About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organisation 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 started operations in Liberia in 2002 in response to the humanitarian crisis brought on by the two Liberian civil wars which took place from 1989-1997and 1999-2003. Since then, Mercy Corps’ interventions have evolved based on the context and needs of Liberian people. Based on the changing needs, Mercy Corps Liberia has implemented programs in renewable energy, food security, agricultural livelihoods, financial inclusion, nutrition, water and sanitation, infrastructure, and in youth economic empowerment.
General Position Summary
Reporting to the Director of Programs (DOP) the Team Leader will oversee all aspects related to ongoing Liberia Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship (LEEP) programs including planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling program activities. Additionally, the Team Leader will ensure accountability of youth employment programs towards the development needs in Liberia and the donors supporting the response. The Team Leader is expected to contribute to quality assurance of program implementation across all LEEP. The post-holder will work closely with the Liberia SMT and the field team (currently three field offices) for the strategic development and management of Mercy Corps’ programs. The Team Leader will directly lead the implementation of the AFD-funded Liberia Employment and Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP) (2019-2023) Program is ending in September 2022. This role will also actively participate in future funding opportunities for youth programming.
Program Management
Provide effective leadership in the management of Mercy Corps’ portfolio of Youth employment and entrepreneurship projects in Liberia (LEEP )
Facilitate team members to conduct detailed market research, intelligence, assessments and feasibility studies; liaise with and labor market actors to find strategic leverage points for co-investment; design systemic interventions in response to root causes of market ineffectiveness and exclusion of young people. Follow intervention and investment plans, and implement interventions effectively.
Prepare monthly, and quarterly project reports in collaboration with the program teams
Oversee data collection and data management for PROSPECTS and LEEP
Manage a proportion of projects directly, oversee the delivery of effective development results, planning and monitoring, financial management, and donor reporting of all projects in the youth Sector
Develop work plans and budget forecasting for projects
Support all donor reporting and communications and track major grant milestones deliverables, cost share requirements, project burn rates and major procurements
Ensure monitoring of project activities is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts in order to assess effectiveness and impact and propose recommendations for improvements.
Team Management
Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance discussions.
Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary.
Train and mentor staff in market systems approaches to ensure successful program implementation.
Work closely and oversee partners, including private sector actors, government agencies, universities, and research entities.
Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
Partnerships and Engagements
Lead on targeting core and secondary partnerships in Liberia and take the lead in building and managing key relationships among partners, donors, ecosystem players and other support agencies in a collaborative manner, building and leveraging overall youth sector activities and Mercy Corps programming.
Work with program partners to structure technical engagements, including tech ecosystem development, creation of business incubators, business startup support services, which build and expand LEEP’s influence and reach in Liberia
Lead the process of BDS training product development including technology requirements, pricing, and a value proposition for program partners, drawing on technical support from Mercy Corps’ TSU and consultants, as needed.
Budget Management
Support in the development of financial management tools and the monitoring of budgets
Cross-check detailed transactions and review budget versus actual (BVA) spending reports to determine status of program burn rates
Liaise with program team to ensure both parties are aware of spending rates
Work with the Country Finance Manager to ensure spend-down plans and cash projections are developed and monitored
Support the development of procurement plans and operational analyses
Program Monitoring and Evaluation
Ensure that robust monitoring and evaluation, quality data collection and analysis systems are in place, adhered to and used as a decision-making tool, encouraging consistency across programs.
Ensure the application of a practical field based M&E system/plan for each project/program in coordination with the Country MEL Manager
Conduct frequent field visits to project sites to assess activities and ensure efficient use of resources
Adapt projects according to monitoring and evaluation findings
Advise on and assist with project reviews conducted by the M&E Unit.
Together with the M&E team, ensure capitalization of best practices and lessons learnt for projects in the area of operations
Ensure authentic data is provided by field teams for project progress updates
Program Reporting
Work closely with the relevant HQ desk support, Program teams to ensure that donor reports effectively demonstrate the impact of Mercy Corps’ program interventions.
Put in place tools for the easy tracking of upcoming donor reports for LEEP
Lead the writing of all donor reports , program audits and ensure that they meet high-quality standards.
Other
Conduct him/herself professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardise its mission.
Other duties as assigned.
Organisational Learning
As part of our commitment to organisational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organisations 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 towards 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: Program team
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Director of Programs
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Department Heads, Program teams, finance and operational staff; HQ Regional Program Team; Technical Support Unit; Desk/ HQ, Donor focal point, MEL, CARM, Ethics teams
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
MA/MS equivalent in Economics, Management, Business Administration or other relevant field (required)
3-5 years of experience including at least 2-3 years in a senior management position.
3 years experience managing entrepreneurship projects, incubators and accelerators, or SME development required
Experience leading and managing teams of at least 5 people over the past three years.
Private sector experience in a business development environment or management consulting will be an added advantage.
Strong understanding of the information technology ecosystem will be an added advantage
Knowledge of major donor requirements and compliance issues. (AFD required )
Strong management skills with a good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.
Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
Skilled in partnering with the private sector and civil society organisations, public/government entities, local NGOs, etc.
Fluency in written and oral English is required.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
The Team Leader is expected to be a high performer in project cycle management, monitoring and evaluation, quality assurance; and program development. A strong understanding of Market systems development and Youth livelihoods programming will ensure success in this role. Because the Team Leader will be involved in resource mobilisation for future youth programs (including the development of detailed activity plans and work plans), conducting assessments and evaluations, reporting, and proposal writing, the ideal candidate would need to have excellent writing skills in order to succeed.
LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
The position will be based in Monrovia and will require travel to other Mercy Corps offices in Margibi, and Buchanan. The security situation is stable; general unrest is not anticipated. Monrovia and towns in outlying areas are generally safe, though come with the same safety considerations as any other city. Life in Monrovia is basic but comfortable, with good accommodation, and a busy expatriate scene.
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.
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This vacancy is archived.