About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps works in places of transition, where conflict, disaster, political upheaval, or economic collapse present opportunities to build more secure, productive, and just communities. Providing emergency relief in times of crisis, we move quickly to help communities recover and build resilience to future shocks, and promote sustainable change by supporting community-led and market-driven initiatives. Recognizing both the great potential and the complex challenges faced by the Middle East, since 1989 Mercy Corps has been implementing a range of humanitarian assistance and development programs tailored to the specific needs of the region and of those communities where we work.

In Syria, Mercy Corps has been implementing emergency and life-sustaining activities since 2012. Mercy Corps’ program addresses a large array of needs and gaps, across a number of technical sectors across the whole of Syria. Projects include emergency response for basic needs; livelihoods and protection projects; WASH projects; and cash transfer programming. This project is implemented through partnerships and is managed remotely from the Amman, in Jordan.

General Position Summary

The Project Manager is a cross-functional role, within the Mercy Corps Syria Country Office, which will lead the grant management function as well as the implementation of an OFDA funded partnership project across multiple locations inside Syria. Under the direct supervision of the Partnership Support Program (PSP) Director, the Project Manager, in coordination with the technical program managers, and partner focal points will be responsible for overall grant management, coordination, monitoring, reporting and be the primary donor focal point for a multi-sector emergency response program in Syria. The position will work closely with relevant Program Managers, Sector Advisers, Grants Manager and partners to ensure activities are donor compliant and in line with sector and mainstreaming best practice. In addition, working with the thematic Program Managers, the Project Manager will support on the design, technical oversight and monitoring of this complex grant. The role will also lead on the donor reporting and relevant communication as delegated by the Partnership Support Director.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Program Management

• Ensure that relevant systems, tools and procedures are developed for effective assessment, program implementation, and documentation, tracking & reporting of activities for the grant.
• Monitor the frameworks/objectives, and ensure that the projects meet internal and donor set criteria and standards in a timely fashion.
• Work closely with MC Program Managers and MEL Manager to ensure adaptive tools for remote monitoring.
• Organize and facilitate meetings/workshops/trainings to help increase the team and partner understanding of Grant management and rules as required.
• Provide specific coaching to staff, maintaining a consistent approach with other team members.
• Ensure grants are spent on time, appropriately and to budget. Keep track of spending in coordination with Finance Manager and Partnership Support Program Director.
• Monitoring of trends or concerns that arise from partner reports, updates and meetings and timely feedback to the Partnership Support Program Director.
• Ensure a good understanding of the Syrian conflict context, compliance, security and programming quality risks.
• 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.
• Assist in any other task or duty assigned by the supervisor or Grants Manager
• Regular travel to meet with partners

Grant Management

• Maintain up to date knowledge on donor requirements and compliance issues, relevant to specific grants.
• As required lead on donor level proposal design and proposal writing in coordination with Grants Manager and Partnership Support Program Director.
• Responsible for quality report writing and submissions to donors.

Technical Support

• Work with Program Managers and Technical Advisers to ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Work with Program Managers and identity programmatic gaps either in current quality of implementation or potential future areas of implementation. Liaise with Mercy Corps’ experts in specific fields to acquire the required technical support.
• Work with Program Managers and Technical Advisers to ensure projects are aligned with context specific learning and best practice.
• Work with Program Managers to ensure the application of appropriate eligibility criteria and appropriate tailored assistance in programming.
• Work with Program Managers to ensure that protection and do no harm standards are mainstreamed through program activities.
• Work with PaQ team and relevant Program Managers to ensure that the partners have established accountability mechanisms in line with Mercy Corps CARM manual.
• Work with Program Managers and PaQ team to integrate M&E and accountability systems that are compliant with CHS, SPHERE and other relevant standards, as well as to the Donors’ requirements.
• Work with Program Managers, and PaQ team to develop capacity building plans and objectives for partners.
• Responsible for delegated training and coaching to partner staff to improve best practice.
• Support the team to ensure that communities and relevant stakeholders are adequately informed about programs, are comfortable to give feedback, that feedback is used to improve the quality of our programs and referral mechanisms are in place.

