Emergency Program Manager, Benghazi, Libya
Closing Date: Friday, 23 September 2011
Benghazi
PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s. Presently it has offices in Lebanon, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Syria, Yemen and Iraq. Programming in the region includes relief and recovery activities in northern Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza, Jordan and Syria – working often with refugees and displaced persons, as well as host communities affected by conflict and poverty. has had an assessment team on the ground in Libya since March 2nd, began grant-funded programming in May, currently has offices in Benghazi and Misrata and employ 7 ex-pats and more than 25 national team members.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Emergency Program Manager is responsible for oversight of field assessments and coordination, program development, as well as supervisory and managerial responsibility over emergency response and recovery programs on the ground. The Emergency Program Manager leads field monitoring and program performance by tracking progress toward specified objectives. This position will have a special emphasis on program leadership and innovation in a post-disaster, recovery setting involving ‘cash for work,’ health, food security, camp management, water and sanitation. The Emergency Program Manager will need to be highly sensitive to the political dynamics of the region and have relevant security experience.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Vision, Leadership and Strategy
- Communicate a clear vision of program goals related to current emergency situation and the recovery phase in Libya.
- Provide leadership and direction to the emergency response.
- Develop a program strategy in collaboration with key team members, to be communicated to all team members, local beneficiaries, local and central government and the international community.
Quality Program Development
- Oversee emergency assessments and gathering of baseline data.
- Monitor the on the ground situation as it develops and utilize information for development of quality emergency response and recovery programming.
- Identify needs, set priorities and lead the process of program implementation in collaboration with Libya team members and regional and headquarters staff.
Program Management
- Coordinate with program, finance and administrative staff to ensure systems are in compliance with donor and policies and procedures.
- Ensure program implementation is on time, on target and on-budget using effective M&E systems.
- Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and policies and procedures
- Implement and model ’ philosophy of social entrepreneurship.
- Develop collaborative relationships with Country Director and field leaders.
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 regular 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.
- Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary.
- Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
Representation and Diplomacy
- Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
- Convey information and ideas and effectively coordinate to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: All Libya emergency team members and coordinate any outside HQ support.
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Country Representative
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Libya team; HQ-based Program Operations, Finance and Technical Support Units
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- MA/S or equivalent in social science, management or international development preferred
- At least 5-7 years experience in emergency programming
- 5+ years field-based experience in a senior leadership position building and managing a team of professionals; developing and managing programs and providing financial oversight
- Experience with donor-funded programs including protocols of one or more of the following donors: USAID/ OFDA, UN, EU, DFID and private donors.
- History of working effectively and respectfully with host country government, INGO and NGO partners
- Experience in highly volatile security situations with a demonstrated commitment to team safety
- Commitment to the principles of participatory team management and participatory, community-oriented development.
- Effective verbal and written communication
- Proven ability to multi-tasking, utilizing effective organizational skills.
- Prior experience living overseas and ability to work comfortably in the Libya cultural environment is required.
- Arabic language skills preferred
SUCCESS FACTORS:
The successful PM will recognize that ’ ability to function safely and successfully in Libya depends on the ability of staff to understand the context in which programs operate. The successful Emergency PM will apply a strong combination of team leadership, program development and implementation skills in a volatile security and fast-changing environment. The PM will have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability; the ability to work successfully and respectfully and will maintain a sense of humor in stressful conditions. S/he will have an excellent understanding of emergency and transitional issues and programmatic approaches. The successful PM will be able to work across a wide range of stakeholder working with local community members, governmental authorities, NGO partners, and donors. S/he will bring a positive approach to the job, embracing challenges as opportunities to innovate. S/he will write well and communicate in a manner that is confident and clear, yet diplomatic, enabling him/her to forge positive working relationships with donors and other stakeholders. Finally, the successful PM will work well under pressure in a fluid operating and security environment.
LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
This position is assigned a group living environment in guest housing. The successful candidate must be able to work in an environment with energy, transportation and communication challenges located in Benghazi or other parts of Libya. 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. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Please apply directly at:
http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjo....
is an AA/EOE.
