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.
The Program/Department Summary
Mercy Corps has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since August 2007, with a staff of around 400 people working in Eastern DRC, with the overall country goal being to support vulnerable communities through crises, while fostering programs that build resilience and promote long-term change. Mercy Corps’ national office is in Goma with sub-field offices in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri. Mercy Corps DRC’s key programming areas include a combination of longer-term development and immediate humanitarian response programs in order to: 1) Improve water service delivery and ensuring equitable access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services, in urban and rural areas; 2) Improve food security and nutrition; 3) Promote diversified livelihoods, economic recovery and development; 4) Support peacebuilding and local governance. Mercy Corps DRC’s humanitarian programs aim specifically to assist populations affected by the conflict and crisis in Eastern Congo.In October 2020, Mercy Corps started the five-year USAID’s Sustainable Water and Sanitation Systems Activity, with a budget of $32 million to be implemented in 4 locations across North and South Kivu. Building on the successes of Mercy Corps’ IMAGINE program, and those of other WASH actors in Eastern DRC, USAID’s Sustainable Water and Sanitation Systems Activity (SWASSA) brings together a consortium of 4 international partners to focus on water and sanitation. In partnership with USAID and in line with Development Objective 2 of USAID’s DRC Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), SWASSA aims to show that it is possible to achieve genuinely sustainable increases in access to clean water by implementing contextually relevant, performance-based contractual models for water service delivery in collaboration with state and local entities including ETDs and Provincial Administrations.
The Position
The Director – Program Controls will be a critical member of the USAID’s Sustainable Water and Sanitation Systems Activity’s leadership team.
S/he will work closely with the Chief of Party and all component leads to provide overall leadership, management and strategic vision to the implementation of a $32 million USAID funded WASH Market Systems Development Program in four locations in eastern DRC.
The Director – Program Controls is responsible for strong management of specific tools and coordination with component leads to ensure that the program is being delivered on time, on scope and on budget, effectively delivering on the program’s intended impact with the highest level of quality possible.
The Director – Program Controls will have overall responsibility for implementing and managing program-wide control tools. S/he will also oversee Program Performance and Quality, Operations and Administration, Grants & Reporting, Consortium partnership Management and Workforce Development. Specifically this will include:
The Director – Program Controls serves as a strong leader for USAID’s Sustainable Water and Sanitation Systems Development. S/he is detail oriented and has excellent planning and strategic thinking skills. S/he will be an effective communicator with exceptional team building and coordination skills.
This is a new role that aims to change and demonstratively reinforce the management of a large complex program. The Director – Program Controls must be creative and ambitious, continuously pushing to improve the quality of program implementation and maximize the impact of the program.
CONTROLS LEADERSHIP and MANAGEMENT
● Responsible for driving and ensuring that all components achieve their Program Controls PM@MC 2.0 responsibilities supporting the CoP in the component review function
● Develop and maintain a cohesive, program-wide controls approach, including the areas of schedule, financial, contracts, risk, policies, operational procedures, and program information/ documents which aligns with [email protected] minimum standards.
● Act as a ‘champion’ for Program Controls, ensuring program-wide compliance and information sharing. Provides strategic advice to the CoP & leadership.
● Focus on a capacity building plan to support all component leads and team members to strengthen their understanding of Program Controls.
● Develop Program Controls tools and guidelines. These will include standard operating processes, efficient use of from management, workflow process design, complex gannt program tools, risk tools etc.
● Leads cross component workstreams e.g. all team Biannual strategy meetings or all team trainings
● Responsible for a structured and consistent approach to Workforce Development across the entire team – the aim is to have a workforce plan that develops staff, their progression and improves program adaptation and learning
● Oversee the implementation of team coordination mechanisms such as shared calendars and meeting schedules, ensure effective communication between all bases (South Kivu and North Kivu).
STRATEGY AND VISION
● Work closely with the Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party to ensure programs are running in alignment with Mercy Corps’ principles, values and the program’s strategic plan, particularly in regards to maintaining a focus on gender equity and inclusion across the program.
● Troubleshoot problems that arise and contribute to adaptation of strategy to be reflective of current context.
● Maintain regular communication with country level and HQ focal point to identify opportunities for innovative collaboration with other internal departments and advise senior leadership on ways to drive forward quality programming and leverage cross program learning.
● Act as day-to-day representative of Mercy Corps as requested by the Chief of Party including attending key internal and high level donor external meetings.
● Advocate and advise on the importance of program controls within complex programs, both internally within the team and globally across Mercy Corps.
PROGRAM QUALITY
TEAM MANAGEMENT - Controls and PQ Team
● Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where accountability is promoted, alternative viewpoints welcomed, the t
This vacancy is archived.