Chief of Party – Nepal DRR and Resilience Program

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 collaborate to put bold solutions into action, helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.To create a better world, 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.

Program / Department Summary Enhancing resilience is at the heart of what Mercy Corps does and how we work. Resilience means that people and systems can protect and improve wellbeing in the face of shocks and stresses. Mercy Corps strengthens sources of resilience to enhance the capacities of people, markets, and institutions to handle shocks, reduce risk, build more equitable and responsive systems, and improve well-being. Through programs, partnerships, and influence, we support communities to cope, adapt, and thrive.Mercy Corps began working in Nepal in 2005 and has since implemented projects in agriculture, food security and nutrition, financial services, youth engagement, and disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptations. Mercy Corps Nepal’s programming has reached over 900,000 people in 23 districts working to reach some of the most vulnerable and remote individuals.Mercy Corps is seeking a qualified Chief of Party (CoP) to lead the anticipated $12 million, five-year, USAID/BHA-funded Early Recovery, Risk Reduction, and Resilience (ER4) Activity in Nepal. The Activity is expected to reduce disaster risk and increase the disaster management capacity of the GoN as well as support highly vulnerable disaster-prone communities in Nepal to mitigate, withstand, respond to, and recover from disasters. The Activity will work with local governmental entities and populations that face high disaster risk exposure. A two-fold approach will enable longer-term capacity building initiatives with sub-national GoN to sustainably build capacity to prepare for and respond to disasters. It will also help empower communities with high-risk exposure to reduce their disaster risk and prepare for emergencies. The program is anticipated to begin approximately October 2025. Hiring is contingent upon successful award and USAID approval of the candidate.

General Position Summary The CoP will provide overall leadership, management, and strategic vision to the Activity. They will manage staff, resources, and partnerships to ensure that the Activity meets its targets and deliverables on-time and within budget. The CoP will supervise Activity staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps’ policies and donor rules and regulations. They will be the primary representative to donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers, and external stakeholders for this Activity. They will actively promote an inclusive culture of learning and adaptive management and will ensure strong systems and processes drive program performance.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Provide leadership and strategic vision in all aspects of Activity development, implementation, and management. Ensure that Activity implementation is responsive to communities, and aligned with Mercy Corps’ principles, values, and strategic plan.
• Outline and maintain a strategic plan for the implementation of program activities, including finalizing target areas/interventions, targeting criteria, methods of operation, and means of evaluation.
• Leverage Mercy Corps’ existing programming and expertise to ensure technical quality and integration with complementary initiatives.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.

  Program Management

  • Oversee Activity start-up and ongoing program management and administration. Ensure program implementation is on time, target, and budget, using effective MEL systems and CLA approaches to reach desired impact.
  • Ensure that implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
  • Develop systems to support CLA, including promoting a culture of adaptive management.
  • Develop equitable partnership frameworks, partner agreements/Memorandum of Understandings, and provide oversight to partners and sub-awardees; ensure partners are effectively included in program structures, are mentored appropriately, and capacity strengthening plans are in place.
  • Create and follow effective stakeholder engagement plans, ensuring sound and proactive communications with Mercy Corps Nepal, Mercy Corps Global teams, donors, GoN authorities, partner organizations, and colleague agencies.
  • Ensure program strategies and activities represent global good practice in expected component areas of disaster response, early recovery, risk reduction, resilience and governance approaches.
  • Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, administration, and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.
  • Ensure Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards are fulfilled.

    Team Management (Human Resources, Safeguarding and Diversity)

    • 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.
    • Strengthen the capacity of the team as needed, both as individuals and as a cohesive unit. Facilitate mechanisms for effective collaboration. Build and develop the program team's capacity, deepening understanding of their roles and assisting with career development. Ensure team members have access to clear objectives and the information, tools, and resources they need to improve performance and reach their goals.
    • Promote 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.
    • Oversee recruitment and onboarding of program staff and consultants. Actively hire, orient and lead team members as necessary, ensuring effective onboarding mechanisms are in place across the team. Actively support succession planning.
    • Support Mercy Corps’ global and regional initiatives for human resources, including safeguarding and diversity, and talent development.

