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 โ helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. 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.
Program / Department SummaryMercy Corps has operated in Sudan since 2004, and currently has a country office in Port Sudan and field offices in South Darfur, Central Darfur, South Kordofan, North Kordofan, Kassala, River Nile, Northern and Gedaref states. Mercy Corpsโ current areas of programming include market systems development for food security and livelihoods, WASH, health, nutrition, and resilience.
General Position SummaryMercy Corps is seeking a Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP) who will support the implementation of an anticipated five-year USAID/Feed the Future-funded Transforming Agrifood and Nutrition through Multisectoral Inclusive Approaches (TANMIA) Activity in Sudan. The DCOP will also act as the Technical Director, responsible for the programโs overall approach, focused on market systems development and market systems resilience for increased economic opportunity and food and nutrition security in crisis contexts.
The DCoP / Technical Director will work closely with the Chief of Party (CoP) to drive the programโs strategic approach and ensure strong technical models are translated into high-quality operational plans and interventions. They will directly manage implementation and technical teams to operationalize systems, structures, and processes that enable high-quality program implementation tailored to the local context. The DCoP will ensure that the program meets its targets and deliverables on time and within budget. They will supervise TANMIA program teams, oversee technical and field operations, and play a key role in building productive working relationships with program partners and stakeholders, while ensuring accountability to Mercy Corps policies as well as donor rules and regulations.
Essential Responsibilities STRATEGY AND PLANNING
- Works closely with CoP to develop the overall vision and strategy that drives program impact, innovation, learning, and adaptation. Ensures the overall vision and strategy is systematically shared and internalized with the program team, partners, and key stakeholders.
- Lead the development of a technical strategy that is closely aligned with the vision and technically sound.
- Leverage Mercy Corpsโ existing market systems development, markets in crisis, and resilience programming and expertise to ensure technical quality and integration with complementary initiatives.
- Integrate and embrace all voices into shared strategies and foster an inclusive culture of curiosity, collaboration, learning, and adaptation. TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP
- Provide technical leadership and direction to program staff, participants, and diverse partners, including private sector, government, civil society organizations, and communities.
- Ensure high-quality program design for relevant technical areas, develop client-centered and market-driven approaches to deliver measurable impact, and ensure technical and operational excellence in the execution of program activities and services.
- Lead the implementation of the technical strategy, ensuring it is appropriate to meet activity objectives and quality standards and adapts with learning and contextual changes.
- Ensure program strategies and activities represent global good practice for market system development and resilience programming.PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
- Ensure program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corpsโ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards, and strategic plan.
- In collaboration with the CoP, ensure implementation is on time, target, and budget, using effective M&E systems to assess impact. Support the CoP in establishing a program management structure that favors integration among technical sectors.
- Ensures data-driven adaptive management, learning, and reflective practices against work plans are adopted across the implementation team and facilitate improved decision-making.
- Take leadership in identifying, addressing, and adapting to program quality needs and gaps as they arise. Collaborate with the CoP and other senior technical staff to problem solve.
- Integrate cross-cutting approaches for locally led, GESI responsive/Positive Youth Development, conflict sensitive, climate adaptive, and nutrition sensitive approaches into all activities, as appropriate.
- In collaboration with the Collaborating, Adapting, and Learning (CLA) team, monitor implementation through regular site visits and assessments to ensure program quality and impact. Ensure documenting of program achievements and dissemination of lessons learned best practices.
- Co-develop partnership frameworks, partner agreements/Memorandum of Understandings, and oversee technical capacity building for partners.
- Provide reviews and input for program documents, including workplans, quarterly and annual reports, and other internal and USAID reporting.
- Certify that all interventions adhere to Mercy Corpsโ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and program participant accountability standards.
- Fulfill Mercy Corpsโ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.TEAM MANAGEMENT
- Oversee recruitment and onboarding of high-performing technical and field staff, including national staff and consultants, and supervise team members as needed.
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect and learning where team members strive to achieve excellence.
- Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of staff roles, and assist with career development.
- Provide team members with information, tools, and resources to improve performance, enhance technical and partnership management skills, and reach objectives.
- Promote staff accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one-on-one meetings and performance reviews.
- Build and sustain a culture that fosters feedback loops, safe space for constructive debates, and innovation.FINANCE & COMPLIANCE
- Ensure compliance with USAID and Mercy Corpsโ regulations.
- Support and maintain systems to ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources and timely and informative reporting in line with program, donor, and Mercy Corpsโ requirements.
- Ensure sound financial management, including programmatic budgeting, spending projections, and monitoring of payments in compliance with USAID standards.INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION
- Identify, build, and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors and other implementers, local governments, private sector, and other stakeholders, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.
- Actively contribute and collaborate with regional and global counterparts to promote best practices within the program.
- Coordinate activities with consortium partners, sub-grantees, local government,
- Communicate effectively across teams and partners to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
- Contribute to program visibility and advocacy work by assisting in the dissemination of program research and learning information. Represent Mercy Corps in forums with the broader humanitarian and development community and support HDP Nexus.SECURITY
- Collaborate with country leadership to support preparedness and response to major disruptive events.
- Work closely with the country teamโs security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
- Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.
Supervisory ResponsibilityRequired to supervise staff. The number of direct and indirect reports is to be determined.
Accountability Reports Directly To: Chief of PartyWorks Directly With: The Activity Team, TANMIA consortium partners, Mercy Corps Sudan senior leadership and HR, Finance, and Operations teams, HQ and Regional Program Team, HQ Evidence and Learning Team, HQ Technical Resources and Quality Team.
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.
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
- MA/S or equivalent in agriculture, economics, business administration, international development, or relevant field.
- Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, with at least three years' experience in management/supervisory positions for large programs (preferably $25+ million).
- Demonstrated technical expertise in one of more of the following areas: market systems development, markets in crisis programming, agricultural development, income and livelihoods diversification, and/or resilience programming, ideally in the African context.
- Track record of progressively responsible positions in a developing country context, preferably with experience working under large ($25+ million) and complex USAID-funded activities.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and a proven ability to build and maintain partnerships with diverse stakeholders including government, donors, donor-funded programs, private sector actors, and civil society organizations.
- Experience managing diverse teams in dispersed geographic locations, and a demonstrated ability to inspire staff and develop a shared vision with staff and stakeholders.
- Experience working in sub-Saharan Africa is required, with preference for experience in Sudan or a similar context. Knowledge of Sudanโs governance and conflict dynamics is strongly preferred.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Arabic language skills preferred.
- Familiarity with USAID rules and regulations is required.
Success Factors The successful DCoP/Technical Director will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members and other stakeholders of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. This position requires an ability to be curious and think creatively to achieve sustainable impact and enhance long-term resilience. They will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results. They will understand the larger picture while remaining focused on problem solving and effectively navigating complex and sensitive political, conflict, and security dynamics. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
Living Conditions / Environmental ConditionsThe position is based in Port Sudan, Sudan and is an unaccompanied post. The position location is subject to change and will be finalized at a later date. The role requires up to 35% travel to support the program, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.
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 worldโs 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 & 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 and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. 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.