LEARN II PROGRAM MANAGER
Position Description
•
Location: Buchanan, Grand Bassa County
•
Position Status Full-time, Regular
•
Salary Level: 8
•
Current Team Member: No
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.
Mercy Corps started operations in Liberia in 2002 in response to the humanitarian crisis brought on by the two Liberian civil wars which took place from 1989-1997and 1999-2003. Since then, Mercy Corps’ interventions have evolved based on the context and needs of Liberian people. Based on the changing needs, Mercy Corps Liberia has implemented programs in renewable energy, food security, agricultural livelihoods, financial inclusion, nutrition, water and sanitation, infrastructure, and in youth economic empowerment. Today, Mercy Corps remains one of the foremost development and humanitarian actors in Liberia with programming focused on Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship, market systems development, Maternal and Child Health, Education, especially empowering Liberia through improved school management and school health and nutrition, and Advocacy and good governance.
Programs / Department Summary
Mercy Corps in collaboration with Save the Children International is implementing the Liberia Empowerment through Attendance, Reading, and Nutrition 2 (LEARN 2) Program, a five years’ project funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition. The overarching goal of the McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition legislation is to reduce hunger and improve literacy for school going age children.
The LEARN II (Liberia Empowerment through Attendance, Reading and Nutrition II) program is being implemented in four counties in Liberia: Grand Bassa, Grand Gedeh, River Cess and River Gee to reach 234 schools and 265,830 direct beneficiaries throughout the course of the project. Save the Children is the lead while Mercy Corps is implementing the program directly in Grand Bassa and River Cess as Sub-grantee, and Kawadah Farms as another Sub-grantee intervening in River Gee. The three organizations will carry out the LEARN II program over a period of five years with the award of USDA McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (October 2021 – September 2026). LEARN II’s project design addresses three of USDA’s strategic objectives: Improve the literacy of school-age children (SO1), Increase the use of health and dietary practices (SO2), and Improved effectiveness of food aid assistance through Local and Regional Procurement (LRP SO1). Activities of the project focus on improving the quality of literacy instruction, student attentiveness, student attendance, improving knowledge of health and hygiene practices, safe food preparation and storage, and nutrition by increasing access to clean water and sanitation, preventative health interventions, and food prep materials and storage equipment.
General Position Summary
As Program Manager (PM) for LEARN, s/he is responsible for coordinating and implementing the delivery of the LEARN program 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. The PM is a strong team leader, able to develop and mentor team members in Grand Bassa and Rivercess counties and is an effective communicator, able to work with internal and external stakeholders to achieve common objectives. S/he is responsible for managing relationships with local partners, beneficiaries, Save the Children and USDA representatives, contributing to achievement of country goals through innovation and program development as well as regional experience to the team on the ground.
Essential Job Responsibilities
STRATEGY & VISION
•
Support Deputy Chief of Party – Programs in shaping the strategic direction of the LEARN II Liberia program, ensuring quality of program implementation.
•
Ensure program strategies and activities represent global good practice in sustainable education and nutrition.
•
Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
•
Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve objectives and contribute to overall program strategy.
•
Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
•
Ensure program implementation is on scope, time, target and budget, using effective systems to reach desired impacts.
•
Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
•
Understand the technical components of the LEARN Project and support the DCOP to manage partnerships with Save the Children and Government.
•
Lead development of program annual, quarterly, monthly, and weekly work plans and submit in a quality and timely manner.
•
Conduct field level activity planning with Lead Mobilizers and support timely project implementation in close collaboration with the DCOP – Programs and technical advisors to ensure integrated and quality programming.
•
Conduct cluster level engagement, coordination, and monitoring with MoE District Education Officers (DEOs) through joint planning and school visitation.
•
Lead development of quality field level program narrative reports on a monthly, quarterly basis and LEARN Semi Annual Reports with clear analysis and information/data on planned activities, achievements, constraints and submit to the DCOP – Programs.
•
Track all contractual deadlines for narrative, financial, projections as per sub award agreement.
•
Ensure beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to transparent criteria.
•
Integrate community accountability, gender sensitivity and child safeguarding approaches into all activities, leveraging the relevant Mercy Corps staff.
•
Report all issues, beneficiary concerns and challenges through the established Mercy Corps Community Accountability Report Mechanism (CARM).
•
Oversee Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) activities including the preparation of tools, assessments, analysis, and reporting.
•
Ensure program and MEAL staff collect necessary data required for project reporting.
CHILD SAFEGUARDING POLICIES AND PRACTICES
●
Liaise and work with community groups and schools to ensure accountability and best use of project resources.
●
Comply with the requirements of Mercy Corps Protection Policy to ensure maximum protection for children,
●
Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
●
Roll out Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding and Protection Policy and Procedures to stakeholders and beneficiaries during trainings and meetings.
●
Comply with the requirements of Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding and Protection Policy and Procedures to ensure maximum safety and protection for children during program work and other related actions in communities.
●
Report all incidents or breach of CSG policy and monthly updates.
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
●
Facilitate the achievement of program targets and objectives and lead efforts to design effective learning systems.
●
Oversee the scheduling and production of formal and informal reports on all aspects of the program in a timely manner.
●
Optimize and own shared tools, templates, trackers, contact databases, document repositories for effective team collaboration and knowledge sharing.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
●
Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
●
Assist team members with information, tools, and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
●
Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
●
Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
●
Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.
FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT
●
Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to financial transactions and programming.
●
Review BVA on monthly basis, develop spending plan, procurement plan and share monthly projections for LEARN,
●
Liaise with Finance Manager and Head of Office to ensure fund transfers to Buchanan bank accounts are done in timely manner,
●
Organize monthly BVA meeting within 3 days of receiving BVA (ensure spending plan is updated and all feedback is sent to finance prior to the BVA meeting)
SECURITY
●
Team up with Head of Office to 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.
●
Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Supervisory Responsibility
LEARN II Lead Mobilizers
Accountability
Reports Directly to: LEARN II DCOP – Programs
Works Directly with: Director of Programs, Operations, Finance, HR and Admin Managers, SCI LEARN Program Management Team and Head of Office
Knowledge and Experience
●
Minimum of seven years of professional experience working with issues related to planning, design, and performance management of international development assistance programs, preferably those funded by the US Government.
●
Advanced degree in a field of development assistance, international affairs, political science, sociology, economics, statistics, business, public administration, or a closely related field is preferred.
●
Experience in the planning and execution of complex programs, particularly funded by the US Government would be an added advantage.
●
A project management credential, or commitment to gain certification within six months is required.
●
Proven ability to solve problems independently without direct supervision.
●
Excellent problem-solving skills, representation, skills, and ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse staff, including members of partner organizations.
●
Must be willing to be based in Buchanan.
●
Effective verbal and written communication, organizational, prioritization and computer skills in Microsoft Office applications.
●
Excellent oral and written skills.
Success Factors
The ideal candidate can integrate previous project management experience and knowledge into effective management within Mercy Corps systems. She/He will be a collaborative problem solver, who is able to work efficiently with different staff and stakeholders. They will have a demonstrated ability to work quickly, accurately, meet deadlines, and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary.