Program Director – BEGE (Broadening Emergency and Graduation Efforts) in Borno, Northeast Nigeria at Mercy Corps

General Position Summary

• The Program Director role is a senior level role with overarching leadership, management, and coordination of multisectoral deliverables within the consortium.
• The Program Director is a cross-functional team leader who takes full responsibility for successful delivery across all the sectors including monitoring, collaborative learning and adaptation, and evaluation functions.
• The role is ultimately responsible and accountable for timely delivery of assistance in a dignified manner, on scope and budget.
• Succeeding in this role will require an agile personality, great emotional intelligence, a solutions thinker with a desire to define your success around improvement in quality of human lives.
• The Program Director has a clear understanding of the sectors and how they work well together.

Essential Job Responsibilities

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

• 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

STRATEGY AND VISION

• Set directions by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve program objectives and contribute to humanitarian and sustainable solutions strategy.
• Contribute to Mercy Corps Pathways to Possibilities (P2P) agenda, ensuring all sectors and activities align with the strategy.
• Set the vision for effective management and coordination of successful delivery of an integrated package of multi-sectoral interventions.
• Lead and guide the team and program partners in delivering the activities across BEGE Program sectors.
• Contribute/initiate assessments and support new initiatives to sustain the efficient assistance to the local communities and program participants.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Manage and oversee the implementation of the BEGE program, ensuring it is on-time, on-scope and within the budget.
• Structure the team to ensure that all program aspects meet the highest programmatic standards and adhere to the sectoral minimum standards and norms.
• Lead on and maintain consortium, program and sectoral planning meetings, ensure workplans are functional and always up to date.
• Ensure team produces and updates procurement and recruitment plans.
• Oversee consortium management and build long-term and productive relationship with all BEGE consortium partners. Chair the consortium regular meetings.
• Ensure all MC administration, logistical, human resources and financial procedures are followed in relation to implementation of BEGE Program.
• Work closely with the MEL team to ensure that all essential program, organizational metrics, and lessons learned are being adequately captured.
• Promote an overall culture of adaptive learning through systematic analysis and reflection on program data.
• Ensure that all donor reports are submitted on time and to the highest possible standard.
• Ensure all MC program management minimum standards are met.
• Encourage culture and learning and adaptation and work with the broader MC Nigeria Program Accountability and Quality (PAQ) team to put in place strong knowledge management systems.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Recruit a program team and ensure that program staff receive necessary inductions and training (including program management certification where required).
• Create a work atmosphere of mutual respect and trust, conducive to innovations in the program implementation, professional growth and development of excellent personnel at all levels.
• Implement, and ensure all staff members are effectively using the performance planning and management system, establishing performance expectations and regularly providing constructive feedback.
• Promote accountability by conducting staff annual performance reviews with direct supervisees and ensuring that supervisory staff personnel do the same.
• Contribute to region and 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 scopes of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Work closely with the Finance team to review monthly budget versus actual financial management information to ensure that all program expenditure is on track and does not exceed approved budget variance limits.
• Plan and manage BEGE monthly and quarterly cash flows and oversee the timely and compliant expenditure by Mercy Corps’ sub-grantees.
• Ensure all internal control procedures are adhered to and that necessary measures are put in place to ensure high standards of accountability and compliance.
• Ensure all internal and external reports are produced to donor and Mercy Corps standards.

Influence, Representation & Collaboration

• Work closely with all BEGE Partners and external stakeholders for impactful and efficient delivery of assistance to the communities.
• Closely coordinate with other MC Nigeria programs implemented in Borno to ensure effective use of shared resources.
• Represent Mercy Corps to government, donors, I/NGOs and other relevant events in the field.
• Coordinate activities with partners, sub-grantees, government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps global staff.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

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.
• Work closely with Mercy Corps Security and Analytics teams to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its implementation process.

Knowledge and Experience  

• At least 5 years of consistently growing competencies and experience in managing an integrated multi-sector portfolio or program, ideally in humanitarian and/or early recovery settings.
• MA/S or equivalent in international development or related field preferred.
• Prior work experience in Africa strongly preferred; an ability to work comfortably, effectively and creatively within the cultural environment of Nigeria and areas of poor security required.
• History of working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGO and NGO partners in complex environments.
• Demonstrated ability to function as a solution-seeker and proven success with building, managing and leading a consortium of partners and a team of professionals.
• Familiarity with and understanding of the humanitarian context in Borno State and Northeast Nigeria preferred, or similar contexts globally.
• Familiarity with USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) Assistance Guidelines, as well as experience in managing BHA funded programs strongly preferred. 
• Strong budget management skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, prioritization skills are necessary.
• Fluency in written and oral English required.