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 Department Africa is a dynamic region marked by deep disparities: while rapidly modernizing economies and a booming industrial and technology sector are driving rapid economic growth and catalyzing employment, a majority of the regionโs citizens are not equipped to benefit from these opportunities and risk being left behind as their countries modernize and grow. Against this backdrop, complex conflict dynamics and recurring extreme climate events are undermining the social and economic well-being of populations and driving recurring cycles of humanitarian need, wiping out hard-won development gains. The region is at a tipping point, where new solutions are needed to build resilient and inclusive systems that are adapted to these challenges. Countries in the region are also facing complex governance and conflict challenges, from increasing pressure for democratization and civilian rule, ethnically-driven nationalist movements, rising influence of violent extremist groups, inter-communal violence and conflict driven by resource scarcity and climate change. The decade ahead looks to be extremely volatile for countries in the region. With over 20 years of experience working in Africa, and a particular focus on fragile, marginalized and conflict-affected communities, Mercy Corps is a recognized leader in innovative peace and governance, conflict mitigation and PVE programming. We recognize that historic marginalization, contestation for political power and resource control, natural resource-based conflict, and the influence of non-state armed groups will continue to drive instability, exacerbating humanitarian needs and undermining development outcomes. With Peace & Governance identified as one of Mercy Corpsโ four strategic outcome areas under the new Pathway to Possibility, Mercy Corps is well placed to play a critical role in shaping a peaceful and prosperous future for communities in Africa.
The Position Mercy Corps is hiring a Senior Director, Peace and Conflict to advance realization of Mercy Corpsโ P2P Peace & Governance outcome within Africa, supporting the design, high-quality delivery, and elevating learning across our portfolio of peace and governance programs. A dynamic, visionary and collaborative leader, the Senior Director will work in close partnership with country and regional leadership, and technical and program teams to develop and execute a vision for how Mercy Corps works with communities to drive long-term peace and governance outcomes in selected geographies. The Senior Director will lead portfolio growth, provide supervisory oversight to high-value, high-impact or strategic programs to align resources towards program delivery and impact, advance a coherent evidence agenda linking context and program monitoring, evaluation and research, drive thought leadership, foster partnerships, and further a strategy for resource mobilization. The Senior Director will work closely with the Africa regional and country teams as well as regional and global TSU, PaQ and Research to ensure alignment of technical, MEL, research and program management resources to help drive the peace and governance vision for P2P realization in Africa.
Essential Responsibilities
STRATEGY & VISION
Work with country, regional and headquarters teams to drive a shared strategic vision for Peace & Governance programming in Africa, building on our organizational distinctives in Africa and globally.
Lead a participatory process to foster shared ownership of the strategic vision by country, regional and technical teams and to inspire team members to engage with the strategic vision.
Build strategic partnerships and relationships with civil society, donors, research organizations, private sector and other actors to achieve the strategic vision and inspire partnership.
Engage in regional and country strategic planning processes to ensure that country-level outcomes are squarely aligned to the regional P&C strategic vision and opportunities to advance the vision are prioritized in country planning processes.
Partner with the (D)RDs and Africa Technical Director to identify opportunities and priorities for the regional team to engage in advancing the P&C vision.
Develop processes to enable continued adaptation and evolution of the vision based on programmatic learning and evidence as well as changes in context.
Strategically engage with senior leaders across the TSU, PaQ, Research and Learning, and Policy & Advocacy teams around the vision and models to facilitate alignment of resources and to share and scale lessons-learned. PROGRAM DELIVERY & IMPACT
Partner with Mercy Corpsโ Research and Learning team as well as country and regional leadership to set a research and learning agenda related to our strategic vision.
Work with P&C portfolio programs to develop robust context monitoring, program monitoring and evaluation, research and learning systems to ensure that programmatic evidence is being captured, disseminated and used to drive internal and external learning.
Participate in and facilitate research efforts and compilation/production of learning products to ensure consistency of voice and messaging with Mercy Corpsโ strategic vision and key advocacy messages on P&C.
Establish platforms to enable country and technical teams to engage in regional cross-learning, Oversee the development of information management, coordination and knowledge management tools and systems to systematically track and capture Mercy Corpsโ P&C programming impacts in each country, and enable regional-level reflection and synthesis.
Help advance Mercy Corpsโ portfolio of research and learning awards in the region.THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & REPRESENTATION
Collaborate closely with country leadership and program focal points to drive forward country level positioning and thought leadership to build support for P&C approaches and create opportunities to scale up our P&C portfolio.Position Mercy Corpsโ strategic vision, research and evidence with donors, governments, partners, research organizations, private sector actors and other key stakeholders working on P&C issues in Africa.
