered to end-user in a timely manner, ensuring that items procured meet the specifications of the end-user while adhering to donor and Mercy Corps procurement guidelines.
● Ensure all aspects of asset management, including maintenance of the asset register and investigation of any missing assets.
● Supervise the management and maintenance of vehicle fleet, office facilities, and equipment, including power supply.
● Oversee database and paper file management for program, finance, administration, HR, and logistics documents; ensure files are complete and in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
● Coordinate with Mercy Corps’ Bangui and HQ offices on travel and logistics support, as required.
Team Management
● Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
● Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
● Lead, and manage staff under direct line management, ensuring that they have clear objectives and receive meaningful feedback on their performances.
● Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
● Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
● Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.
● Up-date and maintain the security plan for the area of operation.
● Follow up any development/changes in regards to the security situation.
● Ensure adequate security coordination with other humanitarian actors in the areas.
● Liaise with the Operations Manager and Country Director on any degradation in security situation.
● Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
Direct supervision of the Operations teams in both Bambari and Bangassou.
Reports Directly To: Country Director
Works Directly with: Finance Manager, Operations Manager, HR Team Lead, M&E Manager and partner organizations.
● Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our Partners and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging participating communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
● Bachelor’s or master’s degree in relevant field management, operations, logistics, international development, finance).
● At least 5 years of relevant Operations management experience.
● Sound understanding of financial, procurement, administration, and logistics management systems.
● Experience managing security protocols and responding to incidents/crises in conflict areas.
● Experience coordinating multiple activities, developing synergies and creating opportunities for collaboration.
● Demonstrated experience in team building and team coordination for achieving program goals.
● Strong commitment to local capacity building and the ability to engage local stakeholders in project design and implementation.
● Experience working with host governments at the national and sub-national level, INGOs and national NGOs and familiarity with international humanitarian operations, coordination structures, and the mandates of UN agencies, and other NGOs.
● Excellent organizational and project management skills; detail-oriented; and possessing an ability to anticipate program and operational needs.
● Proven ability to work cooperatively with others in a team environment and to a diverse group of national and international staff.
● Understanding of participatory methodologies for project design, implementation, and evaluation.
● Knowledge of humanitarian regulation and compliance standards including AFD, EU, ECHO, BHA, and UNICEF core commitments.
● Demonstrated proficiency with the MS Office software (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required.
● Fluent French essential, working knowledge of English and/or Sango is an advantage.
● Knowledge and experience of the CAR context.
The successful candidate is an effective leader that can build and motivate a team of people from a variety of departments under pressure and with limited time. They are very well organized, communicate clearly and use strong interpersonal skills to navigate challenging organizational politics situations.
This position will be based in Bambari, Central African Republic and will require travel to Bangassou often and some travel to Bangui, as well as travel to the field sites. This position is unaccompanied for spouses and/or children and includes hardship allowance and R&R benefits.
The security situation in CAR can be very volatile with pockets of violent outburst in various areas of the country. Hospitals and access to quality health care are very limited. Malaria is prevalent. It is estimated that 7-8% of the population may be HIV positive. Suitable group housing is available, but electricity and clean water may have shortages at times. 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.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
This vacancy is archived.