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. Mercy Corps has been working in Nigeria since 2012 in the most marginalized regions of the country to deliver urgent, lifesaving assistance and promote development. We partner with communities to help them recover and rebuild, while addressing root causes of conflict, insecurity, and inequality. Every month we help ensure that more than 100,000 people have enough food to eat, and our work impacts the lives of over 600,000 people across the country.
Program / Department Summary:
Mercy Corps Nigeria (MCN) has a mixed portfolio comprising of projects and programs that meets urgent humanitarian needs, strengthens governance and addresses root causes of conflicts and builds resilience to long term development. MCN operates in North East, North West, North Central and South of Nigeria implementing various projects including peace building, livelihood, water and sanitation, shelter, etc. These projects are funded by USG, EU and other private foundations.
General Position Summary
The Program Quality Specialist will have a dual role: 50% supporting donor reporting and 50% supporting new initiatives and partnerships. The position reports to the Program Performance and Quality Manager and works closely with the Partnerships and New Initiatives (PNI) Manager and Director of Programs and Performance and Quality (PaQ) Director. The position is based in Abuja and requires travel to field sites in the Northwest, Northeast, North Central, and South of Nigeria.
Essential Job Responsibilities
50% Program Reporting
โ Review quarterly and annual reports, including Annexes, from projects as determined by the PaQ Manager
โ Document quality case studies across the program portfolio
โ Lead dissemination of program products
50% New Initiatives
โ Support the PNI Manager in strategic partner, donor, and stakeholder mapping and engagement for new initiatives.
โ Ensure internal and external planning and coordination, including administration and logistics processes, for meetings, design workshops, and other partner engagements.
โ Maintain consistent communication with potential partners and stakeholders and support in due diligence processes.
โ Coordinate between relevant program and finance colleagues and partners for proposal and budget development support.
โ Review new opportunity guidelines and documentation and provide strategic insight into portfolio relevance and potential collaborations.
โ Support the PNI in coordination with program and finance teams for administrative processes and new initiative design and development.
โ Directly support proposal development outlines, reviews, and writing.
โ Incorporate lessons learned and relevant experience from quarterly and annual reports and case studies into new program design and development.
Supervisory Responsibility
None
Accountability
Reports Directly To: PaQ Manager
Works Directly With: Director of Programs, PaQ Director, Partnerships and New Initiatives Manager
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
โ Bachelorโs Degree in journalism, communications, publishing, or similar area required; Masterโs Degree preferred
โ At least 5 years of relevant, professional experience in similar responsibility required;
โ Strong English communication, editing, and documentation skills
โ Strong analytical and writing skills
โ Ability to coordinate and work within strict timelines
โ Creative and innovative mind
โ Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
โ Working knowledge of USAID and other donors policies, rules, and regulations preferred
Success Factors
The ideal candidate will have a strong curiosity for understanding and working effectively within the complex cultural, political, security and social environment of Nigeria. He/She will be an excellent communicator, a creative writer, multi-tasker, and able to work in ambiguous situations. He/She will be a tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/STA to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corpsโ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Abuja and requires up to 20% travel to field offices which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.
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
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 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 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 and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme