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.
The Program / Department / Team
Mercy Corpsโ Ukraine response meets the humanitarian needs of vulnerable Ukrainians and other conflict-affected people where they are: displaced inside Ukraine, refugees in Poland, and Moldova, or trapped behind frontlines. In 2022, MCโs Ukraine response reached 1.28 million people with emergency cash, food, psychosocial support, and information campaigns. Notably, nearly all our programming has been delivered in partnership with Ukrainian, Polish, and Moldovan civil society organizations through a granting program that matches humanitarian action with capacity strengthening, and with peer international NGOs through a consortium in Ukraine. Building on a substantial program addressing needs through MPCA/Cash in the Eastern and Southern regions of Ukraine, the portfolio is currently piloting a Rapid Response Mechanism as well as a Resilience program focusing on supporting local value chains and SMEs..
The Position
The Country Director leads and manages a team of field professionals to ensure Mercy Corps is implementing high quality, impactful programming with the necessary management and support structures to sustain response programs at scale. The role also includes ensuring appropriate systems and support mechanisms are in place to track, analyze and report on results as well as setting the strategic direction of the overall response.
Essential Responsibilities
STRATEGY AND VISION
Set a clear vision for the response, identify present and future program goals and strategies to team members and stakeholders, working closely with field leadership in Ukraine, Poland and Moldova
Ensure response fits within regional and global strategies
Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve program and agency objectives
Evaluate and present new response and project funding opportunities that leverage impact and integrate initiatives and activities, support and direct related fundraising activities with both institutional and private donors
Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where diverse viewpoints are welcomed.
Engage internal and external stakeholders to inform and calibrate the program response to changing needs and context.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Support and enable the program teams in implementation of the response
Support program implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, beneficiary targeting and distribution process
Provide overall leadership support for new program startup and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations.
Promote the use of community approaches in the design, implementation, and maintenance of projects.
Ensure program implementation is responsive to communities and partners, and consistent with
Mercy Corpsโ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
Ensure beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria, and that feedback mechanisms are in place.
Ensure implementation of Mercy Corpsโ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
Oversee program implementation team, ensuring that all staff are following work plans, activities are on schedule, and project deliverables are completed as planned.
Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corpsโ Code of Conduct; Core Humanitarian Principles, Safeguarding core standards and Do No Harm.
Cultivate and lead Mercy Corpsโ Core Behaviors with country teams, promoting principles of Gender, Diversity and Inclusion.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
Hire, orient and supervise new senior management team members as necessary.
Ensure senior team members develop professionally, improve performance & reach objectives.
Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence, and cultivate resilience and well-being under challenging situations.
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.
Guide and direct the Senior Management Team in a collaborative, fair, accountable and supportive leadership environment.
FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT
Support the finance director to create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations, policies and standards.
Support the operations director to build and maintain operational systems that ensure proper administrative support for programs.
Support the implementation and adherence to all MC ethics polices and procedures.
INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION
Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
Represent Mercy Corps programs with national and international media and participate in community activities as appropriate.
Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.
Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
Collaborate with relevant HQ departments to build a cohesive culture and brand.
SECURITY
Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
Contribute to creating a secure environment for team members
Supervisory Responsibility
The Country Director will manage Deputy Country Director, Finance Director, Operations Director, Director of Programs, Human Resource Director, Safety and Security Manager, Director Poland and Moldova, Roving Director.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Regional Director Asia and Europe
Works Directly With: Deputy Country Director, Sr Director Emergency Response and Global Security Director, program support Europe and Global, plus relevant departments at HQ including International and Corporate Finance, General Counsel, Human Resources and Recruitment, Global Procurement and Logistics, Fundraising, Ethics, Communications and Advocacy, as well as the regional senior leadership team
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy 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.
Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills
10+ years of field management experience in international relief and development programs required, including demonstrable success in leading programs in active conflict zones, transitional environments and working in insecure emergency situations; prior experience as a Country Director preferred.
Mercy Corps experience preferred;
Experience with sub-granting procedures and monitoring under USAID or similar compliance requirements.
Ability to support multiple office locations simultaneously. A good sense of order and organization.