Country Manager -Yemen

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 stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. Mercy Corps seeks to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression around the world and has worked in the Middle East since the 1980s. In response to acute and increasing humanitarian needs in Yemen, Mercy Corps opened its office in Yemen in 2010. More than 22 million people are in need and reliance on humanitarian assistance continues to grow. Mercy Corps is focused on meeting urgent humanitarian needs across the country while building support for the recovery of economic market systems, resilience and social cohesion elements in its programming strategy. Strategies to enhance the resilience of communities to the harsh environmental and social conditions in the country cut across the portfolio. New Structure As a result of recent funding disruptions, Mercy Corps MENAE Leadership has decided to optimize resources and create efficiencies by establishing a new structure for smaller country portfolios under the management of the regional team directly. This new setup combines program and support services leadership positions for Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Yemen under a Multi-Country Office (MCO) with a strong focus on programmatic functions and outcomes, including a Multi-Country Director of Programs and MCO Senior Managers in finance, operations and HR. The Country Manager position is the product of this structural change, while the ultimate role of the traditional ‘’Country Director’’ will be held by the Deputy Regional Director Programs mostly in terms of approval authority and accountability. General Position Summary The Yemen Country Manager is an experienced and highly performing Director of Programs that combines high-level program management skills with excellent business development leadership and has a track record in holding official representation responsibilities, in Coordination with the Support Service Manager. Given the smaller scale of the country mission, the Country Manager will directly oversee program strategy, implementation, and quality, while also acting as the primary representative of Mercy Corps in Yemen in Coordination with the MCO. The role requires a dynamic leader who can provide strategic vision, manage complex multi-sector programs, ensure compliance with donor regulations, and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders, including donors, local authorities, and national and international partners. The Country Manager will actively participate in portfolio management and portfolio growth with the support of, and under the leadership of, the Regional Multi Country Director of Programs. They will provide leadership, technical oversight, management and strategic vision of the multi-sectoral portfolio that spans humanitarian and development programming while managing staff and resources to ensure that the programs are of highest quality adhere to internal Mercy Corps policies and procedures as well as donor rules and regulations, and meet its targets and deliverables on- time, on-scope and within budget.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGIC VISION & PROGRAM LEADERSHIP