Partner with the Research & Learning team as well as portfolio program teams to generate and disseminate evidence and learning thought pieces on key P&C topics.
Identify opportunities to engage in roundtables, policy dialogues, working groups and other events to share Mercy Corpsโ vision, research and learning around P&C in Africa.
Partner with the P&A team to identify relevant policy issues and forums within key donor departments and to shape messaging to influence key P&C-related policy decisions.
Guide and oversee the development of external facing materials to communicate Mercy Corpsโ positioning in partnership with regional, country, technical, policy & advocacy, and communications colleagues. PORTFOLIO GROWTH & NEW BUSINESS
Engage with New Initiatives, TSU, Country and Regional teams, partners, and communities to design and secure resources for high-impact P&C programs that are aligned to community priorities and advance Mercy Corpsโ P&C vision. Serve as Proposal Design Lead for key strategic P&C opportunities.
Partner with the regional team and country programs in Africa to elevate Mercy Corpsโ expertise and profile within the broader subregion, leading to strategic regional programming that works across borders and delivers impact across the subregion. TEAM MANAGEMENT
Recruit, manage, motivate, and onboard an informed, skilled and efficient team to manage and support key P&C portfolio programs with an emphasis on high quality impact, inclusion and achievement. This includes senior program staff, as well as regional research, MEL and technical advisors.Encourage a team culture of growth, learning, creativity and innovation by incorporating a culture of continuous feedback, development and performance management.Establish credibility within the team by demonstrating personal accountability, flexibility, resilience and dedication to quality programming by creating positive relationships and having composure in complex situations.Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcome.Commit to preserving an organizational culture of trust, transparency, diversity, equity, and inclusion across the team and global organization.Uphold a culture of integrity through ethical decision-making, safeguarding and compliance with the Code of Conduct.Lead by role modeling self-awareness to foster an environment of mutual respect, diversity and inclusion so that all team members are included, supported and can thrive.Create a culture of accountability for highly effective communication systems and relationships to ensure every voice matters.Supervisory ResponsibilityChiefs of Party/Program Managers of Core P&C Portfolio Programs [Currently IGAPP, Nafoore], AccountabilityReports Directly To: Regional Director, AfricaWorks Directly With: DRDs, Africa Technical Director, Country Directors/Directors of Programs, Chiefs of Party/Team Leads, and Technical Support Unit, PaQ, and Research and Learning team members. 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
BA/S or equivalent in the relevant field required; MA/S preferred.
10 years of field experience in international relief and development programs, including demonstrable success in managing large, complex, P&C programs.
7 years of senior-level leadership, capacity building and field management experience.
Successful and proven representation, negotiation, communication and organization skills.
Demonstrated success representing complex programmatic objectives to diverse stakeholders in order to position Mercy Corps as a strong implementer and thought leader with donors, development partners, government and other stakeholders.
Demonstrated success in securing funding from a broad spectrum of donors.
Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGO, NGO partners and other stakeholders in complex environments.
Proven skills in financial and grants management, including experience managing grants from USAID, FCDO, Foundation partners and other strategic donors.
Experience in insecure environments, including managing programs or teams in complex emergencies. Experience in Africa is highly desirable.
Knowledge of Mercy Corps processes, systems, and procedures is desirable.
Experience effectively mentoring and training others.
Excellent oral and written English skills required; French skills are a plus Success FactorsThe successful candidate will be a visionary leader who is successful in aligning both internal and external stakeholders behind a strategic vision for change. A strong communicator, the Senior Director should be strong and experienced in representing Mercy Corps to donors and other stakeholders and building support for a strategic vision. With a strong technical background, the candidate should have a good understanding of Mercy Corpsโ core technical areas and understand how Mercy Corpsโ interventions can layer to strengthen peace and governance outcomes of partner communities, and understand how evidence can be used to drive for change in the way programs are designed and delivered. A skilled networker and relationship-builder, the Senior Director will build relationships with Mercy Corps team members across countries, regional roles and headquarters to ensure that country teams are effective in designing and implementing programs using Mercy Corpsโ P2P framework, to support strategic thinking and planning processes, and to ensure that various regional and headquarters teams are effectively supporting teams in Africa in their P&C work. With a keen eye for program quality and impact, the Senior Director will work closely with core programs in the P&C portfolio to ensure that programs apply strong conflict analysis to their interventions, are delivered with quality, and produce evidence to understand impact. Living Conditions / Environmental ConditionsThe position is based in Nairobi, Kenya or other Africa Mercy Corps locations and requires up to 30% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard. 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 & EthicsMercy 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