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 around 200 people working in North and South Kivu, with the overall country goal 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 and South Kivu. Mercy Corps’ 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. Mercy Corps DRC’s humanitarian programs aim specifically to assist populations affected by the conflict and crisis in Eastern Congo. With funding from humanitarian donors including USAID, FCDO and UN-donors, the humanitarian portfolio continues to expand in order to provide multi-purpose cash assistance and emergency WASH to displaced and host populations. Mercy Corps plans to scale up and expand its humanitarian response to reach more beneficiaries with additional and varied assistance in a wider geographic area. All Mercy Corps interventions in DRC are implemented in a conflict and gender sensitive manner.

General Position Summary

The Food Security and Livelihood Program Manager supervises a team of 25 staff, and guides and supports the implementation of cash transfer, livelihood recovery, and food security activities in the Emergency Department, particularly with regard to the BHA (PACE) program. In particular, the PACE program focuses on providing food assistance through vouchers or cash to conflict-affected communities in eastern DRC, as well as agricultural training to promote resilience in target areas. In addition to PACE, the Manager will provide technical expertise in the conduct of Cash interventions of other programs of the Department of Emergencies (SAFER).

The Food Security and Livelihood Program Manager will establish SOPs, support specific training of team members and ensure that quality standards are met in the implementation of activities, based on donor regulations and Mercy Corps' high quality programming standards.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy and vision

Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative perspectives are feeding into strengthening the humanitarian portfolio.

Contribute to the development of the food Security and Livelihood components of the Emergency program and in accordance with the new department strategy.

Provide input to proposals based on known country needs, constraints, and contexts in the area of emergency livelihoods recovery.

Track key indicators in food security and agriculture in the East of DRC and consider relevance for advancing Mercy Corps’ programs and strategy

program Management

Provide hands-on field support for the implementation of food security and livelihoods activities.

Advise country program teams in the design, development and implementation of related components.

Team management, evaluation and career plan with each person supervised.

Coordination with other emergency departments on the same management line.

Ensure the program meets the donor requirement.

Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.

Produce written reports on food security and livelihoods activities, capturing the impacts of activities.

Work closely with local authorities and communities to ensure integrated planning and implementation that is complementary and collaborative.

team Management

Create and maintain a work environment based on mutual respect, where accountability is encouraged, alternative viewpoints are welcomed, the team strives for excellence, and is conducive to professional growth. Encourage a strong team spirit.

Promote and instill a focus on capacity building, deepen understanding and ownership of individual roles, and strengthen performance management systems through the implementation of a comprehensive staff training plan.

Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback through regular individual interviews and performance reviews.

Structure, recruit, and induct team members, working to ensure that team structure and staffing reflect the project's vision for gender equality and ensuring that staff are prepared to succeed and familiar with agency systems, procedures, and protocols.

Provide ongoing supervision, leadership, support, guidance and mentoring directly to program staff.

Support the development of national staff in line with program goals, so that national staff increasingly make decisions and take on management roles.

Finance, Operation and Compliance Management

Collaborate with program, finance and administrative staff.

Ensure that program resources are used efficiently, effectively, and transparently towards meeting desired results.

Management and bi-weekly monitoring of the budget and control of coherence of spending.

Monitor adherence to grant and sub grants agreements, Mercy Corps’ policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations, including those of the government of DRC.

Influence & Representation

Participate actively in coordination meetings with relevant clusters and working groups in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri.

Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.

Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.

S/he will be responsible for coordinating activities with the local government, potential local partners, key stakeholders, and other international NGOs.

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.

Provide in-country and remote training and support for Mercy Corps team members, partners, and others.

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.

Accountability

Supervises Directly: Food Security and Agriculture Team leader

Reports Directly to: Emergency Director of Program

Works Directly with: Emergency Deputy Director of Program, Emergency MEL Manager, Emergency Finance Manager, Emergency Grants Team, Emergency Response Manager, Wash Field Manager and Protection department.

Knowledge and Experience

MA/S in food security and Agriculture related sectors.

At least 5 years of continuous experience with technical design and implementation of food security, livelihoods, cash transfer and market systems development programming, 2 years must be in an Emergency/Rapid Response with international NGOs.

Demonstrated experience contributing to food security, livelihoods, cash transfer and market systems development proposals with major donors including USG (USAID-BHA, FCDO, EU, ECHO or UN OCHA).

Proven experience in managing medium-sized programs ($5-10 million) in a fragile environment.

knowledge in the field of malnutrition management would be highly appreciated.

Knowledge of permagarden techniques is an asset.

Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.

Excellent oral and written English and French skills required.

Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.

Previous experience in insecure environments.

This vacancy is archived.

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