PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: Managing Risks through Economic Development (M-RED) is a Margaret A. Cargill Foundation (MACF)-funded program that operates primarily in Nepal and Timor-Leste, with smaller, complementary activities in Indonesia, to elaborate programming in the so-called “DRR-Livelihoods Nexus” by developing and implementing Disaster Risk Reduction activities that simultaneously promote local economic development and generate income. The program works with vulnerable smallholder farmers in 4 districts of Far West Nepal and 3 districts of Timor-Leste to promote livelihood interventions that are more resilient to floods, landslides, droughts, soil erosion and the effects of climate change. M-RED promotes best practices in community-based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR), while taking a market systems development (MSD) approach to leverage economic incentives for risk reduction outcomes. The program has a research and learning component, with a research partner evaluating the effectiveness of the “nexus” model to achieve impacts on resilience capacities and responses, and on both the economic and risk reduction impacts. The M-RED program also has a modest add-on fund from the Zurich Foundation for a 2 -year period starting November 2015 to conduct additional activities to strengthen Early Warning Systems for flood risk reduction, and to test flood resilience measurement tools the Zurich Foundation developed. GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY: The Senior Program Officer provides direct support to the Program Director, by coordinating program operations and communication pertaining to the MREDII program at the headquarters level. This includes liaising and working closely with finance on budget management, coordinating with the Technical Support Unit, and being responsible for conducting all donor program reporting. S/he will serve as a focal point for the Director of Foundation Partnership, and Program Director (Deputy) to assist with donor communication. The Senior Program Officer will lead the marketing and external communication of project learning and dissemination, to contribute to agency resilience initiatives as well as external influence. S/he will further support rolling out any HQ-based systems related to M&E, support the tracking of budget v. projections, and facilitate realignments. A core responsibility will include enhancing the capacity field teams to navigate and manage HQ-based systems as well as directly liaise and managing communications with HQ departments.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Budget Management Support careful financial tracking on monthly basis using BVA and coordinating calls with regional team to review progress against projections Special attention paid to cost sharing (core fund) allocations and tracking; leading internal process for any change requests * Coordinate with country and regional Finance Officers to make budget realignment for donor’s approval.
Reporting and Documentation * Work with Program Director (or Deputy) and MERL Advisor to prepare communication, documentation and dissemination plan for program learning. Lead drafting of annual report narrative to MACF in close collaboration with Program Director (Deputy) Support county team on writing and/or copy editing case studies and learning documents. Lead the development of dissemination plans and document marketing strategy within the agency and with external institutions and partners. Provide regular intra-agency updates on program progress * Work with program partners to format, edit and disseminate materials that highlight and communicate lessons learned and success stories featuring the activities, approaches and impacts of the program. Share these with and in relevant forums on resilience, DRR and economic development as feasible
Donor Communications * Serve as a focal point for Director of Foundation Partnership and Program Director (Deputy) to coordinate responding to any detailed information requests from MACF Draft quarterly narrative briefs in close collaboration with Program Director (in advance of donor calls) Coordinate with MACF on very detailed itinerary and correspondence surrounding field visits (either Pam or Trustee, etc), working closely with Director of Foundation Partnership.
Operational Capacity-Building and Program Support Work closely with Program Director on identifying and tracking program management systems and software, and ensuring systematic roll out and capacity-building at field level in both Nepal and E. Timor Enhance capacity of field team in budget management and tracking, with particular attention to systems for tracking projections and conducting realignments Enhance capacity of field team in quality reporting and external communication with donors, peers and internal agencies Coordinate internal agency technical support for the MRED program Work closely with MERL Advisor and Program Director to ensure quality assurance in TOLA Attend HQ level meetings and/or calls to maintain relationships with agency initiatives (Resilience, Gender, etc) to ensure M-RED engagement * Work closely with Program Director and Regional Resilience Director in identifying additional support or capacity-building needs as required.
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 towards 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.
Knowledge & Qualifications: * BA or equivalent in business management, social science, agricultural or environmental economics, or disaster management, or a related field. 3 – 5 years of experience in coordinating or back-stopping program operations, including finance, procurement, and systems roll-out.· Demonstrated ability to function as a social entrepreneur and proven success to work with multi country team of professionals and the ability to function as a team player among peers. Successful and proven negotiation, communication, organization, and prioritization skills and experience. Excellent communication and documentation skills that allow them to coordinate teams across the multiple countries while documenting approaches and lessons learned. Prior experience in budget management. Prior experience of working with Private Foundation Donors or Donor relationship. Working with quantitative and qualitative information. Experience in South or Southeast Asia is preferred. * Previous experience with Mercy Corps strongly preferred.
ACCOUNTABILITY: REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: The Program Director for M-RED
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: No.
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Director of Foundation Partnerships, Resilience MERL Advisor, Regional Finance Officer, HQ Technical Support Units (particularly Economic and Market Development ) and Energy, Environment and Climate, Regional Resilience Director,
SUCCESS FACTORS: The successful candidate will have experience in supporting programs in complex areas affected by poverty and natural disasters, as well as nutritional insecurity and climate change pattern. S/he will be expected to support Program Director based in country to connect with TSU, support unit and donor’s related communication. S/he will have proven experience of working with multi-country team, budget management, and strong documentation/report writing and communication skills. S/he will be committed to working flexibly and constructively to develop the overall Mercy Corps-donor relationship. The most successful Mercy Corps staff 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. Patience, tenacity, diplomacy and a sense of humor will contribute to success. **Living Conditions:** The position is based out of a Mercy Corps HQ office; Portland, DC, Edinburgh or London with up to 25% travel to project implemented countries of Timor Lester and Nepal or other locations as required.
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