Project Coordinator at Mercy Corps Nigeria

Mercy Corps works almost exclusively in fragile and conflict-affected environments. While we recognize that these are difficult places to operate, we believe that transitional environments – countries affected by civil wars, economic and political crisis, or natural disasters – offer tremendous opportunities for positive change. We currently implement over 30 integrated peacebuilding and economic development programs in some of the world’s toughest places, including Ethiopia, Liberia, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda.

Mercy Corps implements a UKAID-funded integrated peacebuilding and economic development program in the Middle Belt states of Nigeria. This three-year program, which began in December 2012, incorporates strong economic development and natural resource management elements in order to address underlying drivers of conflict and build cooperation between conflicting communities and build links between communities, private sector and governmental processes. The CONCUR Project Officer will provide technical assistance in implementation of this program, including travel to the target states of Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, and Benue.

Mercy Corps is recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Project Coordinator

Location/Duty Station: Abuja
Position Category: Full-time

Program/Department Summary
Since the late 1990s, Mercy Corps has managed over 100 peacebuilding projects in over 30 countries and regions, making Mercy Corps a true leader in the field. We currently implement 34 peacebuilding programs in some of the world’s toughest places. In Nigeria, Mercy Corps is currently implementing a program called Conciliation in Nigeria through Community-Based Conflict Management and Cooperative Use of Resources (CONCUR). With UKAID funding, Mercy Corps aims to prevent and resolve conflict between pastoralists and farmers in the four Middle Belt states of Nasarawa, Plateau, Kaduna, and Benue, with an emphasis on conflicts that cross religious lines and negatively impact local livelihoods and economic growth. The program addresses the underlying drivers of community conflict, preventing the escalation of ethno-religious violence and incentivizing government, the private
sector, and community members to take proactive measures to promote stability.

General Positions Summary
The Project Coordinator is responsible for day-to-day project implementation of the peacebuilding program in the areas of implementation. This includes strengthening the capacity of local partners in the areas of peacebuilding, conflict management, agriculture and livestock management; facilitating clear communication between diverse groups and ensuring rigorous measurement of program impact and timely reporting. The Project Coordinator will also be responsible for ensuring that the project is implemented in an effective and efficient manner. S/he will work closely with the Programme Manager to liaise with local partners and relevant government authorities to ensure the implementation of quality programs in area of operation.

Essential Job Functions

• Supervise project implementation by local partner organizations and provide support and training in all their activities, as necessary.
• Plan and ensure the effective implementation of program activities.
• Work with Programe Manager to develop systems and mechanisms to ensure the successful implementation. This includes being responsible for the quality of weekly updates and monitoring
• system.
• Represent MC Nigeria, when necessary, to local partners, government officials, donors and other parties in the implementation area.
• Participate in the facilitation of meetings/workshops/trainings.
• 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.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility:
Programme Officer

Accountability
Reports Directly to: Programme Manager

Works Directly With:
Economic and Market Development Advisor, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Advisor, other CONCUR program staff, Operations staff, and Partner staff

Position Description
Knowledge and Experience:

• Direct experience with implementing peacebuilding, economic development, and/or natural resource management projects in Middle Belt and Northern Nigeria.
• University degree in conflict mitigation, social sciences, international relations or other relevant field preferred. Masters preferred.
• Minimum 5-7 years’ relevant professional experience with conflict management, economic development and/or natural resource development programs.
• Knowledge of principles of market-led development.
• Strong facilitation and consensus-building skills.
• Strong understanding of the elements of project management preferably with experience managing staff, budget.
• Creative and ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking.
• Must be able to work independently while being a strong team player.

Success Factors:

• Conscientious, with excellent judgment.
• Creative and flexible. S/he will combine strong communication skills, creativity, initiative, participatory leadership and tactful decisiveness to assist in the development and implementation of MC Nigeria’s programming strategy.
• Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential.
• S/he must have the confidence, and humility, to work effectively with a large variety of people who will be diverse culturally, economically and in social status.
• S/he must be sensitive to political and cultural nuance and able to consistently apply excellent judgment to a variety of demanding and fast-changing situations.
• Ability to foster solid working relationships with government counterparts, teammates, local partners and others.
• Ability to work as part of a team and coordinate with project personnel.
• Strong organizational skills.
• S/he will have the ability to comfortably adapt to a quickly changing environment with a sense of urgency, humor, and curiosity.

Application Closing Date
18th August, 2014.

Method of Application
Interested applicants should email their CV and cover letter to:  [email protected] with “PROJECT COORDINATOR CONCUR” as the subject of the email

Note: shortlisting will start as soon as we start receiving applications and deadline might be changed without prior notice.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted