Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.
Program / Department SummaryMercy Corps has been working in Mali since 2013 supporting Malian women and men - including young women and men - to cope with food insecurity and conflict-induced shocks and stresses, restore peace and stability, and address humanitarian and development structural challenges. Throughout our work, Mercy Corps seeks to support strong, inclusive, and resilient communities by i.) providing conflict-sensitive humanitarian assistance, ii.) addressing the root causes of conflict through improved and holistic conflict prevention and management mechanisms and iii.) promoting sustainable economic development through market systems strengthening and employment opportunities for women and young women and men. Mercy Corps’ work addresses issues related to natural resource management and climate change adaptation within Mali and across the borders with neighboring Central Sahel countries, Niger, and Burkina Faso. With a current portfolio of approximately 32 M USD funded by FCDO, USAID/BHA, Sweden, the European Union, and private foundations, over the past 18 months Mercy Corps reached over 100,000 persons in Mopti, Segou, Koulikouro, Kayes, Sikasso, Koutiala. With the launch of Mercy Corps’ Global Strategy, Pathway to Possibility, the country office is poised to operationalize an exciting three-year strategy with the vision to enhance the resilience of Malian communities to address the drivers of conflict, thrive in the face of climate change, and facilitate long term peace and prosperity. The resulting situation brings together a diversity of staff, technical expertise, and program learning, along with a critical opportunity to influence policy makers and donor priorities moving forward. This exciting time requires a resourceful and proven leader who has held senior roles in large, complex organizations. They will be an experienced and thoughtful leader.
General Position SummaryThe Mercy Corps Mali Country Director is an innovative and visionary leader responsible for resourcefully managing all programming in Mali, resulting in lasting improvement in the lives of Malians.The CD is responsible for developing the overall strategic direction for programming in cooperation with Mercy Corps’ senior management team and local and international partners. They will ensure we learn from experience, through research and contextual analysis to develop high impact strategies that address both the current crises as well as longer-term solutions. The CD is also responsible for implementing systems, policies and procedures for Mercy Corps’ operations in Mali. The CD is responsible for financial oversight and compliance, staff security, human resource management and representation. They are a skilled communicator, able to develop and utilize strong relationships with staff, partners, national government, and donors.
The CD will be able to lead on establishing powerful partnerships in a complex environment and accountable delivery to program participants and donors. The successful candidate will be an inspirational leader, committed to advancing the organization’s strategy and maintaining a healthy team culture that promotes collaboration and open communication.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision
Formulate, plan and communicate a clear vision of present and future program goals and strategies to team members and stakeholders that translates into concrete programs and work plans.Lead the annual country planning process and provide strategic updates. Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve program and agency objectives.Use technical support teams collaboratively.Explore, evaluate and present new country and project funding opportunities that leverage impact and integrate initiatives and activities, support and direct related fund-raising activities with both institutional and private donorsTeam Management
Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.Recruit, manage, motivate, and onboard an informed, skilled and efficient team with an emphasis on excellence and achievement; encourage a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, incorporating staff development strategies and performance management systems into the team building process.Establish leadership and personal credibility with the Mercy Corps team, and implement by example an organizational culture of accountability, responsibility and quality of services.Ensure excellent human resource plans are available and consistent with Mercy Corps policies, including position descriptions, personnel orientation and professional development plans, personnel evaluation system, field, personnel policy manual, and personnel grievance procedure system.Institute a disciplined culture of performance management and regular feedback between supervisors and their direct reports.
Program Impact, Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning
Oversee program quality and impact by ensuring programs are based on sound design principles and utilize Mercy Corps and donor required M&E systems.Gather evidence of program impact through robust agency standard procedures for data gathering, reporting, and evaluating program outputs and outcomesLead country team to strive for impact at country and regional level leading to sustained change based on solid systems and incorporation of learnings into programs.Fulfill Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and program participant accountability standards, including an effective Community Accountability Reporting Mechanism and safeguarding mechanisms across all programs.
Finance & Compliance Management
Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming. Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget. Build and maintain operational structures that ensure proper segregation of duties between finance, administration and logistics and fully support field programs. Influence & Representation
Represent Mercy Corps programs with national and international media and participate in community activities as appropriate. Maintain productive relationships with internal and external constituents such as private partners, local governments, foundations, the private sector, etc. Anticipate needs, understand donor pool and contribute to shaping donor’s views on development. Explore, evaluate and present innovative funding opportunities that support the objectives for the country as a whole. Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure. Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity. Exhibit awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs. Personal Leadership
Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.Demonstrate awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs.Exemplify and practice Mercy Corps’ core leadership behaviors: cultivate inclusion, collaborate, act with integrity and be curious. Cultivate an organizational culture of accountability and that champions the core behaviors.
Program Operations and Compliance
Coordinate overall country budget; manage budget within approved spending levels and establish an annual cash flow plan to ensure a steady and adequate supply of funds for program activities. Build and maintain operational structures that ensure proper segregation of duties between finance, administration and logistics and fully support field programs. Build and maintain an environment of collaboration among program, finance, operations and human resource team members resulting in optimal support for program activities. Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts. Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures. Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations, policies and procedures, and the implementation of appropriate risk mitigation measures to reduce Mercy Corps exposure to potential risk. Security
Liaise with the Security advisor for the Sahel and Deputy Regional Program Director on crucial events, high-risk periods, incident reporting and security policy changes. 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. AccountabilityReports Directly To: Deputy Regional Program DirectorWorks Directly With: Regional team, Global Programs team, Finance and Technical Support Unit, other Country Directors in the region. Accountability to Participants and StakeholdersMercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Knowledge and Experience
BA/S or equivalent in relevant field required; MA/S preferred. 7-10 years of field experience in international relief and development programs, including demonstrable success in managing (large, complex, transitional) development programs. 5 years of senior-level leadership, capacity building and field management experience. Capacity to respond to emergency and disaster response as appropriate. Knowledge and experience working in conflict environments, with insecurity and access challenges. Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGO, NGO partners and other stakeholders in complex environments. An internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work. Proven skills in financial and grants management; prior experience with (donor), (government) grant management. Successful and proven negotiation, communication, and organization skills. Strong demonstrated ability to collaborate and build effective teams. Excellent oral and written English skills required; proficiency in French is required. Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment. Success FactorsThe successful Mali CD will skillfully represent programmatic priorities of the agency to donors and regional partners while providing effective leadership to the Mercy Corps program team. S/he will have high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills, strong collaboration and proven experience with capacity building and will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.
Living Conditions / Environmental ConditionsThe CD is based in Bamako. The location is accompanied for spouse alone, although Bamako city is generally secure. Housing is individual accommodation with freedom of movement beyond the house/office. Staff have good access to services – medical, electricity, water, etc. This position requires 25% of time of travel by road & air to field offices in medium to high-risk environments. The position is eligible for R&R. While the city has been mostly secure, attacks against foreigners in 2016 in some public places and in July 2022 in the outskirts of Bamako underscore the fluidity of the situation and may require expatriate staff to adhere to security policies, such as restrictions on movement. Bamako is served by an international airport with daily flights to European and African destinations. Restaurants and shopping options are available all over the town, with reasonable access to most consumer goods. Health care services exist and are developing rapidly. However, for more serious conditions, medevac to Dakar, Senegal or Europe may be required.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/STA 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 always and in all in-country venues.
Ongoing LearningIn 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 and InclusionAchieving 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 OpportunityMercy 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.