• With the support of the Regional Multi-Country Director of Programs and Deputy Regional Director Programs, lead and communicate on all programs-related functions while driving a clear vision for Mercy Corps’ programs in Yemen, aligned with regional and global strategies.
• Lead the development and implementation of countrywide programmatic strategic plans, ensuring that they are responsive to the rapidly evolving context in Yemen.
• Pursue new opportunities for innovative programming and to sustain and grow MC portfolio in Yemen in line with the country strategy.
• Follow analysis of the Yemen crisis and the impact of policy, political, and military changes on the context, ensuring that this analysis is recognized and incorporated in planning for both short-term humanitarian and longer-term recovery and resilience programming.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed and considered.
• Ensure that Mercy Corps strategy is updated and implemented as a collaborative process with MCY Program team, well communicated and guides decision-making. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
  • Lead and oversee the design, implementation, and monitoring of multi-sector programs, ensuring they are on-time, on-scope, and within budget.
  • Work with program leads (Program Managers, FSL Coordinator, etc.) and Program Quality, Evidence and Learning (QEL) Coordinator to ensure that all programs adhere to Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards (PM@MC 2.0) and meet donor expectations.
  • Support and mentor teams, fostering collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement.
  • Build and maintain operational systems that ensure proper administrative support for programs, as well as segregation of duties between finance and operations.
  • Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and program participants accountability standards. STRATEGIC BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
    • Lead strategic business development efforts, identifying and securing new funding that align with Mercy Corps’ strategic goals in Yemen, under the leadership of the Multi-country Regional Programs Director and with the support of the Regional Program Team.
    • Track and review new program development opportunities and identify opportunities that match Mercy Corps’ strategic interests in Yemen on a coordinated and timely basis;
    • Ensure each opportunity is fully staffed with a lead writer, coordinator, technical advisor and other required positions, proactively taking on these roles as required;
    • Coordinate with partner organizations and field program staff on proposal development and design, including gathering information for concepts and proposals and serving as primary drafter/editor of proposals and needs assessments;
    • Apply the agency’s best practices in donor cultivation, pre-positioning, and proposal development efforts for institutional donors TEAM MANAGEMENT
      • Develop capacity of the team and assist with career development; Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
      • Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
      • Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect and accountability, where team members strive to achieve excellence.
      • Lead recruitment efforts for key Program positions, ensuring the selection of highly qualified and culturally competent staff. PROGRAM QUALITY, EVIDENCE & LEARNING
        • Communicate a clear vision of program goals and strategies to program team members and stakeholders, translating into concrete work plans;
        • Provide leadership to increase coordination, collaboration, communication and harmonization of Mercy Corps programming and operations in Yemen, ensuring adherence to the highest technical program standards;
        • Building a supportive and accountable pathway for Program Managers to fully be responsible for meeting PM@MC standards with minimal oversight from Country Manager over time;
        • Liaise with the regional and global teams, including regular updates with the Deputy Regional Director for Programs and regional heads of TRAQ and evidence and learning units to ensure MC Yemen remains on track with regional and global objectives and gets the required support to maintain program performance and quality at the country level;
        • Support the QEL Team in ensuring the planning and proactive implementation of high-quality data collection (assessments, evaluations etc…) along with the development and implementation of a learning agenda across programs;
        • Build consensus around a common vision of what shared success looks like, including developing and tracking appropriate indicators;
        • Ensure programs meet donor and internal obligations on scope, time, and budget, including efficient coordination of program, operational, and financial issues, including the MCO
        • Create and maintain systems to ensure efficient and transparent capture of program data for management decision-making and timely and informative internal and external reporting;
        • Oversee the establishment of systems, policies, and approaches necessary to ensure and demonstrate the quality of programs and ensure technical coherence and promote creative programming across the portfolio;
        • Ensure that all the program staff have received training in line with their level of responsibility and receive technical support relevant to their programs;
        • Coordinate all program units for the timely preparation of quality internal and external reports that flag contractual challenges where necessary.
        • Promote an evidence-driven culture, contributing to the establishment of the country’ evidence and learning priorities, in line with the regional Evidence and Learning Agenda. FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT:
          • With the Support of the Multi Country Senior Finance Manager, Oversee financial management processes, ensuring transparency, accountability, and compliance with donor regulations and Mercy Corps’ policies.
          • Recognize the high level of donor scrutiny in Yemen programming and ensure continuing effective, transparent and responsive compliance mechanisms are in place;
          • Maintain oversight of overall program budgets ensuring appropriate allocation of resources to meet program objectives;
          • Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations;
          • In Coordination with the MCO team, ensure all internal control procedures are adhered to and that necessary measures are put in place to ensure high standards of accountability and compliance;
          • Create and maintain systems for regular review and implementation of corrective measures based on regular budget variance analysis in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies. INFLUENCE AND REPRESENTATION
            • In coordination with the Support Service Manager, Hold the legal representation of Mercy Corps in Yemen;
            • With the support of the Regional Multi-Country Programs Director, represent Mercy Corps Yemen to donors, government officials, private sector partners, civil society and other stakeholders, ensuring strong partnerships and collaboration.
            • Anticipate needs and opportunities, understand donor pool and contribute to shaping donor’s views on development programming in Yemen;
            • Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.
            • In coordination with the Support Service Manager, Develop and maintain internal and external relationships to ensure optimum program success.
            • Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
            • Exhibit awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs.
              

              LEARNING

              • As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

                ACCOUNTABILITY TO AFFECTED POPULATIONS

                • Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our program participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging program participant communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

                  Supervisory Responsibility: All Country-level Program Teams