Program Officer

Position Description

Location Montserrado and Harper, Liberia

Position Status Full-time Regular

Salary Level 5

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 has been present in Liberia since 2002, focusing its interventions on Governance, Youth Livelihoods, Economic Growth and Development. With funding from the EU, SIDA, Irish Aid, AFD and USDA,

The Supporting Effective Advocacy in Liberia (SEAL) will ensure that Liberian Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) contribute to inclusive wealth creation for a more equal and transparent society in support of Liberia’s 2030 Agenda for Transformation. The program seeks to ensure that Liberian CSOs are credible actors in the governance of the country through their engagement in the formulation of public policy, and the monitoring of its implementation.

General Position Summary

The Program officer will support the development, implementation, and review of capacity building activities for Mercy Corps Liberia’s local partners under the Supporting Effective Advocacy in Liberia (SEAL). The position is based in Montserrado and Harper. The position requires a strong background in institutional capacity development of CSOs, experience with advocacy and civil society development programs, and a sound understanding of general program implementation in challenging environments.

The Program officer is responsible for the development and/or context appropriate refinement and adaptation of training elements, modules, and tools to ensure high quality organizational development and growth for local partners. This includes leading facilitative processes to assess partners’ capacity strengths and gaps, using results to design targeted skills building programs. S/he will work with other Program Officers to develop and implement trainings, support peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and strengthen organizational systems and structures for SEAL’s partners.

Essential Job Responsibilities

knowledge and expertise

• Provide strategic program guidance and technical support for the CSO/CBO capacity-building portion of the program, through provision of support to partner organizations as required and in coordination with the Program Manager.
• Develop strong relationships with partner organizations.
• Supervise the capacity assessment of identified organizations using Mercy Corps’ Organizational Capacity Index (OCI) tool.
• Using OCI findings, support partner organizations to create capacity development plans.
• Refine organizational development tools and recommend best approaches for partner capacity development based on existing Mercy Corps knowledge and experience.
• Ensure that capacity development and Advocacy Plan are implemented as per the budget, activities, and time
• Deliver and/or oversee delivery of training to build partner capacity and technical competencies.
• Support peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and peer mentorship opportunities, including field site visits and learning events.
• Provide technical guidance to develop/strengthen partner organizations’ administrative and financial management systems and structures.
• Support the establishment of LIFT Fund to allow local partners to utilize the ‘learning by doing’ approach and prepare them for larger funding processes.
• Provide training for project staff and ensure that their capacity and technical competence is built and improved.
• Support the incorporation of conflict sensitive and gender approaches into civil society organizations and their activities.
• Abide by all security protocols and assist in ensuring their implementation by other staff. Provide written and oral translation and report writing for program staff, as necessary.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

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.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values always and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility

Accountability

Reports Directly To: SEAL Program Manager

Works Directly With: SEAL Program Team, Finance, Operations, MEL

Knowledge and Experience

• Degree in social science, international development, or another relevant field.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience and proven high-level competence in working with NGO/INGO capacity building programs, ideally in relief and/or post-conflict settings.
• An understanding of the status of CSOs and CBOs in Liberia and the challenges to strengthening the capacities of civil society is an advantage.
• Strong knowledge of, and experience with organizational development of CSOs in challenging environments and an ability to inform the content and method of organizational development training.
• Proven track record in staff and stakeholder training and capacity building.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of conflict mitigation, peace building, and negotiation is an advantage.
• Strong knowledge of gender-related activities.
• Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills.
• Excellent computer skills, including experience with Excel and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated ability as a collaborator.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English required.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. 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.