Back Program Implementation Director - Nouakchott, Mauritania

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The Program

Mercy Corps has been active in the Sahel since 2005, with ongoing programs in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Mauritania. In these countries, Mercy Corps works primarily in the areas of resilience, food security, livelihoods, governance, conflict mitigation, and humanitarian response. Through these programs, Mercy Corps aims to stimulate economic opportunities, catalyze inclusive and accountable governance systems, boost local economies, and break the cycle of food and water insecurity while addressing the immediate, medium, and long-term needs of populations. Mercy Corps' work promotes resilience to shocks and stresses and enables individuals, households and communities to achieve inclusive, equitable and sustainable development. Mercy Corps' vision for change encourages the private sector, government, and civil society to work together to create meaningful and lasting change.

In Mauritania, Mercy Corps is based in Nouakchott and is operating the USAID-funded NAFOORE Program, implemented in consortium with Counterpart International and ECODEV. In line with Mercy Corps global strategy and the national strategy in Mauritania, the Nafoore program aims to build the resilience of vulnerable young people to violent extremism, by increasing economic opportunities, empowering youth through civic engagement and participation and developing sustainable support networks for and by youth. The overall objective of the program is to increase the resilience of vulnerable Mauritanian youth in Nouakchott, Trarza and the southwestern regions of Hodh el Gharbi and Hodh el Chargui. Nafoore is designed to be iterative and adaptive to contextual realities all along its implementation.

To achieve this, the NAFOORE Program plans to implement three objectives:

1. Increasing the income of vulnerable youth.
2. Strengthen youth agency in their lives and communities.
3. Expand safe and supportive youth social networks.

   Mercy Corps works in partnership with the government, the communities of Mauritania, and in collaboration with other non-governmental organizations present in the country and youth participants to contribute to sustainable socio-economic development in Mauritania.

   The Position

   The Program Implementation Director is a critical role on the Mercy Corps Mauritania (MC-MR) Programs team providing support and leadership for program implementation and contributing to strategy and thought leadership with the Chief of Party (COP) and Senior Management Team (SMT). By demonstrating visible leadership and adhering to Mercy Corps core values, principles, and strategy, he/she is responsible for leading and guiding the strategic implementation of Nafoore program activities in intervention areas and ensuring effective program operations. S/he will work in close partnership with the COP, the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) and other critical components and Implementing partners (CPI and Ecodev) to drive the program’s implementation approach to ensure strong technical models are translated into high quality operational plans and interventions.

   The Program Implementation Director is responsible for strong management of specific tools and coordination with component leads to ensure that the program is being delivered on time, on scope and on budget, effectively delivering on the program’s intended impact with the highest level of quality possible. S/he will nurture and build partnerships within the consortium and with other local actors that advance program objectives and sustainability.

   The Program Implementation Director will have overall responsibility for implementing and managing program-wide control tools. S/he will also oversee Program implementation, and management, Grants & Reporting, Consortium partnership Management.

   She will hold team members accountable against implementation work plans and results to foster a culture of reflection, learning and adaptive management.

   The Program Implementation Director will work closely with different departments and support functions to ensure program systems across the broad spectrum of USAID Nafoore’s technical areas, including conflict, governance, gender, positive youth development, resilience, market systems development, financial inclusion, and institutional capacity building.

   Essential Responsibilities

   STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & IMPLEMENTATION

   • In partnership with the COP and DCOP, lead the strategic implementation of the Nafoore Program providing guidance, and leadership to the Program team and partners following the results framework and agreed “Nafoore program model”.
   • Build a common understanding of the Nafoore Program approach across all component leads, partners, and team members.
   • Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed; promote and model a culture of learning and adaptive management.
   • Coordinate with technical teams to operationalize strategic linkages and coordinate across technical, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and learning teams at implementation level, to further technical excellence, learning and impact, and ensure coherence of program components.

