Organization: Mercy Corps
Location: Gadaref | Port Sudan | Kassala
Grade: Senior level – Senior
Occupational Groups:
Operations and Administrations
Democratic Governance
Public Policy and Administration
Project and Programme Management
Managerial positions
Closing Date: 2025-02-28

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a well-known international organization driven by the conviction that a better world is achievable. In more than 40 nations worldwide, we collaborate to implement audacious solutions in times of tragedy and adversity, assisting individuals in overcoming hardship and constructing stronger communities from within. To do this, we know that diverse teams where each member feels like they belong perform at their highest level. To be stronger and make a lasting impression, we embrace people with all origins, viewpoints, and abilities.

Overview of the Program or Department

With a country headquarters in Port Sudan and field offices in South Darfur, Central Darfur, South Kordofan, North Kordofan, Kassala, River Nile, Northern, and Gedaref states, Mercy Corps has been working in Sudan since 2004. Food security and livelihoods, WASH, health, nutrition, resilience, and market systems development are among Mercy Corps’ current programming topics.

Overview of the General Position

To guarantee that the Transforming Agrifood and Nutrition through Multisectoral Inclusive Approaches (TANMIA) program meets its goals and deliverables on schedule and within budget, the Chief of Party (COP) will provide overall leadership, management, and strategic vision. The COP will oversee program employees and guarantee adherence to donor guidelines and Mercy Corps’ policies. They will serve as the main point of contact for donors, pertinent government agencies, partners, other implementers, and stakeholders on the program.

Responsibilities

STRATEGY AND VISION

• Provide leadership and strategic vision in all aspects of program implementation, development and management. Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners, and aligned with Mercy Corps’ and the consortium’s principles, values and strategic plan.
• Outline and maintain a strategic plan for the implementation of program activities, including finalizing target areas/activities, methods of operation and means of evaluation.
• 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.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Oversee program start-up, management and administration. Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• 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.
• Confirm program participants are effectively targeted according to transparent criteria.
• Develop partnership frameworks, partner agreements/Memorandum of Understandings, and oversee partner capacity building.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate. Certify all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
• Ensure program strategies and activities represent global good practice in relevant technical areas.
• Supervise and/or review the work of program consultants.
• Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, administration, and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Provide effective management for the program management team and consortium team members, ensuring that all staff and consortium members are clear on roles and responsibilities, expectations, communications flows and workplans.
• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Actively hire, orient and lead team members as necessary, ensuring effective onboarding mechanisms are in place across the team. Actively support succession planning.

FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps’ regulations.
• Create and maintain systems to ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with program, donor and Mercy Corps’ needs.
• Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events, in close coordination with the Country Director.
• Coordinate activities with consortium partners, subgrantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.
• Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
• Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

SECURITY

Supervisory Responsibility

National and international team members working on the program, as well as partnerships with international and national program partners. The number of direct and indirect reports is to be determined.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Country Director

Works Directly With: Other COPs or program managers in-country (where multiple programs operate), finance and operations teams, Regional Program Team, Technical Resources and Quality team, partner organizations

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Qualification

• MA/S or equivalent in social science, management, international development, or other relevant field.
• A minimum of 7 years of relevant international development or humanitarian experience, with positions of progressively greater responsibilities.
• At least five years in a senior management role is required with experience managing integrated, multi-sectoral programs of a similar size and scope. Previous experience as a Chief of Party for projects with similar magnitude and complexity is highly desired.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in market systems development, agriculture, food and nutrition security, and resilience.
• Prior experience with the implementation of USAID awards, leading a consortium, and familiarity with donor regulations, procedures and compliance issues.
• Strong skills and a track record in strategic visioning, leadership, and inspiring teams.
• Effective personnel management, coordination, and decision-making skills, with proven ability to be accountable for all components of the program.
• Competent in building networks, strong problem-solving skills, and ability to influence with effective listening, persuasion, negotiation and other techniques.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Experience working in sub-Saharan Africa is required, with preference for experience in Sudan or the region.

• Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.

• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

Success Factors

The successful COP will combine exceptional management skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships. They will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. They will also have proven experience with cross-cultural teams and capacity building, individual staff development, and strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. 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.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Port Sudan, Sudan and is an unaccompanied post. The role requires up to 35% travel to support the program, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

How to apply

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