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 working in Mali since 2012, supporting vulnerable communities and at-risk Malian women, men and youth to cope with food insecurity and conflict-induced shocks and stresses, contribute to peace and stability, and address humanitarian, development and stabilization structural challenges. With a growing portfolio, Mercy Corps Mali is increasingly striving to integrate its humanitarian, development, and conflict prevention programming to create a sustainable and impactful improvement in the stability and development of some of Mali’s worst conflict-affected areas.
Position SummaryMercy Corps is seeking a Chief of Party to manage and lead the anticipated five-year USAID/Mali Local Governance program. This program is focused on strengthening the government service delivery institutions, which are efficient, inclusive and citizen responsive. The CoP will provide overall leadership, management, and strategic vision for the implementation of the anticipated program, ensuring the program meets its targets and deliverables on time and within budget. They will supervise all program staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps policies as well as all donor rules and regulations. The CoP will be the primary representative for the program with stakeholders including USAID, government entities, and all other partners.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision
- Provide overall technical and administrative leadership and expertise.
- Responsible for administering and managing the implementation of the program and has the overall responsibility for assuring that all assistance provided is technically sound and appropriate to meet activity objectives.
- Lead the development of a vision and strategy for the program by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve objectives.
- Play an active role in identifying and developing new initiatives that foster and/or improve strategic objectives of the program and the country office.
- Recognize opportunities for innovative action, create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed, and foster a safe, diverse, and inclusive workplace.
- Serves as the technical focal point for the program with Mercy Corps’ Technical Support Unit (TSU), Research, and PaQ teams – as well as technical advisors from consortium partners.
- Identifies internal and external trends that will inform and address implementation challenges and any need to pivot programming.
- Works with the MEL manager to lead quarterly/annual reflections, work plan and implementation reviews, reporting, development/adaptation of integrated strategic work-plans for the program.
Program Management
- Lead the development of detailed implementation plans, flowing from strategic annual work plans, and ensure delivery of the interventions.
- Oversee program start-up, management and administration. Manages the consolidated consortium workplan and is responsible for execution and tracking of work plans, ensuring the program is on time, on scope, and on budget, and that program plans are well coordinated with operational support functions (procurement, people and culture, etc.) using effective M&E systems to reach desired impact.
- Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
- Ensure project participants are effectively targeted according to transparent criteria.
- Develop equitable partnership frameworks, partner agreements/Memorandum of Understandings, and oversee capacity building for partners.
- Integrate community approaches, social inclusion, localisation, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate. Certify all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
- Ensure program strategies and activities represent global good practice in a diversity of technical fields.
- Develop effective stakeholder management plans, ensuring sound and proactive communications with Mercy Corps Mali, partner organizations, Mercy Corps Headquarters, USAID, Government of Mali, and other relevant stakeholders.
- Supervise procurement, logistics, security, administration, and human resources teams within the program to ensure operational systems support field activities.
- Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
Team Management
- Manage the program's consortium, providing framework and guidance for partners to fulfill their roles, contribute to program vision and direction and manage challenges or issues should they arise.
- 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.
- 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.
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION- Provides oversight and coordination of all learning, M&E, and research efforts to facilitate information flow and the utilization of evidence in programmatic decisions and adaptive management.
- Work closely with the MEL Manager, and consortium partners, to ensure that effective M&E systems and processes are embedded within the programme implementation unit and that data is collected, analyzed, and used to inform ongoing adaptation of programme strategies and delivery approaches.
- Provides oversight and coordination of all learning, M&E, and research efforts to facilitate information flow and the utilization of evidence in programmatic decisions and adaptive management.
Finance & Compliance Management
- Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps’ regulations.
- Create and maintain systems to ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with program, donor and Mercy Corps’ needs.
- Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Safeguarding and Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
Influence & Representation
- Lead the socialization of the program with Government stakeholders, USAID, National Advisory Committee and others, ensuring necessary approvals and collaboration as required.
- Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events, in close coordination with the Country Director.
- Coordinate activities with consortium partners, subgrantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs
- Actively contribute and collaborate with regional and global counterparts to promote best practices within the program.
Security
- Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
- Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.
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.
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.
Supervisory ResponsibilityThe entire program team will ultimately be led by the COP. The number of direct and indirect reports will be determined at a later stage.
Accountability Reports Directly To: Mercy Corps Mali Director of ProgramsWorks Directly With: Senior Advisors, Country Director, Finance and Operations Teams, HQ Technical Support, Program Managers
Knowledge and Experience
- MA/S or equivalent in social science, management, international development, or other relevant field preferred
- A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, including 7 years in a senior management position; prior experience as a COP highly beneficial.
- Minimum of 7 years relevant experience, including proven expertise in one or more of the following program areas: civic engagement, good governance,youth development, civil society strengthening, and/or peacebuilding.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in a senior management position, preferably for medium ($15+ million) and complex USAID-funded activities; previous experience in similar roles (Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, or Program Director) preferred.
- Experience leading large, complex programs required, with complex consortium arrangements.
- Strong skills and a track record in strategic visioning, leadership, and inspiring teams
- Effective personnel management, coordination, and decision-making skills, with proven ability to be accountable for all components of the program.
- Competent in building networks, strong problem-solving skills, and ability to influence with effective listening, persuasion, negotiation and other techniques.
- Strong understanding of USAID compliance issues.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and French are required.
- Persuasive written and oral communication in English, including report writing.
- Experience working in the Sahel region is highly preferable.
- Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
Success Factors The successful CoP will combine exceptional management skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships. S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural teams and capacity building, individual staff development, and strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions The Chief of Party is based in Bamako, Mali and is an unaccompanied position. This position is eligible for individual housing and R&R. This position requires approximately 30% travel by road and flight to field offices and areas that may lack basic services found in Bamako.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 professionally and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.