PROGRAM MANAGER

Location: Monrovia, Liberia

Position Status: Full-time

Salary Level:

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Program

Mercy Corps Liberia began operations in 2002 in response to the humanitarian crisis brought about by the two Liberian civil wars that ended in 2003. Mercy Corps’ interventions have evolved based on the context and needs of the Liberian people. With funding from the European Commission, French Development Agency, Irish Aid, the Embassy of Sweden and US Department of Agriculture, among others, Mercy Corps Liberia focuses on Food Security, Peace and Good Governance and Economic Opportunity. Mercy Corps Liberia works closely with the Government of Liberia (especially the Ministries of Youth and Sports, Health, Labor and Education), the private sector, civil society, international and local NGOs to implement its programs from three offices/sub-offices (Monrovia, Buchanan, and Rivercess). Mercy Corps is one of the foremost development actors in Liberia implementing strategic and systems driven programming in youth employment and entrepreneurship, market systems development and good governance. This role is contingent on funding.

The Position

The Program Manager (PM) of the anticipated Incentivize Learning Activity (ILA) will have operational oversight on the day-to-day program implementation across five counties. Based in Monrovia, they will report to the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) and manage staff based in Grand Bassa and Margibi. They will be responsible for coordinating and implementing the delivery of the ILA 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 Margibi 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, Save the Children and Government of Liberia representatives, contributing to achievement of program goals.

Essential Responsibilities

STRATEGY AND VISION

● Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.

● Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to country-wide strategy development.

● Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.

● Assist Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party in shaping the strategic direction of ILA, ensuring quality of program implementation.

● Actively participate in program leadership meetings, contributing to problem-solving and decision making on policy and strategic direction.

● Work collaboratively with senior colleagues across all counties to achieve program outcomes.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

● Conduct field level activity planning with Lead Mobilizers and support timely project implementation in close collaboration with the DCOP and program technical advisors to ensure integrated and quality programming.

● Lead development of program annual, quarterly, monthly, and weekly work plans and submit in a quality and timely manner.

● Organize and participate in technical meetings to review program implementation approach, identify gaps and solutions, conduct joint planning sessions, and share quality and timely feedback and field updates.

● Lead development of quality field level program narrative reports on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis with clear analysis and information/data on planned activities, achievements, constraints.

● Conduct county-level engagement, coordination, and monitoring with Ministry of Education.

● 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

● Ensure utilization of PM@MC tools and processes, and compliance with all PM@MC minimum standards.

BUDGET MANAGEMENT

● Responsible for managing programmatic budget lines, including updating a monthly spending plan and leading programmatic elements of monthly budget vs. actual meetings.

● Responsible for ensuring the program costs follow both Mercy Corps’ field procurement and financial policies.

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.

Supervisory Responsibility

Lead Mobilizer – Grand Bassa, Lead Mobilizer Margibi

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Deputy Chief of Party

Works Directly With: Program and MEL staff

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.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

● Minimum of 10 years of professional experience working with issues related to planning, design, and performance management of international development assistance programs, preferably those funded by USG.

● Bachelor’s degree in a field of development assistance, international affairs, political science, sociology, economics, statistics, business, public administration, or a closely related field is preferred. Master’s or advanced degree preferred.

● Experience in the planning and execution of complex programs would be an added advantage.

● Internationally recognized project management certification, or commitment to attain one through Mercy Corps within six months of appointment.

● 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 travel frequently to Grand Bassa, Margibi, Lofa, Bong and Nimba counties.

● Effective verbal and written communication, organizational, prioritization and computer skills in Microsoft Office applications.

● Excellent oral and written skills.

Success Factors

The ability to integrate experience and knowledge into the program planning process. The ability to work effectively with staff of partner organizations, to represent the best practices and skillfully advocate for the best interests of program participants. A demonstrated ability to work quickly, accurately, meet deadlines, and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Monrovia, Liberia and it requires up to 50% travel to field locations.

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.