Food Security, Livelihoods & Cash Program Manager NWS

Food Security, Livelihoods & Cash Program Manager NWS

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, with an established emergency response program in Syria, manages its Northwest Syria (NWS) programming remotely from Amman, Jordan. Mercy Corps implements its Food Security & Livelihoods (FSL) & Cash programming in Northwest Syria (NWS) through direct implementation and partnerships with local, Syria-based organizations. Emergency programming is central to the response and is comprised of outreach, referrals and the delivery of FSL & Cash support and basic needs, including food, resiliency programs or other livelihood interventions.

General Position Summary

At the moment, Mercy Corps’ FSL and Cash activities in NWS are solely implemented through partners. In the future, Mercy Corps might expand its FSL and Cash activities to direct programming, but this is not guaranteed.

The FSL & Cash Program Manager leads all FSL & Cash programming providing leadership, technical oversight, and management under the supervision of Director of Programs for NWS Syria. The FSL & Cash Program Manager will be responsible for the design and technical oversight of FSL & Cash programming activities, and of the supervision of Amman-based staff; ensuring appropriate systems and support mechanisms are in place to track, analyzing results and reporting on them. The FSL & Cash Program Manager will also collaborate in the building and implementing the FSL & Cash strategy, and the development of proposals for the region. The FSL & Cash Program Manager is a strong team leader and communicator, able to technically lead, develop and mentor team members, as well as maintaining a strategic portfolio of direct and partner-led projects.

A background in FSL/Cash programming is essential, and remote management is an advantage.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Technical Oversight:

• Contribute to the FSL & Cash strategy development to ensure that NWS FSL & Cash response planning positions Mercy Corps to continue responding across Idlib and Aleppo according to the needs on the ground.
• Ensure that relevant systems, tools and procedures are developed for effective assessment, program implementation, and documentation, tracking and reporting of FSL & Cash activities.
• Build a strategic portfolio of partnership programing for FSL & Cash activities across NWS.
• Ensure collaboration and coordination with the GEDSI+ mainstreaming teams for effective gender, protection and safeguarding mainstreaming of project activities.
• Support the roll out of FSL & Cash programming best practices based on the operational context of Northwest Syria.
• Ensure clarity, consistency, and quality of the technical components of internal and external reports.
• Provide ad hoc technical Cash and/or support to the Social Cohesion/Peace & Conflict team on their respective programs, when requested.
• Support needs and markets assessments in relation to CVA and market-based approaches across all sectors as required.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

• Contribute to the design and development of new proposals.
• Develop overall project implementation strategy, and approaches, in-line with Mercy Corps Syria strategy and P2P.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Ensure that programing is informed by updated and relevant field-level assessments and information.
• Provide ongoing leadership to the project team and oversee the implementation and coordination of activity plans to ensure targets are met.
• Complete periodic planning processes for coordinated multi-sector programing across NWS, including with Procurement and Finance teams.
• Help ensure the application of appropriate and consistent eligibility criteria and appropriate tailored assistance through direct implementation and partnership activities.
• Ensure that relevant SPHERE/Cluster/sector standards are followed.
• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to grant management.
• 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.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and ad hoc project progress reports for submission to the donor and other key audiences, aligned with reporting templates provided by grants.
• Supervise the FSL & Cash team, providing ongoing leadership to the program team and oversee the implementation and coordination of activity plans to ensure targets are met.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with INGOs, and other key stakeholders to ensure active coordination, collaboration, and information dissemination.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

• Identify gaps in current protection capacity within Mercy Corps and partner teams.
• Support capacity building initiatives across the region for Mercy Corps staff on FSL & Cash programming.
• In collaboration with the GEDSI+ Coordinator, support the capacity building of Mercy Corps staff and partners protection, gender and safeguarding mainstreaming.

Team Management

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Supervise, hire, and orient new team members as necessary.
• Hold the team accountable to weekly and monthly work plans.
• Coach and train the staff with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity and exchanging knowledge within the team to capitalize their experiences in the field at agency level.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being establishing good practices like self-care and debriefing activities.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

REPRESENTATION

• Represent Mercy Corps and the program to donors, clusters, consortium working groups and other stakeholders as required.
• Attend FSL & Cash coordination meetings and/or represent Mercy Corps in other relevant forums.
• Ensure that information from coordination meetings is shared internally and with other sectors, as appropriate.
• Serve as the focal point for FSL & Cash policies across NWS.​

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

FSL Officers

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director of Programs, NWS

Works Directly With: Other Program Managers, PAQ Team, Operations Team, Finance Team, FSL & Cash Advisor.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/BS or equivalent in international studies, economics or other relevant field; MA/S preferred.
• 5 years of international relief and development program management experience, in FSL/Cash program management.
• Previous demonstrated experience in FSL and/or Cash programming.
• Experience of partner-led programing.
• Experience in staff management in a cross-cultural environment.
• Experience of remote management an advantage.
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.
• Proven ability to learn quickly, lead a program to achieve stated results and objectives.
• Experience with the development, implementation & compliance of FCDO, BHA, Sida or USAID funded programs.
• Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders.
• Experience working with host governments, national and international NGOs.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required; proficiency in Arabic is a plus.
• Experience in NWS is a plus.
• Experience in agriculture interventions is a plus.
• Experience in SMEs is a plus.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will be proactive, creative and problem solver; S/he will be conscientious with an excellent sense of judgment and excellent communication and team building techniques. S/he will have the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment. S/he will demonstrate strong understanding of cultural and social environment in the region and have the willingness and ability to work effectively with a wide verity of people.

Work Conditions

The position will be based in Amman, Jordan, with frequent travel to Gaziantep. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

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. 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.

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