Program Manager – Social Cohesion

Position Title:  PROGRAM MANAGER – SOCIAL COHESION
Number of Vacancy: 1
Duty Station: Taiz City, with travel to Mukalla, Yemen
Position Category:  Full-time 1    AND   Regular 1    
Duration of Assignment: Contract duration and start date will depend on the Sub-agreement approval
Deadline:  07-Oct-2024

Program / Department Summary:

Mercy Corps seeks to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression around the world and has worked in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. In response to acute and increasing humanitarian needs in Yemen, Mercy Corps opened its office in 2010. Primary program interventions include water, sanitation and hygiene, cash transfers, food security, health and nutrition, and livelihood support. Strategies to enhance the resilience of communities to the harsh environmental and social conditions in the country cut across the portfolio.

General Position Summary:

The Program Manager is responsible for coordinating and implementing the delivery of Social Cohesion programming including daily management of program activities and program staff and ensuring appropriate systems and support mechanisms are in place to track, analyze and report on results. Social cohesion programming will include aspects of peacebuilding and good governance. The anticipated program under this portfolio includes DRL and GIZ funding, with the opportunity for expansion in the future. Social cohesion programming will focus on partnerships with national NGOs and community-based organizations with a core focus on ensuring an equity-first partnership and supportive capacity building initiatives. The PM will ensure compliance of the portfolio of programs under their management in line with Mercy Corps PM@MC, global and Mercy Corps technical requirements, and donor standards.  The PM is a strong team leader, able to develop and mentor team members and is an effective communicator, able to work with internal and external stakeholders to achieve common objectives.  The PM is responsible for managing relationships with local partners, beneficiaries and representatives, contributing to achievement of country goals through innovation and program development and displaying expertise in social cohesion and peacebuilding sectors as well as regional experience to the team on the ground. They will coordinate with the MEL and CARM team to ensure all PAQ activities are conducted as per MC standards.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Oversee program startup and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners, and consistent with Mercy Corps’ minimum standards and other relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Effectively coordinate with Mercy Corps support departments to quickly identify solutions and fast track implementation whenever required.
• Work closely with the MEL team in the design and implementation monitoring and evaluation plan and development and use of adapted tools and processes.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective MEL 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 donors and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria, and that feedback mechanisms are in place.
• Facilitate capacity building of staff on program management and social cohesion best practices (for relevant staff).
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Code of Conduct; Gender, Diversity and Inclusion guiding documents; Core Humanitarian Principles and Do No Harm.
• Lead the development of SOPs and framework documents as required for program implementation.
• Lead in designing and refining the intervention approaches most appropriate to the Yemen context.

TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

• As the Social cohesion, peacebuilding and good governance technical lead at the organization, ensure assessment, design and implementation of relevant programming meets global standards.
• Support Social cohesion, peacebuilding and good governance-related fundraising initiatives as required.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Set up adequate team structure, lead the recruitment process for the required team members.
• Day to day management of Social Cohesion program teams. 
• Ensure team members improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on one and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence and cultivate resilience and well-being under challenging situations.
• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work. 
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members. 
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g. Integrity Hotline and other options. 
• If relevant, briefing or training any external personnel such as when working with service contractors or subaward partners. 

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.
• Work with the Senior Finance Coordinator to ensure spend-down plans and cash projections are developed and monitored.
• Lead program input on any budget revisions or programmatic input for financial reports.

PROGRAM MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING

• Work with the MEL team to ensure the finalization of the project-specific MEL plan and any relevant procedures with clear designation of roles and responsibilities between the Project and MEL teams.
• Ensure that robust monitoring and evaluation, quality data collection and analysis systems are in place, adhered to and used as a decision-making tool, in coordination with MEL team. 
• Ensure appropriate attention to program learning and integration of lessons learned.

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT AND REPRESENTATION

• Ensure strong collaboration with national partners including holding regular coordination meetings, ensuring technical oversight and provide support as needed to partners’ project implementation.
• Ensure compliance to Mercy Corps and donors’ guidelines and regulations for both Mercy Corps team and national partners.
• Lead the development and implementation of the capacity development plan of partners.
• Represent Mercy Corps in relevant cluster and working groups at the national and sub-national level and with authorities as needed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• Social cohesion program teams

ACCOUNTABILITY 

Reports Directly To: Director of Programs
Works Directly With: Country Director, SMT, Program Managers, PAQ Coordinator, MEL Manager, and Regional and HQ Technical Support Unit. 

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in international development, peace and conflict or related fields.
• At least 5 years continuous experience with design and implementation of Social Cohesion programs in complex conflict and post-conflict contexts; At least 2 years of management experience.
• Experience developing strong partnerships with national NGOs and demonstrated experience successfully building the capacity of national NGOs in an equity-first partnership.
• Experience managing teams in complex environments.
• Strong strategic thinker with demonstrated capacity to translate concepts into action, with proven ability to be accountable for all components of the project.
• Demonstrated experience capacity strengthening of teams. 
• Demonstrated experience with a variety of donor partners, including DRL, other USG, GIZ, and other donors. 
• Strong influencing and representation skills.
• Demonstrated competence in finding solutions to complex problems and delivering results.
• Excellent written and oral English language skills.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should: 

• Use the below link to apply for the position following the right application process. 
• Send their application in English language, filling all required information and attach a copy of their CV.
• We highly encourage female candidates to apply. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Link: https://recruiting2.ultipro.com/MER1024MERCY/JobBoard/720e8f11-04f2-4c64-9966-8b027314e706/Opportunity/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=d16db3b2-cf44-4a21-a856-e2b4bab479a5