Position Title:  PROGRAM MANAGER – SOCIAL COHESION
Number of Vacancy: 1
Duty Station: Taiz City, with travel to Mukalla, Yemen
Position Category:  Full-time 1    AND   Regular 1    
Duration of Assignment: Contract duration and start date will depend on the Sub-agreement approval
Deadline:  07-Oct-2024

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 seeks to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression around the world and has worked in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. In response to acute and increasing humanitarian needs in Yemen, Mercy Corps opened its office in 2010. Primary program interventions include water, sanitation and hygiene, cash transfers, food security, health and nutrition, and livelihood support. Strategies to enhance the resilience of communities to the harsh environmental and social conditions in the country cut across the portfolio.

General Position Summary:

The Program Manager is responsible for coordinating and implementing the delivery of Social Cohesion programming 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. Social cohesion programming will include aspects of peacebuilding and good governance. The anticipated program under this portfolio includes DRL and GIZ funding, with the opportunity for expansion in the future. Social cohesion programming will focus on partnerships with national NGOs and community-based organizations with a core focus on ensuring an equity-first partnership and supportive capacity building initiatives. The PM will ensure compliance of the portfolio of programs under their management in line with Mercy Corps PM@MC, global and Mercy Corps technical requirements, and donor standards.  The PM is a strong team leader, able to develop and mentor team members and is an effective communicator, able to work with internal and external stakeholders to achieve common objectives.  The PM is responsible for managing relationships with local partners, beneficiaries and representatives, contributing to achievement of country goals through innovation and program development and displaying expertise in social cohesion and peacebuilding sectors as well as regional experience to the team on the ground. They will coordinate with the MEL and CARM team to ensure all PAQ activities are conducted as per MC standards.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Oversee program startup and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners, and consistent with Mercy Corps’ minimum standards and other relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Effectively coordinate with Mercy Corps support departments to quickly identify solutions and fast track implementation whenever required.
• Work closely with the MEL team in the design and implementation monitoring and evaluation plan and development and use of adapted tools and processes.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective MEL systems to reach desired impacts.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donors and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria, and that feedback mechanisms are in place.
• Facilitate capacity building of staff on program management and social cohesion best practices (for relevant staff).
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Code of Conduct; Gender, Diversity and Inclusion guiding documents; Core Humanitarian Principles and Do No Harm.
• Lead the development of SOPs and framework documents as required for program implementation.
• Lead in designing and refining the intervention approaches most appropriate to the Yemen context.

TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

• As the Social cohesion, peacebuilding and good governance technical lead at the organization, ensure assessment, design and implementation of relevant programming meets global standards.
• Support Social cohesion, peacebuilding and good governance-related fundraising initiatives as required.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Set up adequate team structure, lead the recruitment process for the required team members.
• Day to day management of Social Cohesion program teams. 
• Ensure team members improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on one and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence and cultivate resilience and well-being under challenging situations.
• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work. 
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members. 
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g. Integrity Hotline and other options. 
• If relevant, briefing or training any external personnel such as when working with service contractors or subaward partners. 

BUDGET MANAGEMENT 

• Support in the development of financial management tools and the monitoring of budgets. 
• Cross-check detailed transactions and review budget versus actual (BVA) spending reports to determine status of program burn rates.
• Work with the Senior Finance Coordinator to ensure spend-down plans and cash projections are developed and monitored.
• Lead program input on any budget revisions or programmatic input for financial reports.

PROGRAM MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING

• Work with the MEL team to ensure the finalization of the project-specific MEL plan and any relevant procedures with clear designation of roles and responsibilities between the Project and MEL teams.
• Ensure that robust monitoring and evaluation, quality data collection and analysis systems are in place, adhered to and used as a decision-making tool, in coordination with MEL team. 
• Ensure appropriate attention to program learning and integration of lessons learned.

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT AND REPRESENTATION

• Ensure strong collaboration with national partners including holding regular coordination meetings, ensuring technical oversight and provide support as needed to partners’ project implementation.
• Ensure compliance to Mercy Corps and donors’ guidelines and regulations for both Mercy Corps team and national partners.
• Lead the development and implementation of the capacity development plan of partners.
• Represent Mercy Corps in relevant cluster and working groups at the national and sub-national level and with authorities as needed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• Social cohesion program teams

ACCOUNTABILITY 

Reports Directly To: Director of Programs
Works Directly With: Country Director, SMT, Program Managers, PAQ Coordinator, MEL Manager, and Regional and HQ Technical Support Unit. 

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in international development, peace and conflict or related fields.
• At least 5 years continuous experience with design and implementation of Social Cohesion programs in complex conflict and post-conflict contexts; At least 2 years of management experience.
• Experience developing strong partnerships with national NGOs and demonstrated experience successfully building the capacity of national NGOs in an equity-first partnership.
• Experience managing teams in complex environments.
• Strong strategic thinker with demonstrated capacity to translate concepts into action, with proven ability to be accountable for all components of the project.
• Demonstrated experience capacity strengthening of teams. 
• Demonstrated experience with a variety of donor partners, including DRL, other USG, GIZ, and other donors. 
• Strong influencing and representation skills.
• Demonstrated competence in finding solutions to complex problems and delivering results.
• Excellent written and oral English language skills.

Success Factors:

The successful candidate will have an ability to work independently, take initiative in tasks and self-learning, and be proactive in communications and development of professional relationships. They will be able to work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with demonstrated sensitivity to the people and issues in the country. Strict adherence to Mercy Corps security policies and procedure. Capacity to spark innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to design impactful high-quality programs. Desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally.

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. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

الصون و الأخلاق

ميرسي كور تلتزم بضمان المعاملة اللائقة واحترام جميع الأفراد اللذين نتواصل معهم من خلال عملنا, سواء كانوا أعضاء الفريق أو أعضاء المجتمع أو المشاركين في البرامج أو غيرهم.  نحن ملتزمون بالمبادئ الرئيسية المتعلقة بمنع الاستغلال والإساءة الجنسية التي وضعها الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة واللجنة الدائمة للتنسيق بين الوكالات الإنسانية (IASC)، وقد وقعنا على نظام الإفصاح المتبادل بين الجهات الفاعلة في حالة السلوك الغير اللائق. عند التقديم لهذا الدور، يؤكد المتقدم أنه لم ينتهك في السابق سياسة السلوك الجنسي، والاستغلال والإساءة جنسية، صون الأطفال، أو الاتجار بالبشر لأي جهة عمل. ميرسي كور لن تتسامح مع إساءة معاملة الأطفال أو الاستغلال الجنسي أو الإساءة أو التحرش من قبل أو بسبب أعضاء فريقنا. كجزء من التزامنا تجاه توفير بيئة عمل آمنة وشاملة, من المتوقع أن يتصرف أعضاء الفريق بطريقة مهنية, تحترم القوانين والعادات المحلية. والالتزام بسياسات وقيم مدونة قواعد السلوك الخاصة بمنظمة ميرسي كور في جميع الأوقات. كما يتطلب من جميع أعضاء الفريق إكمال دورات التعليم الإلكتروني الإلزامية لقواعد السلوك عند التوظيف وذلك بشكل سنوي.
كمتقدم للوظيفة، إذا كنت قد شهدت أو تعرضت لأي نوع من أنواع السلوك الجنسي الغير لائق خلال عملية التوظيف، يرجى الإبلاغ عن ذلك إلى خط النزاهة في منظمة ميرسي كور (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

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. 

Accountability To Participants

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging participant communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.