Program Manager - Conflict Management and Peace Building at Mercy Corps Nigeria

Mercy Corps is an international development organization that helps people around the world survive and thrive during crisis and natural disaster.

Mercy Corps seeks to engage interested and qualified candidate for the position of:

Job Title: Program Manager - Conflict Management and Peace Building

Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Position Status: Field-based, full-time, regular, exempt
Supervisory Responsibility: Project team
Reports Directly To: Director of Conflict Management Programs

Program/Department Summary

• Mercy Corps works in high-risk conflict and post-conflict 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 - also offer tremendous opportunities for positive change.
• We currently implement over 30 peacebuilding programs in some of the world’s toughest places, including Iraq, Somalia, and Sudan.
• Our current work builds on an exceptionally strong historical foundation.
• Since the late 1990s, Mercy Corps has implemented over 95 peacebuilding programs in over 30 countries and regions, making Mercy Corps a true leader in the field.

General Position Summary

• Mercy Corps seeks an experienced Program Manager for expected opportunities in conflict and peacebuilding work. Mercy Corps currently implements a portfolio of conflict management programs in Nigeria, aimed at increasing social cohesion and economic cooperation between communities in conflict.
• Our current work focuses on resource-based conflict in the Middle Belt but we integrate conflict sensitivity work into all programs, including in the Northeast.
• The Conflict Management and Peacebuilding Program Manager will have responsibility for the overall achievement of objectives, and the day-to-day administration and implementation of a peacebuilding program.
• This will include strengthening the capacity of local partners in the areas of peacebuilding and conflict management, training and curriculum development, reviewing the design and implementation of peacebuilding projects, facilitating clear communication between diverse groups, and ensuring rigorous measurement of program impact and timely reporting.

Essential Job Functions
Program Management:

• Manage and oversee all peacebuilding, conflict management program activities in cooperation with key project stakeholders, including local non-governmental organizations, local government officials, community-based organizations, other international agencies on the ground, and key donors;
• Collaborate with program, finance and administrative staff to ensure systems are in compliance with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E 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 donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures
• Implement and model Mercy Corps’ philosophy of social entrepreneurship and leverage Mercy Corps’ best practices.
• Increase staff capacity by designing and leading technical training sessions on conflict management for Mercy Corps staff and local partners and providing ongoing coaching and mentoring.
• Promote learning and knowledge management through documentation and knowledge sharing around best practices and lessons learned.

Strategy and Vision:

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative view points are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to country-wide strategy development.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.

Representation:

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
• Maintain good working relationships with the donor, the host country government and local leaders, partner agencies, and other key stakeholders;

Team Management:

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via performance reviews.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Supervise and regularly coordinate with project staff and support departments to ensure smooth planning, preparation, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of program activities;

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.

Organizational Learning:

• As part of Mercy Corps' agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.

Works Directly With:

• Mercy Corps administration, finance and logistics departments.
• Also works directly with local national staff and affiliated relevant Mercy Corps headquarters units as necessary, including Mercy Corps’ Youth and Conflict technical support team and various administrative/financial units.

Knowledge and Experience

• Masters degree in conflict mitigation, social sciences, international relations, development, or other relevant field preferred.
• Minimum 5-8 years’ relevant professional experience implementing conflict management and reconciliation, youth, or livelihoods programs, preferably in insecure or transitional environments.
• Strong facilitation and consensus-building skills.
• Experience managing national and international staff.
• Must be able to work independently while being a strong team player.
• Ability to speak Hausa highly preferred.

Success Factors:

• The successful Program Manager will have the ability to multi-task, set priorities, and work under tight deadlines within a complex team.
• S/he will demonstrate strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills and be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps.
• S/he will take initiative and contribute to team efforts, as well as demonstrate an ability to communicate, assume leadership, and make solid decisions while working remotely from country leadership.

Living /Environmental Conditions:

• The Program Manager will be based in Abuja and will manage activities throughout the country.
• The Program Manager will travel frequently to program locations, where security may be particularly difficult at times.
• Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting.
• Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Application Closing Date
15th April, 2015

How to Apply
Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their CV and Cover Letter, addressing the position requirements to: [email protected]