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.
The Program / Department / Team
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 field offices in North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri and Kasai and a small support base in Kinshasa. 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 ensure 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.
Mercy Corps DRC's portfolio is one of the largest (implementing 50M USD annually in programming) and most complex across the agency. Mercy Corps DRC is recognized as a leader in humanitarian and development programming in Eastern Congo, with large-scale impact in communities. We champion and lead innovative solutions in a complex operating environment and are well positioned to influence stakeholders (donors, peer organizations, private sector and government) to implement solutions that will have a lasting impact and bring about real change at the community level.
The Position
Due to the size of the program portfolio in DRC, program leadership will be split across two Directors of Programs, with one leading on humanitarian/ resilience programs and new program development (Director of Humanitarian Programs, or DOP-H), and the other leading on development/ stabilization programs and program quality functions. The Director of Development Programs (DOP-D) is a proven leader that is directly responsible for overseeing the development/stabilization program portfolio as well as program quality functions in DRC and will backstop the humanitarian program portfolio. The role will ensure that adequate leadership is applied to the implementation of relevant, innovative and adaptive programs. S/he will work closely with the Country Director (CD) and the Director of Humanitarian Programs (DOP-H) to lead the country strategy delivery and new program development, and ensure effective program coordination and technical support, program quality and accountability in close collaboration with all support departments (operations, finance, ethics and safeguarding, admin and RH, Crisis Analysis Team and Program Performance and Quality). The position will be based in Goma with frequent travel to field offices. S/he will help represent Mercy Corps DRC at the highest level to donors, major stakeholders (including those from the private sector), relevant government authorities and is able to articulate and deliver strategic vision in the complex environment of Eastern Congo. The DOP-D is able to lead complex program implementation in a country program that operationally spans 10 field offices in four provinces, and works in complex, insecure and unpredictable environments. The role will develop, articulate and deliver a strategic programmatic and operational vision for the development programming portfolio in line with the rapid evolution of the context and the strategic decisions made by the organization’s executive leadership. This role may backstop the CD and DOP-H as needed.
Essential Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision
· Communicate a clear vision of present and future program goals and strategies to program teams and stakeholders, translating this vision into concrete work plans;
· Lead countrywide development/stabilization program strategy implementation and prioritize and organize actions and resources to achieve objectives set through those processes;
· With support from the Crisis Analysis Team (CAT), follow analysis of the DRC socio-political, economic, access, security context ensuring that this analysis is recognized and incorporated in planning for both short-term humanitarian and longer-term resilience programming;
· Working closely with the Program Performance and Quality (PaQ) and Technical Support Unit (TSU) teams across programs, ensure that learning, research findings and technical support is furthering program adaptation and quality, adding value to the program and maintaining strategic focus;
· Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
Program Development
· In coordination with the Country Director, Program and PAQ leads, Technical Advisors and other relevant personnel and counterparts, lead the identification of new initiatives and program opportunities that respond to identified needs and the country strategy as well as new potential donors or funding streams, with particular attention to innovation and HPD Nexus opportunities;
· Provide overall leadership to development/stabilization program teams working on the program development process;
· Support the Country Director to cultivate strategic partnerships or relationships with new/existing donors and private sector actors to further strategic development opportunities.
Program Leadership and Coordination
· Ensure effective cross-program and cross-department coordination, collaboration, communication and alignment of Mercy Corps’ programming and operations;
· Ensure regular coordination of program directors/managers with support department heads and focal points to ensure program adherence to grant agreements, MC program management (PM@MC) standards, and Mercy Corps policies and procedures;
· Working closely with the PaQ department, CAT, and DOP-H, facilitate sharing and learning across programs portfolios, teams, offices and support teams to incorporate learning in program design and management;
· Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and aligned with Mercy Corps principles, values and strategic roadmap and country strategy;
· Support Program Directors to oversee performance of partners, sub-grantees, and technical contractors;
· Ensure quality program implementation, on time, on scope and on budget;
· Support the implementation of the Gender Equality, Diversity and Social Inclusion strategy, promoting a culture of gender-sensitive, and where appropriate, gender-transformative programming.
Program Performance and Quality/Crisis Analytics
· Supervise the Program Performance and Quality (PAQ) team and Crisis Analysis Team (CAT), ensuring they are responsive to program needs;
· Support the PAQ Director in establishing, reviewing and adapting systems, policies, structures and approaches necessary to ensure tools and systems are in place for effective program performance and quality;
· Support the PAQ Director to put in place effective program quality tools and measures and to regularly monitor and improve quality control;
· Ensure that programs and PAQ team members are actively linked to those at HQ to ensure that global indicators and practices are considered and adhered to where necessary;
· Ensure all program leadership are enrolled and supporting their teams along the Program Management Learning Pathway;
· Support and ensure the realization of the PAQ department strategy and annual plans, focusing on Gender Equality, Diversity and Social Inclusion, Communications & Advocacy, Community Accountability Reporting Mechanisms (CARM) and MEL and T4D;
· Support and ensure the realization of the CAT strategy and t