Representation and Coordination

• Pay close attention to issues, trends or concerns that arise and in discussion with Partnership Support Director make decisions and take action as delegated.
• As required participate in relevant working group meetings, representing Mercy Corps work.
• Under supervision of the Partnership Support Director develop and maintain working relationships with other INGOs and develop joint approaches and tools to support cash programming
• As delegated by the Partnership Support Program Director representation at donor meetings, and government forums/meetings.

Finance and Compliance

• Ensure that projects are executed in alignment with the donor agreement and the applicable donor regulations, staying abreast of changes in regulatory environment related to donor/grant compliance; updating partnership process, tools, policies and procedures as necessary
• In close coordination with Mercy Corps’ Humanitarian Access Team (HAT), ensure appropriate due diligence mechanisms are in place to mitigate against fraud, corruption, aid-diversion and that all stakeholders are properly vetted
• In close coordination with the procurement team, ensure partners are compliant with donor and Mercy Corps’ procurement policies, which includes training on procurement minimum standards and procedures, supporting procurement planning and tracking major procurements.
• Act as the focal point for full compliance with PM@MC minimum standards.
• Provide support and training to the field teams to ensure that PM@MC minimum standards for program management are met. Conduct regular checks of adherence to PM@MC.
• In coordination with Finance and the Head of Grants Management, ensure comprehensive monthly BVA meetings and lead grant review meetings presenting up to date information.
• Support the subawards and compliance team to ensure compliance with Mercy Corps’ Subaward Financial Management Manual
• Support the finance team with budget development and ensure consistency with program planning.
• Ensure a solid understanding of Mercy Corps’ operations, and how this relates to due diligence processes initiated by donors.

Security

• Ensure team compliance with security procedures and policies are followed by partners.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
• Alongside the Security Coordinator and Program Managers support implementing partners to improve security mitigation approaches, ensure tools and processes are in place to manage staff safety and security and report incidents appropriately

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

N/A – this may change in the duration of employment

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Partnership Support Program Director

Works Directly With: All Mercy Corps departments and staff, as well as staff from partner organizations

Knowledge and Experience

• University degree or higher in field relating to humanitarian and development work or’ Degree relevant to one or more of the following technical sectors (Livelihoods, humanitarian programming, Protection)
• 3-5 years of experience working in Non-Governmental Organization, ideally focused on humanitarian relief.
• Over 3 years of experience of working with USAID funding and a demonstrated strong working knowledge of relevant donor requirements.
• Strong grant and report writing experience.
• Experience in implementing humanitarian programs including livelihoods, WASH and protection.
• Demonstrated experience in emergency response programming in highly insecure environments.
• Experience of remote management – preferably in the Syrian context.
• Experience working with partners.
• Commitment to local capacity development and past experience of engaging and working with local stakeholders in project design and implementation.
• Demonstrated capacity to collaborate closely with INGOs, national NGOs and Community Based Organizations.
• Good organizational and project management skills.
• Proven ability to work cooperatively with colleagues from other departments in a team environment across multiple locations.
• Understanding of participatory methodologies for project design, implementation and evaluation.
• Knowledge of humanitarian standards and codes, including SPHERE and CHS is an asset.
• Experience of line management is required.
• Demonstrated familiarity with the MS Office software (i.e., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) is required.
• Show great initiative and be able to work well in a team and independently.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the Syrian conflict context and understands project needs.
• Commitment to high level of confidentiality with sensitive information.
• English language written and spoken is essential. Excellent spoken and written Arabic is desired.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will have proven experience working effectively and respectfully with NGOs and CBO representatives, and will have effective verbal and written communication as well as multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills. S/he will have demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members. S/he should have excellent coordination skills, the ability to manage multiple deadlines and show initiative to improve program implementation collaboratively. This individual will have proposal and report writing experience, specifically working with US Aid funding. They must be sensitive to multi-cultural humanitarian and development work and have the ability to train and facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of individuals with various skill sets and working styles. S/he will have experience of achieving tasks working in a remote management context. An ability to creatively solve problems, juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines, and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected and sudden events impacting program operations are also essential. This individual must be comfortable to travel regularly.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position is based in Amman, Jordan and it requires regular regional travel. Housing is individual accommodation with unlimited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. There are several good International schools in Jordan. Staff have easy access to services – medical, electricity, water, etc.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. Team members 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, in such a manner as to bring positive recognition to Mercy Corps and to not endanger Mercy Corps’ humanitarian mission

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

Apply Here

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