Description
Supervisory Responsibility Regional focal points for Finance, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and Safety & Security, dual managed with global structures for associated competencies. Budget Management Responsibility Responsible for overseeing a departmental budget of approximately 2 million USD. Supporting the planning of country program budgets within the regional portfolio of approximately 500 million USD. Position Summary The MENA/Europe region faces immense humanitarian challenges driven by protracted conflicts and climate change impacts. Mercy Corps responds with programming across Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine using a layered resilience approach. Interventions target fragility through ensuring food and water security, access to economic opportunities, and access to energy through a climate-smart, evidence-driven model committed to local leadership and innovative solutions. Amid displacement, increasing natural resource scarcity, and instability, Mercy Corps delivers inclusive, creative solutions spanning relief to long-term development. Our integrated approach aims to build resilience by simultaneously meeting urgent needs while fostering self-reliance and peace within crisis-affected communities. The Deputy Regional Director, Operations (DRD-O) is a senior leader providing significant strategic support to Mercy Corps country offices in the region. They work closely with the Regional Director (RD), Country Directors, as well as Finance, Supply Chain, Safety & Security and Human Resources focal points to improve coordination of global support functions. They will collaborate with the RD to build and sustain a cohesive regional management team, ensuring the Middle East, North Africa, & Europe (MENA-E) portfolio is geared towards excellence with established and responsive systems. In addition, they manage the ethics and safeguarding efforts at the regional level to ensure enhanced prevention capabilities, improve investigations and response rates, and strengthen communication between HQ and country offices. The Deputy Regional Director, Operations will oversee regional initiatives to strengthen capacity to manage and mitigate operational risks, to ensure excellence and accountability. They collaborate with other members of the regional team to set up support systems that ensure the regional portfolio is geared towards excellence with heightened accountability. In addition, the DRD-O will ensure timely support to country programs, and that the region is adhering to internal and external policies and regulations.
Essential Responsibilities STRATEGY AND PLANNING
Act as a key partner for the RD to achieve an effective Regional Management Team (including the Deputy Regional Director, Programs) that delivers programmatic and operational excellence and significant impact and influence in the region. Contribute and review Regional Overviews and Annual Implementation Plans with a focus on operational strategies. Provide support to the RD and country teams on matters pertaining to program planning, budgeting, and management. Mobilize and oversee effective human, material, financial and operational field support systems in the region, in cooperation with the appropriate agency support team. Mobilize support services and risk management resources to enable country and regional leadership teams to execute their respective strategic priorities. Manage and administer regional core budgets in coordination with regional and global leadership. Lead on overseeing the regional scorecards and other performance indicators at country and regional level to inform strategic decision making. TEAM MANAGEMENT
In partnership with the Regional Director, motivate, empower and guide teams towards excellence. Ensure a positive team culture and work environment. Fill in as needed for RD and for field leadership during leave and or leadership gaps as necessary. Dual Management of key regional support service resources, including those in Finance, Supply chain, Human Resources, and Safety & Security, while liaising and coordinating with functions in Information Technology, Compliance, Legal and Ethics. Ensure that dual managed team members have a deep understanding of their roles and are connected to relevant stakeholders across the agency to inform and promote agency strategies and best practices. Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on one meetings and performance reviews. Coordinate with country and regional/global leadership on recruitment of key support positions. Identifies opportunities for training and integration of these standards into core country and regional operations. OPERATING FOOTPRINT
In collaboration with Global Legal/General Counsel, responsible for Mercy Corpsโ operational footprint in the region, including monitoring registration, tax status, or legal standing in current countries within the region as well as managing registration, tax status, or legal standing in other countries where we monitor potential entry, or in countries where we have had historical programming. Responsible for country exit/entry strategies and implementation in the region, including downsizing, complex program startup/closeout etc. In collaboration with General Counsel, ensure that adequate legal counsel is identified and in place for existing, former and watch-listed countries within the region. Support Country Teams working closely with the Legal Department on the management and resolution of pending or threatened litigation, regulatory actions, etc. RISK MANAGEMENT
Lead on assessing and addressing risks at regional and country level in partnership with key stakeholders. Engage and support countries across the region to ensure that adequate risk management systems are in place. Actively provide assessment of risks associated with program implementation, and support country leadership on identifying risk mitigation measures and solutions. Collaborate with country leadership to support preparedness and response to major disruptive events. Ensure country team adherence to security procedures and policies, so that team members operate in a secure environment. Engage with country level Ethics and Assurance managers as well as the global Ethics and Assurance department to track and analyze trends and needs across countries. Engage with country teams on the Internal Audit process to track findings and ensure country team compliance with IA findings and recommendations.