      Finance & Compliance

      • Ensure compliance with USAID 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.
      • Monitor adherence to grant agreement, Mercy Corps’ policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations, including those of the Government of Nepal.
      • Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Safeguarding and Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

        Influence & Representation

        • Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO, and other relevant events, in close coordination with the Country Director.
        • Ensure close coordination and information sharing with consortium partners, sub-grantees, government, other implementers, and other Mercy Corps programs.
        • Establish and maintain relationships with counterparts in partner organizations, civil society, government, and private sector networks in Nepal.
        • Serve as an active contributor and collaborator with regional and global counterparts to promote best practices. Participate in Mercy Corps’ strategic discussions at the country and global level.

          Risk Management & Security

          • Collaborate with country leadership to support preparedness and response to major disruptive events.
          • Work closely with the country/regional security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
          • Ensure that the Activity is implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

            Supervisory ResponsibilityExpected to supervise several direct reports. The number of direct and indirect reports will be determined at a later stage.

            Accountability Reports Directly To: Mercy Corps Nepal Country Director Works Directly With: Activity team members, Country SMT, other CoPs or program managers, finance, administration, and operations teams, HQ Regional Program Team, HQ Technical Resources and Quality Unit, or other HQ or Regional teams.

            Knowledge and Experience / Qualification and Transferable Skills

            • MA/S or equivalent experience in development studies, international relations, or another relevant field. BA/S plus three (3) years of applicable experience may substitute for MA/S.
            • At least seven (7) years of progressively increasing management responsibility in international humanitarian and development projects, at least five (5) years of which must be country- or internationally field-based.
            • Proven leadership skills managing projects of a similar size and scope in developing countries is required, with preference for experience leading USAID/BHA Activities.
            • Proven success serving in a leadership role for a project addressing issues related to resilience, emergency response, natural resource management, disaster risk reduction through a nexus approach, preferably in South Asia.
            • Prior experience effectively managing humanitarian and DRR activities involving implementation by multiple sub-awardees.
            • Demonstrated experience recruiting, developing, and managing staff, as well as experience in managing programmatic and financial reporting. Familiarity with USAID/BHA regulations, procedures, and compliance issues is preferred.
            • Prior experience working in South Asia is required; experience in Nepal strongly preferred.
            • Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Nepal’s DRR governance, social, political, economic, and cultural landscape.
            • Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners.
            • An understanding and demonstrated commitment to the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
            • Demonstrated experience in adaptive management and learning techniques is highly encouraged.
            • Competent in building networks, strong problem-solving skills, and ability to influence with effective listening, persuasion, negotiation, and other techniques.
            • Effective personnel management, coordination, and decision-making skills, with proven ability to be accountable for all components of a program.
            • Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with diverse team members across geographies.
            • Excellent verbal and written communication skills and fluency in English. Proficiency in Nepali and/or other languages spoken in western Nepal preferred.

              Success Factors The successful candidate will combine exceptional management skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships. They will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. They will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, be accountable for results, and understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details. They will be comfortable working within a complex and sensitive setting and following laws and security protocols. The successful candidate will have a good handle on adaptive management, integration and coordination, stakeholder engagement, capacity strengthening, community-level governance and planning, facilitation, and conflict-sensitive approaches. They will also see the program as part of wider Mercy Corps Nepal and global programs and be excited to engage at a country office and organizational level. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments, and prioritize effective written and verbal communication in all situations.

              Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions This position is based in Kathmandu, Nepal, with significant travel required to program locations across the country. For international candidates, this is an accompanied position with housing in individual accommodation and unlimited freedom of movement beyond the house and office. Kathmandu is a culturally dynamic capital city that can provide a safe and comfortable living environment, including for families, though patience with routine power cuts, water shortages, air pollution, and traffic is required. There are many international schools in Nepal, including both American and British system programs. Staff have full access to all services, such as medical, electricity, water, and internet. This position requires 50% travel (or more) to field offices and locations, some of which are easily accessible but many others of which are remote and require extended travel (by medium or small aircraft, vehicle on rough, windy, and/or elevated roads, and hiking) in areas that may be distant from amenities or healthcare. Climate conditions can include exceptional heat or cold, with some field sites at higher altitudes. This position is not eligible for hardship and/or R&R benefits.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. 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.Accountability to Participants and StakeholdersMercy 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 projects.Ongoing LearningIn 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 & InclusionAchieving 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 OpportunityMercy 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 & EthicsMercy 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 and have signed on to the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme — SCHR. 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 must complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and annually.

              As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).