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 Program Summary
Mercy Corpsโ Ukraine crisis response seeks to meet the humanitarian needs of vulnerable Ukrainians and other conflict-affected people where they are: displaced inside Ukraine, refugees in Poland, Romania, and Moldova, or trapped behind frontlines. We aim to reach 500,000 vulnerable people with multi-purpose cash assistance, in-kind humanitarian support, and protection services across four countries. Almost all our impact will be delivered in partnership: with Ukrainian, Polish, Romanian and Moldovan civil society organizations through a granting program that matches humanitarian action with capacity strengthening, and with peer international NGOs through a consortium in Ukraine.
Mercy Corps is focused on the emergency delivery of aid to the affected populations, primarily through Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) and in-kind food and non-food assistance. Mercy Corps realizes that alongside ongoing emergency activities, it is essential to engage in resilience programming that will help conflict affected businesses and farmers in their recovery efforts. Therefore, Mercy Corps is planning to launch Ukraine Agriculture Support Program (UASP), that aims to increase economic stability and self-sufficiency, and facilitate early recovery for smallholder subsistence farmers and small and medium sized farming enterprises in targeted areas in Ukraine.
The Position
The Program Manager is responsible for managing all the components of the UASP program and ensuring that its goal is realized. He/She is primarily responsible for the efficiency and effectiveness of program actions and for steering the direction of the program through its various operating environments, geographical and institutional. The Program Manager has the primary responsibility for delivering all planned program targets on time and is managing the program budget. He/She should at the same time promote Mercy Corps values through various entry points in the project and preserve staff moral and enthusiasm for the project work.
Essential Responsibilities
- Develop and manage strategic direction of the program operations in accordance with the planned targets;
- Provide leadership and team building for the program staff;
- Develop in-depth understanding of local context, participating in activities under all the program components, that include agriculture support, technical assistance and research activities;
- Ensure all staff follow job descriptions and that their job descriptions contribute to the development of the program;
- Supervise the work of partner organizations and evaluate interim and final reports submitted by them (including financial monitoring of expenses);
- Manage the program budget;
- Prepare regular progress reports of the programโs achievements;
- Ensure program resources used effectively and efficiently;
- Develop and maintain linkages with all key stakeholders and ensure their involvement;
- Coordinate the functioning of the program monitoring and data management systems;
- Lead on the elaboration of program implementation tools;
- Engage in cooperation with relevant government agencies, including Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, Regional Administrations, Agriculture Departments, etc.
- Liaise with local authorities and agriculture service providers as necessary;
- Maintain good working relations within Mercy Corps and other organizations in the area of responsibility;
- Adhere to all MC policies and procedures as outlined in MC policies and procedure manuals;
- Conduct themselves both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission;
- Perform other tasks as requested by the project management. Supervisory Responsibility
Line Manages: Deputy Program Manager, Agriculture Coordinators
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Resilience Program Lead
Works Directly With: Director of Programmes, Roving Director โ Programs and Operations, TSU, Crisis Analytics Team, Partnerships Advisor, Finance Director, Operations Director, PAQ team, Economic Resilience Programme (ERP) team.
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 Qualification & Transferable Skills- Advanced university degree in agriculture, economics, public/business administration, or other related field;
- Proven practical knowledge of the project cycle management;
- Knowledge of agriculture, resilience, early recovery and livelihoods interventions in Ukrainian context, good understanding of possible durable solutions for conflict-affected population;
- At least 10 years of overall working experience, at least 5 years of work experience within an international humanitarian/development organization;
- At least 3 years of experience in managing multi-functional teams; Proven experience in development and management of grant-making programs;
- Proven ability in management and planning of project budgets;
- Excellent communication, presentation and reporting skills;
- Full working proficiency in both oral and written English, Ukrainian and Russian (equally important);
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs;
- Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work;
- Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in humanitarian response preferred. Success Factors
To be successful in this role we expect you to have: a comprehensive understanding of the needs of IDPs and the conflict-affected population in Ukraine and possible solutions. Practical understanding of the needs and concerns of private and agriculture sector in Ukraine. Proven experience in the full cycle of project management and resilience programming; Proven ability to lead the team and supervise implementing partner organizations.
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.
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 based on 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.