     PROGRAM MANAGEMENT & IMPLEMENTATION

     • Responsible for driving and ensuring that all components achieve their [email protected] 2.0 responsibilities supporting the CoP in the component review function.
     • Develop and maintain a cohesive, program-wide collaborative approach, including the areas of Gantt schedule, financial, contracts, risk, policies, operational procedures, and program information/ documents which aligns with [email protected] minimum standards.
     • Develop project management tools and guidelines. These will include standard operating processes, workflow process design, complex Gantt program tools, risk tools etc.
     • Manage the consolidated consortium workplan, and execution and tracking of workplans, 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.). Ensure that the program workplan is consistently adaptive to learning and contextual changes.
     • Develop and implement systems, structures and processes for effective, high-quality implementation of the Nafoore program across all program objectives and technical components.
     • Support technical teams and partners to design and operationalize appropriate systems, policies and procedures to manage work planning, staff and activity time division and site allocations and maintain consistency in quality across all target locations.
     • Ensure on-time internal and external implementation reporting quality, organization and performance with program teams and partners.
     • Work with Mercy Corps’ support departments (Finance, Operations, HR etc.) for operational support of the program.
     • Oversee performance of consortium partners and sub-grantees, including overall management of partners’ MoUs and contracts.
     • Oversee the program implementation team (program, grants and reporting), Ensure that all staff and consortium members are following work plans, activities are on schedule, and project deliverables are completed as planned.
     • Foster capacity development of team members as relevant to program objectives and team members’ career goals.
     • Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
     • In collaboration with the COP hire and facilitate effective onboarding for program team members as necessary.

       FINANCE & COMPLIANCE

       • Ensure compliance and transparent use of resources in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies; manage implementation budgets in compliance with donor regulations while applying financial flexibility to meet program needs.
       • Monitor program activities to ensure adherence to grant agreements (by Grants Officer), Mercy Corps’ policies and procedures and other relevant regulations, including those of the Government of Mauritania in collaboration with Finance and Compliance Manager.
       • Serve as the primary link between program implementation and Finance departments, working with the Program Team on proper budget management, including forecasting and procurement planning and track status.
       • Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

         SECRUITY

         • 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.

           Supervisory Responsibility

           The Program Implementing Director will be responsible for the program. reporting and grants management team.

           Accountability

           Reports Directly To: Chief of Party

           Works Directly With: Deputy Chief of Party, Crisis and Modifier Lead, MEL and CARM Manager, Technical Team, Mission level Finance, Operations and HR.

           Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

           Mercy 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.

           📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

           ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

           Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills

           • A Master's degree or equivalent in a field related to humanitarian, international development or other relevant areas is preferred.
           • More than 7 years of experience in international development, coordination or management of program implementation.
           • Experience working in the Sahel region is preferred.
           • Experience in implementing and managing program tools including workplanning, risk management, governance and resource management.
           • Desired practitioner level capability in time-based planning tools – such as MS project or similar or an in depth understanding in how to approach their use.
           • Demonstrable ability to produce high quality deliverables at speed and with minimal direction.
           • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, and the capacity to work at a strategic level with senior leaders (both internal and external) is essential.
           • Ability to multi-task and juggle several tasks and relationships at one time, with little to no direction.
           • Proven ability to work effectively in multi-cultural teams and with technical and administrative staff and consultants.
           • Prior experience of working on USAID-funded programs preferred and knowledge of USAID regulations, grant management, coordination and donor reporting.
           • Prior experience in awarding and managing sub-grants to local organizations.
           • Demonstrated technical understanding of youth programming, conflict, governance, civic engagement and/or economic opportunities, and the practical relevance to the program’s goal is a plus.
           • Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
           • Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, and to liaise with donors and HQ.
           • Fluency in written and spoken English and working level French.
           • Experience working with Mercy Corps is a definite plus.

             Success Factors

             The individual will be a skilled communicator, both written and verbal. They will have a positive, self-directed work style that allows them to identify gaps and define actions to address them, both independently and as part of a team. They will have experience coordinating with multiple stakeholders with diverse perspectives and resolving disagreements. They must have the ability to translate complex project and program management concepts into digestible presentations, tools and guidance.

             Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

             The position is based in Nouakchott, Mauritania and is an accompanied post, and requires up to 20% travel to support the country program, which may include travel to insecure locations with limited freedom of movement and areas with limited amenities.

             Ongoing Learning

             In 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 & Inclusion

             Achieving 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 Opportunity

             Mercy 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.

             Safeguarding & Ethics

             Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

             As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.

             Our screening process is designed to be transparent and completed in partnership with new Team Members. You will have the opportunity to disclose any prior convictions at the conclusion of the recruitment process before the check is initiated. We ask that you do not disclose any prior convictions in your application materials or during the recruitment process.