Guatemala: Chief of Party - Guatemala - Somos Iberoamérica / Somos Ibero-América

Organization: Mercy Corps
Country: Guatemala
Closing date: 06 Jul 2017

Program / Department Summary

To sustainably reduce crime and prevent violence, communities and governments need skills, structures and relationships to address the factors driving insecurity. Our strategy leverages Mercy Corps' global leadership in developing community resilience in violence prone environments. Improving the ability of individuals, families, communities and government to work together will enable them to end the cycle of violence, weak governance and poverty. Our strategy also recognizes that gangs have a ready supply of young people to join their ranks as long as youth lack protection, school advancement, economic opportunities and mentoring relationships to help them thrive.

Recognizing that violence is multi-determined, our Convivimos design creates an integrated response by viewing individuals, families, communities and government as part of an interconnected system, addressing social, economic, urban, environmental and political factors at each of these levels. The CONVIVIMOS Project is based on the following theory of change: If individual, family, community and government capacities are improved, then communities' resilience will increase and communities will become safer and more secure. Our strategic design is guided by five key principles: local partnership promotes a sustainable response with communities, government and private sector leading and co-investing in interventions; a place-based approach integrates a comprehensive crime and violence prevention response at the community level; activities are evidence-based, using data and best practices to inform design and contribute to learning; we incorporate piloting and scaling of innovations.

The Convivimos Project is a $40 million Cooperative Agreement funded through the generous support of USAID being implemented over five years (through June 2020) in at least 80 urban communities in six municipalities around and including Guatemala City. This metropolitan area experiences a majority of the country's recorded homicides.

CSP partners with local NGOs, communities, municipalities and the National Ministry of Violence Prevention to address the causes and consequences of violence through holistic prevention approaches. It has four complementary and mutually integrating objectives to: 1) strengthen urban communities to institutionalize proven, integrated violence prevention activities; 2) strengthen and mobilize municipal and national stakeholders and resources to develop and implement municipal-level violence prevention plans; 3) support secondary prevention projects in close coordination with municipal and community structures; and 4) promote and integrate evidence-based policy making among violence prevention actors.

General Position Summary

The Chief of Party reports to the Mercy Corps Country Director in Guatemala and is responsible for providing overall leadership, management and strategic vision to the implementation of the Convivimos program and ensuring that the program meets its targets and deliverables on-time, on-scope, and on budget. The CoP will provide inspirational leadership to CSP program staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps policies and donor rules and regulations. S/he will be the primary program representative to donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers and stakeholders. S/he should also be an innovative leader with a vision of what can be possible for communities and governments to work together to prevent violence.

The COP position requires knowledge and experience with innovative models of community based violence prevention, vision, leadership, innovation, excellent project management and teambuilding skills, as well as excellent public relationships skills to work effectively with national and municipal governments, partners and USAID.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

Lead the development of a vision and strategy for the program that is shared with the CSP program team and key stakeholders.
Play an active role in identifying and piloting innovative models that foster and/or improve the strategic objectives of the program.

Program Management

Overall responsibility for the project deliverables. Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget.
Ensure that effective detailed planning systems are in place to coordinate the interrelated inputs from program units, including procurement, finance, M&E, sub-grants, communications, reporting, infrastructure, and technical and field implementation units.
Ensure operation of a robust mechanism for the selection, funding and monitoring of $20M worth of sub-grants to partner, community and government entities.
Ensure that the project is evidence based and data-driven, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps' relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
Confirm beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to transparent criteria.
Develop partnership frameworks, partner agreements/Memorandum of Understandings, and oversee partner capacity building.
Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate. Certify all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps' Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
Ensure program strategies and activities represent global good practice in primary and secondary violence prevention.
Supervise and/or review the work of program consultants.
Coordinate with country based procurement, logistics, security, administration, and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities in a timely manner.
Fulfill Mercy Corps' Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
Ensure that transparent and participatory decision making protocols are established, decisions and rationale are communicated efficiently and understood by all staff; yet know when and where to be decisive.

Team Management

Supervise, hire, orient and lead team members to the project vision and strategy; ensure all staff understand the project Theory of Change.
Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members support each other and strive to achieve excellence.
Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
Ensure that all team members are informed and updated on project directions and changes.

Finance & Compliance Management

Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps' regulations.
Create and maintain systems to ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with program, donor and Mercy Corps' needs.
Work closely with the Country Finance Team to provide accurate donor forecasts on expenditures based on realistic activity planning.

Influence & Representation

Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events, in close coordination with the Country Director.
Manage relationships with local partner organizations across the consortium to achieve program integration and excellenceto achieve the envisioned model for violence prevention.
Coordinate activities with partner organizations, subgrantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.
Maintain and improve strong partnering relationships with USAID and the National Ministry of Governance, including the National Vice Minister for Violence Prevention.
Ensure realistic expectations on deliverables to all stakeholders.

Security

Work closely with the country team's security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members in the program target areas, which are violent, urban communities in Guatemala City.
Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.
Develop alternative plans to ensure work can proceed in the face of security incidents.

Organizational Learning

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility

The COP has overall responsibility for the entire Program Team, but will directly supervise the DCOP, the Senior Program Manager, the Communications Specialist, the Reporting Advisor and an administrative assistant.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: The Mercy Corps Guatemala Country Director

Works Directly With: Other country program managers, finance and operations teams, HQ Regional Program Team, HQ Technical Support Units

Knowledge and Experience

MA/S or equivalent in social science, management, international development and/or governance, conflict or violence prevention.
A minimum of 5 to 7 years of successful international experience as senior manager for large & complex projects.
Effective personnel management, coordination, and decision-making skills, with proven ability to be accountable for all components of the program.
Strong skills and a track record in strategic visioning, leadership, and inspiring teams.
Competent in building networks, strong problem-solving skills, and ability to influence with effective listening, persuasion, negotiation and other techniques.
Strong understanding of USAID donor compliance issues.
Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.
Competence in the use of planning systems and tools for keeping large projects on track.
Fluency in Spanish language required.
Persuasive written and oral communication in English, including report writing.
Demonstrated technical expertise in violence prevention, particularly for urban areas
Experience in Guatemala, Central America or South America preferable.
Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

Success Factors

The successful COP will combine exceptional management skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships. S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural teams and capacity building, individual staff development, and strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff 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 Conditions

The COP will be based in Guatemala City and have an office within the Mercy Corps Country office. Work travel will be mostly within the urban neighborhoods of Guatemala City so very little overnight travel is required. Security protocols and precautions will be important for traveling within both Guatemala City and other areas, as crime, particularly robbery, is on the increase.

Guatemala is an accompanied post and family housing will be provided in a secure and modern apartment complex with access to services such as medical, electricity, water, international schools, etc. This position is NOT eligible for hardship and/or R&R benefits.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY 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.