Senior Program Officer (Conflict Mitigation and Community Reconciliation In Northwest Nigeria) - Katsina at Mercy Corps

The Senior Program Officer (SPO) will provide overall leadership, technical oversight, management, and strategic vision of the project while managing staff and resources to ensure that the program is on time, on scope, and within budget. The SPO is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of program activities in her/his respective area. S/he will ensure that the community-level engagement approach is systematic, replicable, and adheres to a participatory process to involve, empower, and engage citizens and key stakeholders in conflict prevention and response across the target areas cost-effectively and sustainably that seamlessly builds on previous programs and consortium partner strengths.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Program Support

• Participate in the planning, implementation, and review of the project, including assessment and adaptation of improvements and innovations.
• Ensure quality and integrity of implementation, including compliance with Mercy Corps policies and Minimum Standards and adherence to technical guidelines, administrative systems, and established deadlines.
• Ensure implementation of activities is on time, within target and budget, using effective systems to ensure the achievement of the overall goal and objectives of the project within the target communities.
• Oversee and consolidate regular weekly reporting functions, and ensure data is fed into the project’s database accurately and rapidly.
• Work with Consortium partners to plan, organize and conduct quality community training, sessions and document the process.
• Act as a liaison and facilitator between MC target communities and relevant authorities, building community representatives’ capacity to engage in effective dialogue.
• Strengthen local-level networking and coordination with relevant local structures, CSOs, INGOs, media, and Government Departments involved in peacebuilding interventions, including relationship-building with religious leaders of diverse faiths.
• Strengthen community-based peace structures, support locally-led peace initiatives, and reinforce communication and collaboration with community-level stakeholders.
• Provide field-level oversight role for referral of project ideas/programming strands to other MC Nigeria sectors (currently, Humanitarian, Resilience and early recovery, market development, and Livelihoods), and ensure appropriate cross-communication throughout the project process.
• Conduct quarterly review meetings with the field-based program team to assess contextual changes and adapt strategies to evolving dynamics.
• Maintain regular communications with key stakeholders to gauge perceptions, tensions, and potential triggers
• Expand local partner networks, foster linkages to local government, civil society coalitions, and businesses, and build wider public support for peacebuilding.
• Ensure internal regulations regarding Program Management at Mercy Corp Corps (PM@MC), including, program verification through to financial and signatory approval are followed, making suggestions for improvements to PM.
• In collaboration with the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning team, ensure ongoing monitoring and timely reporting on the project progress.
• Oversee the performance of consultants and contractors.
• Ensure the program is in alignment with Mercy Corps’ principles, values, and the program’s strategic plan.
• Ensure all program management minimum standards are met (including risk management, and issues management).
• Productively participate in planning sessions and reviews called by Consortium lead/partners.
• Implement and model Mercy Corps’ philosophy of social entrepreneurship and leverage Mercy Corps’ best practices.
• Lead the facilitation of all community dialogues and meetings for Mercy Corps activities.

Team Management

• Sustain a work environment of mutual respect you and other team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Provide other team members with information, tools, and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.

Finance and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with Donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to field programming.

Influence and Representation

• Identify, build, and manage collaborative partnerships with Consortium partners, local governments, and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure project implementation targets are met.
• Participate in coordination meetings and workshops for the project at both Local and State levels as delegated.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that you and other field 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.

Supervisory Responsibility: Program Officers

Accountability Reports Directly to the Program Manager. Works directly with the entire project team, Finance Department, MEL, Operations, Security, Global TSU Peace and Governance team.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/Sc. in relevant field or another similar field; MA/MS/MBA or equivalent preferred in peacebuilding, development, management, economics, or another relevant field.
• At least 3 years of supervisory experience in progressively responsible positions, preferably in conflict management, peacebuilding, and/or natural resources management.
• Experience leading the implementation of multi-sector integrated programs, preferably in the area of peacebuilding and conflict mitigation, or working in social outreach, governance, and policy development activities
• Experience representing the organization and its interests to a diverse range of local stakeholders, host government officials, and local and international partners.
• Experience in managing staff, providing leadership, clear tasks, and oversight.
• Ability to work independently in the field and show initiative. Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work cooperatively with team members.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to develop good relationships with a wide range of actors required.
• Good organizational skills, ability to make recommendations for improvement, and contribute to overall program strategy.
• Willingness to travel throughout the different project areas.
• Experience in conducting training and workshops is desirable.
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation is an advantage.
• Ability to write clear and concise reports in English, knowledge of Hausa is a plus.