Contract Director (Wajibika)

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 partner to put bold solutions into action - helping people triumph over adversity and build strong communities from within. Now, and for the future. Mercy Corps has worked in Tanzania since 2006, focusing primarily on three thematic areas: (1) food security, (2) governance and peace, and (3) economic opportunity and livelihoods. Youth and women are at the center of all programming in Tanzania. Through these programmes Mercy Corps supports and builds the capacity of government at the national and local levels, and of communities - making sure that they are able to address challenges facing them. The Agrifin programme for example connects smallholder farmers with technology and financial services to boost productivity. Mercy Corps Tanzania is part of the FCDO- funded Collective Resilience Against Extremism (CREATE), a multi-country program that aims to mitigate the drivers, enablers, and narratives of violent extremism in East Africa (targeting Mtwara, Kigoma, Mwanza, and Tanga in Tanzania specifically). Through localized strategies, CREATE focuses on strengthening and supporting societal bonds to prevent the recruitment of vulnerable individuals to violent extremist organizations.

Program / Department Summary Funded by the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the anticipated WAJIBIKA programme will promote a more open, inclusive society in Tanzania where the government demonstrates greater accountability to the needs of its citizens. Wajibika will deliver this impact via three strategic outcomes to support 1) effective civic space and inclusive political processes 2) media freedom and access to information, and 3) Government of Tanzania (GoT) knowledge, will and capacity for public service reforms. Wajibika is divided into three components aligned to the three outcomes. The first two components require indicative activities and delivery partners to be outlined at bidding stage. The final component is a flexible, demand-led facility to tactically support GoT, FCDO and SDC with research and technical assistance to drive governance innovation.

General Position Summary The Contract Director will provide overall leadership and oversight for the finance, procurement, travel/logistics, and human resources team under the Wajibika programme. S/he will empower the operations and finance team while providing quality control to ensure robust, flexible, and adaptive operations to support programme activities. The Contract Director must be fluent in compliance matters and help the senior management team ensure the contract is implemented in accordance with contractual requirements, Mercy Corps policies, FCDO and SDC regulations, and local laws. S/he will be responsible for ensuring that staff are familiar with policies and procedures related to finance, procurement, human resources, and take the lead in overseeing the management of the facilities and property related to the Wajibika programme. S/he will work closely with the Deputy Team Lead who oversees technical programs while reporting to the Team Lead. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

• Maintain and oversee the workflow processes for operations, finance and grants.
• Review key programme protocols, processes and guidance, in conjunction with operations, finance, grant, and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) teams, recommending design improvements and efficiencies where needed.
• Ensure activity budgets are developed, led by the Finance and Sub grants Manager in cooperation technical teams, maintaining a master collation of activity budgets that details activity priorities, resource and security needs.
• Oversee responses to internal and external financial/compliance audits.
• Supervise the day-to-day performance of direct reports, ensuring that they understand their roles, coaching them to succeed and providing them with feedback and technical and administrative support that they require in meeting their performance objectives. FINANCIAL AND GRANTS MANAGEMENT
  • Responsible for the financial management of the Wajibika programme, including quality controls, cost reporting, forecasting and tracking in collaboration with the Finance and Admin Lead.
  • Provide recommendations on the overall financial management and performance of the programme and work in close collaboration with Mercy Corps Europe (MCE) team to monitor costs.
  • Regularly participate in calls with the MCE and support the maintenance and updating of the programme Activity-Based Budget (ABB) and forecast.
  • Mitigate project risks and protect the programme against fraudulent practices through adherence to the programme’s schedule of authorities.
  • Ensure strict implementation of a sound internal control system and take appropriate actions against any violation of the system.
  • Review Mercy Corps, and sub-contractor invoices prior to submission to FCDO for accuracy.
  • Approve payment requests, and review and approve financial vouchers.
  • Release bank payments and hold bank signatory authority for the programme as well as provide quality control and risk management for finance functions.
  • Conduct monthly ABB forecast review.
  • Oversee grants team and provide quality control and risk management.
  • Review all Request for Applications (RFAs) and liaise with Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader and MCE for approval.
  • Draft all Requests for Grant Approval as required by the contract.PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
    • Provide management oversight and quality control for the administrative operations of the programme, including procurement, inventory management, and reporting as per the donor and Mercy Corps standards.
    • Oversee programme procurement and review disposition plans in line with annual workplan.
    • Review/draft all requests to FCDO for procurement approvals.
    • Provide input and support to technical teams on travel, logistics, and quality delivery of country-level initiatives and activities, including trainings, forums, and other high-visibility events.
    • Act as the programme’s Security Focal Point, ensuring security plan is updated annually and disseminated to staff. Ensure phone tree is updated.
    • Share security alerts with travelers and all staff as appropriate.CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTING
      • Respond to urgent client requests, including budget scenarios, scope of work development, and other tasks as needed.
      • Work with the Finance and Admin Lead and MCE to draft/review contract deliverables – including Quarterly Financial Report, Inventory and Asset Report, Annual Value Added Tax Report.
      • Review and/or prepare regular and ad hoc requests for reports to the donor, including inventory disposition, local taxes, activity budgets, etc.
      • Other duties as assignedSupervisory Responsibility: TBC Accountability Reports Directly To: Team Leader Works Directly With: Deputy Team Leader, Finance and Admin Lead; MEAL Lead; programme team and partners

        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 field projects

        Knowledge and Experience

        • Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics or other relevant field. A Masters degree is preferred.
        • CPA(K) qualification is required.
        • Minimum of twelve (12) years’ experience implementing donor-funded development projects, to include Project Administration, Operations and Procurement.
        • Minimum of ten years of supervisory experience and proven ability to manage teams of professionals to produce key results.
        • Detailed knowledge of donor rules and regulations, preferably with experience implementing a UK government-funded contract.
        • Demonstrated record of results-driven project management and an ability to creatively solve complex organisational issues and foster ownership within teams.
        • Strong writing skills and experience in developing budgets, reports and workplans. Success Factors A successful Contract Director will possess an exemplary professional standard of ethics as well as the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps’ internal policies and procedures and external regulations. S/he will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact effectively with internal and external stakeholders on sensitive and confidential matters as necessary along with the ability to navigate difficult circumstances with a calm demeanor, in an analytical and methodical manner. A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary. A broad understanding of humanitarian and development programs coupled with the ability to analyze financial operational data and clearly present conclusions and recommendations is essential.

          Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions This position is based in Dar-es-Salaam. The location is accompanied and secure. Housing is individual accommodation with nearly unlimited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. There are many schools (local and international) within Dar-es-Salaam and staff have good access to basic services. This position will also include frequent travel to the field where the programme will be implemented. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a short-term assignment. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs, and Mercy Corps policies, procedures, and values always and in all in-country venues.Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. 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.