Project Management Coordinator
Project Management Coordinator
About Mercy Corps
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.
Program/Department Summary
Mercy Corps works in places of transition, where conflict, disaster, political upheaval, or economic collapse present opportunities to build more secure, productive, and just communities. Providing emergency relief in times of crisis, we move quickly to help communities recover and build resilience to future shocks, and promote sustainable change by supporting community-led and market-driven initiatives. Recognizing both the great potential and the complex challenges faced by the Middle East, since 1989 Mercy Corps has been implementing a range of humanitarian assistance and development programs tailored to the specific needs of the region and of those communities where we work.
General Position Summary
The Project Management Coordinator supports the IQLAA program in building and administering the program’s grant. The Project Management Coordinator ensures high-quality and timely donor reporting. S/he knows and advises the team on donor rules and compliance. S/he works collaboratively with the Team Leaders, Performance and Quality (PaQ) Team, Finance and Compliance Teams, and Headquarters staff. The Project Management Coordinator works closely with program staff in building the team’s capacity and ensures compliance with PM@MC 2.0 minimum standards. It is critical that the Project Management Coordinator is an excellent English communicator, who is supportive and solution focused. The Project Management Coordinator needs to be highly motivated, self-driven and able to support a complex program with limited daily support and direction; s/he will be able to work remotely with internal and external stakeholders to achieve common objectives.
Essential Job Responsibilities
PROGRAM QUALITY
- Prepare weekly, quarterly and annual reports for the donor and other reports required by the Project with high quality standards and in alignment with donor regulations and PM@MC minimum standards.
- Along with the team leaders and project staff, supports the development of the Project’s annual work plan with high quality standards, following donor agreements and regulations and PM@MC minimum standards.
- Work with the program and the PaQ team to create, keep and maintain updated program files.
- Maintain an online grant management system, ensuring compliance with PM@MC 2.0 minimum standards.
- Develop and organize activities with team leaders and the Project Operations Manager to secure internal resources for the program and work with stakeholders to provide all adequate documentation and support.
- Work with the Project team to keep an updated compliance tracker, risk register and issues log.
- Play a leading role in ensuring that all grant information, including deadlines, donor priorities and requirements, are communicated and understood by the team, partners comply with donor regulations.
- Work with IQLAA partners to ensure high quality of programmatic reporting requirements is provided on time.
- Facilitate regular meetings with Program, MEL, Finance and Operations teams, the Chief of Party and Director of Programs to ensure that performance on the grant is tracked effectively, risks and issues are flagged and action taken as appropriate.
PROGRAM COMPLIANCE
- Working closely with Project staff, operations and finance, to ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations (including PM@MC 2.0 minimum standards).
- Ensure that the program is executed in alignment with the donor agreement and the applicable donor regulations, staying abreast of changes in regulatory environment related to donor/grant compliance; updating partnership process, tools, policies and procedures as necessary.
PROGRAM REPORTING AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Oversee reporting workflows and processes between Project partners, team leaders, senior leadership, and HQ to ensure the timely and quality development, review and submission of reports and other communication products.
- Maintain a reporting tracker and share regularly with Program, MEL and HQ Teams.
PROGRAM COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT
- Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to programming.
- Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
SECURITY
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
- Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
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 Responsibility: None.
Accountibility:
Reports Directly to: Proposal Development and Grants Manager
Works Directly with: Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, Team Leaders, Director of Programs, Finance and Compliance teams, PaQ Team, HQ Desk Officers
Success Factors
- A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate in English effectively with team members and other stakeholders of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. S/he will have strong writing skills in English, and can efficiently lead on writing donor deliverables. This position requires an ability to think creatively about changing norms that lead to greater opportunities for economic growth at household, community and institutional levels. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem solving, work within a complex and sensitive setting and to follow laws and security protocols. The most successful Mercy Corps team 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.
Knowledge and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree required. Masters or equivalent in a field related to Humanitarian or International Development or relevant fields is preferred.
- 5+ years of experience providing coordination or management support to program implementation in a relevant field of expertise that includes:
- Preparing writing and analysis on programmatic activities.
- Managing work plans.
- Experience working in the Middle East region on economic development programming preferred.
- Proven ability to work cooperatively with internal and external stakeholders, and to play a leadership role in convening groups. Astute skills in relationship building and coordination.
- Experience working with USAID and familiarity with USAID rules and regulations.
- Understanding and experience of adaptive management.
- Extensive experience with monitoring and evaluation and other learning efforts.
- Excellent writing and communications skills required.
- Willingness and ability to travel frequently to Mercy Corps project sites and field locations, including traveling to insecure environments, is required.