Organization: Mercy Corps
Location: Isiolo | Nairobi
Grade: Senior level – Senior
Occupational Groups:
Project and Programme Management
Managerial positions
Closing Date:
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.
Mercy Corps began working in Kenya in 2008 and has to date built a robust and diverse portfolio in working to enable Kenyans affected by poverty, resource scarcity, and conflict – in particular, youth, women, adolescents, and marginalized communities – to be healthy, productive and to drive peace and development of their communities. To do this, we deliver integrated programming to strengthen resilience, market and governance systems, address the root causes of conflict, and equip vulnerable populations- in particular youth, women, adolescents, and marginalized social groups- with the skills, opportunities, and resources they need to be healthy, productive and to drive the development of their communities. Mercy Corps Kenya also collaborates with neighboring countries to implement several multi-country and cross-border programs.
Working with a diverse base of donors that includes the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), European Commission (EC), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Embassy of the Kingdom Of Netherlands, Gates Foundation, Swiss Agency for Development and Corporation (SDC), Google.org, MasterCard Foundation and other foundations and institutional donors, Mercy Corps empowers people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good. We work closely with the private sector, civil society, and governance structures at local and national levels to facilitate change and ensure that opportunities are inclusive of all Kenyans.
The programme / Department / Team
Mercy Corps is currently seeking a qualified Programme Director to lead the Resilient Approaches in Natural ranGeland Ecosystems (RANGE) programme running from 2024 -2028. The RANGE programme is being implemented by Mercy Corps in Isiolo, Marsabit and Samburu counties with funding from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in partnership with the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) and the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) of the University of Twente. The goal of the RANGE programme is to strengthen resilience of the arid and semi arid land communities that contributes to sustainable economic and social development in a well-managed landscape and the programme has four main outcomes: Outcome 1: Improved rangeland management repairs ecosystem health and increases food, nutrition and water security. Outcome 2: Sustainable livestock and alternative livelihood production and competitiveness of markets strengthened within an improved policy environment. Outcome 3: Improved linkages among and between communities and government structures to support collaboration on economic, environmental and social issues promote stability and sustained development. Outcome 4: Strengthened Research and evidence-based programming contribute to impactful project implementation, effective coordination, early warning and early action, innovation and learning for resilient ASAL communities.Systems strengthening, including market systems development (MSD) approaches, are a key cross-cutting approach for RANGE, with the aim of stimulating sustainable, systemic change at scale.
The Position
The Programme Director will provide overall leadership, management, and strategic vision for the implementation of the programme, ensuring that the programme meets its targets and deliverables on time and within budget. Equivalent to a Chief of Party role on USAID funded programmes, the programme Director will supervise senior programme staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps policies as well as all donor rules and regulations. They will be the primary representative for the programme with the donor, government entities, and all other partners and stakeholders. The preferred location for this role is Isiolo, and Nairobi can also be an option.
Essential Responsibilities
STRATEGY AND PLANNING
Lead continuous development of a vision and strategy for RANGE shared with Activity staff and stakeholders. Lead Annual planning and budgeting for the programme including support to partners in the consortium.
Lead the consortium and partners under the programme ensuring alignment and common effort towards our goal.
Leverage Mercy Corps’ existing market development and resilience programme and expertise to ensure technical quality and integration with complementary initiatives.
Participate in Mercy Corps’ strategic discussions at the country and global level.
PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT
Oversee programme management and administration. Ensure implementation is on time, target, and budget, using effective M&E systems to assess impact.
Ensure that implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant programme guidelines, principles, values, quality standards, and strategic plan.
Develop partnership frameworks, partner agreements/Memorandum of Understandings, and oversee capacity building for partners.
Integrate locally-driven approaches, gender sensitivity, and capacity building into all activities, as appropriate. Certify that all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and programme participant accountability standards.
Design and oversee market systems analysis for selected systems, including working with consultants
With the RANGE programme team, select and design a portfolio of MSD interventions to drive transformational change in priority systems
Spearhead the RANGE private sector partnership strategy for MSD interventions, meet private sector partnerships, and broker successful partnerships working closely with the RANGE team.
Ensure programme strategies and activities represent global good practice for market development and resilience programming.
Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, administration, and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.
Fulfill Mercy Corps’ programme Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
Develop the capacity of the existing team and new team members, deepen understanding of staff roles, and assist with career development.
Provide team members with information, tools, and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
Provide MSD training for the RANGE team, including on-going mentoring and skills development.
Promote staff accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one-on-one meetings and performance reviews.
Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
Support Mercy Corps global and regional initiatives for human resources, including safeguarding and diversity, and talent development.
FINANCE & COMPLIANCE
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 programmeme, donor, and Mercy Corps’ needs.
Ensure sound financial management, including programmatic budgeting, spending projections, and monitoring of payments in compliance with donor and Mercy Corps standards.
INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION
Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO, and other relevant events, in close coordination with the Director of Programmes and Country Director.
Coordinate activities with consortium partners, subgrantees, local government, and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programmes.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Collaborate with country leadership to support preparedness and response to major disruptive events.
Own and keep updated the programme risk register and log.
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 programmes are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.
SAFEGUARDING
Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work
Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members
Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options
Supervisory Responsibility
Supervise the RANGE programmes team, including line management of the senior programme manager, senior programmes, finance, technical and MEL leads. Exact line management will be confirmed at a later date.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Director of Programmes, MC Kenya
Works Directly With: Regional Directors, Country Directors, other programme Directors or Chiefs Of Party, Mercy Corps programmes in East Africa, finance and operations teams, HQ Regional programmes Team, and HQ Technical Support Unit
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our programme 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.
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
Master’s Degree or equivalent in natural resource management, agriculture, economics, rural development, or similar field.
Minimum 5+ years of Chief-of-Party or Programme Director level experience managing large (preferably $10 million and above) market systems development (MSD), natural resource management, agricultural development, and/or livelihoods programmes with a market-orientation, preferably in Africa.
Proven technical expertise in market systems development and in one or more of the following programme areas: natural resource management, resilience, agricultural value chain development, income & livelihoods diversification.
Experience in Kenya preferred, especially in ASAL regions.
Strong skills and track record in leading diverse teams, inspiring staff, and developing a shared vision with staff and stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain partnerships with diverse stakeholders including national and subnational government, donors, donor-funded programme, private sector actors, and civil society organizations.
Proficient English with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Success Factors
The successful Programme Director will combine exceptional team management skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships. They will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative programmes within the current and future programme 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 Isiolo or Nairobi, Kenya. This position requires up to 50% travel by road and air to field offices in often insecure environments.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. 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.
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.
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.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.