PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006 and works to catalyze change makers within the Ugandan private sector, civil society and government to create economically dynamic, healthy and secure communities. Our works focus on building resilience and enabling economic growth, improving opportunities to attain better health and nutrition, and improving governance and conflict management. We implement programs in the northern districts of Pader, Kitgum, Agago, Lamwo, Gulu, Omoro, Moroto, Kaabong, Abim and Kotido with funding from USAID, US State Department, Walmart Foundation, SDC, DFID as well as other private donations.
We were recently awarded funding for an 8-month Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) funded program around Multi-Purpose Cash and Protection for South Sudanese refugees in Bidibidi Settlement in Yumbe District, Uganda. The program will be led by DanChurchAid with Mercy Corps as an implementing partner. The program will focus on unconditional cash transfers to Persons with Special Needs that will be defined through specific vulnerability criteria as well as a cash for work component for youth. The program’s protection activities will be conducted by TPO Uganda.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Program Manager is the senior management position for the ECHO program within Mercy Corps, with supervisory and managerial responsibility over all aspects of program implementation and staff development in that locale. The Program Manager works closely with the Director of Programs to provide vision and leadership in project administration and monitors overall project performance. The Program Manager leads the coordination, financial and administrative compliance and monitoring and evaluation of the consortium with DanChurchAid and TPO Uganda in Yumbe, as well as coordination needs with other external actors including the Office of the Prime Minister, UNHCR and other key agencies.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Program Management:
• Lead the conceptualization, implementation and continual improvement of humanitarian cash transfer interventions in specific zones of Bidibidi Settlement in Yumbe District, building off the success of similar programs and learning from key challenges faced by previous programs.
• Coordinate, manage and motivate the team, ensuring that they have clear objectives/individual work plans as part of performance management, and receive meaningful feedback on their performance.
• Monitor work and targets closely to ensure that program is able to provide maximum benefit to our beneficiaries within a very tight timeframe.
Office Management:
• Ensure proper logistics, administration, human resources and transport needs of the program are conducted within Mercy Corps policy and with the maximum benefit to the program.
• Manage the recruitment and training of program staff to ensure team is of the quality and capacity to successfully implement activities. Monitor and advise on staffing needs throughout the program. Ensure evaluations and disciplinary measures are made, as necessary according to Mercy Corps policy.
• Exercise sound judgment to ensure project expenses are reasonable, allocable and prudent. Ensure all project funds are spent in accordance with donor rules and regulations. Work with the Director of Programs to forecast expenditure surpluses and deficits to enable adjustments to be made to the program in a timely fashion.
• Oversee the program filing system and ensure that information is organized according to the reporting and auditing needs of the program. Ensure required levels of confidentiality.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
• Coordinate data gathering and management with all program staff and take overall responsibility for monitoring and evaluation.
• Ensure that the team is paying sufficient attention to the continual gathering and digestion of operating environment data and activity reports, and that teams are holding frequent activity review sessions to continually re-examine the relevance and impact of their programming.
External Representation and Coordination:
• Establish and maintain contact with all key actors as relevant for program implementation and coordination – Office of the Prime Minister and other government ministries, UNHCR, NGOs, partners – and establish mechanisms for contacting local community organizations and partners and other local NGOs/CBOs.
• Ensure establishment and maintenance of relationships with key existing structures at the settlement, host community representatives, and local government in target areas.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
• Master’s Degree in business, economic development or other relevant field is preferred.
• 6+ years of relevant management experience with positions of progressively greater responsibilities.
• Experience working on humanitarian programs is a must, preferably on programs related to cash transfers and/or cash for work.
• Management and demonstrated success building, managing and leading a team of professionals in a fast-paced challenging environment with high standards for success.
• Strong writing, communication, organization, prioritization and negotiating skills.
• Excellent coordination and representation experience is needed, especially in building and maintaining strong/productive relations with implementing and strategic partner agencies, Office of the Prime Minister and other government agencies, UNHCR, and other counterparts.
HOW TO APPLY:
Applications: Submit your application through email to ug-mcjobs@mercycorps.org addressed to the Senior HR and Legal Manager, Mercy Corps Uganda. Include a cover letter clearly stating your salary requirements, CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates. Deadline for Submission: Close of business on Tuesday, 2nd January, 2017. Subject of email should include the position you are applying for. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer; qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.