Organization: Mercy Corps
Country: Guatemala
Closing date: 30 Apr 2017
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.
Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps has been present in Guatemala since 2001, focusing its interventions on food security, health, disaster relief, land conflict resolutions, horticulture value chains, and sustainable income generation. Our current projects work on violence prevention and conflict management, enhancing the resilience of vulnerable households and opportunities for women and youth.
With funding from USAID, the United Nations and the private sector, Mercy Corps has been able to work together with communities in Guatemala to respond to these priorities, bringing benefit to more than 30,659 direct beneficiaries.
General Position Summary
The Mercy Corps Guatemala Country Director is an innovative and visionary leader responsible for resourcefully managing all programming in Guatemala, resulting in lasting improvement in the lives of Guatemalans. S/He has held senior leadership roles in formulating strategic direction within an international development context. The CD has supervisory responsibility for the country team and the total country portfolio of some 7 grants across a country and 3 field offices in Guatemala. The total grant portfolio is valued at $49.5M with funding from USAID, Starbucks and the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund. A $40M USAID Community Conflict Prevention Grant is the flagship program of the country portfolio.
The CD develops sustainable, multi-sector programming and is accountable to beneficiaries and donors, placing a high value on innovative solutions to development issues and creative partnerships in tough environments. S/he is responsible for the implementation of all security protocols.
Essential Job Responsibilities
St**rategy & Vision**
- Explore, evaluate and present innovative funding opportunities, leveraging impact and integrating activities with other NGOs; priority sectors include: market led economic development and recovery, civil society capacity building, resilience, community led development, conflict management, and emergency response
- Anticipate needs, understand donor pool and secure sufficient resources in a timely manner.
- Communicate a clear vision of present and future program goals and strategies to team members and stakeholders that translates into concrete programs and work plans.
- Lead the annual country planning process and provide timely quarterly reporting and strategic updates.
- Use technical support teams collaboratively.
Team Management
- Recruit, orient, motivate and lead a skilled, efficient team; incorporate staff development strategies and performance management systems into the team-building process, encouraging a culture of learning and innovation.
- 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.
- Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
- Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making.
- Institute a disciplined culture of performance management and regular feedback between supervisors and their direct reports.
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
Program Operations Management
- Apply Mercy Corps' M&E principles and framework to programs and ensure the country's overall strategy includes effective, timely reporting systems for all donors.
- Ensure effective, transparent use of resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies/procedures.
- Build and maintain operational systems that ensure proper administrative support for programs, as well as segregation of duties between finance and operations.
- Maintain an environment of collaboration among program, finance, operations and human resource team members resulting in optimal support for program activiti
- Fulfill Mercy Corps' Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
- Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps' Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
Finance & Compliance Management
- Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
- Oversee budget management of country budgets, as well as budgets of sub-grantees/sub-contractors, if applicable.
- Oversee expenditures of all country funds and grants, according to Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
- Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
Influence & Representation
- Represent Mercy Corps programs with national and international media and participate in community activities as appropriate.
- Maintain productive relationships with internal and external constituents such as private partners, local governments, foundations, the private sector, etc.
- Anticipate needs, understand donor pool and contribute to shaping donor's views on development.
- Explore, evaluate and present innovative funding opportunities that support the objectives for the country as a whole.
- Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.
- Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
- Exhibit awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs.
Security
- Liaise with the VP of Operations and Regional Program Director on crucial events, high-risk periods, incident reporting and security policy changes.
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 towards 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:
Directly supervises all Senior Country Program Managers and Chief of Parties, Operations Managers/Directors and Finance/Compliance Managers/Directors as well as the Human Resource Manager/Director. Overall indirect responsibility for all Mercy Corps Guatemala team members, both ex-patriate and nationals in Guatemala, approximately 73 staff.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Regional Program Director
Works Directly With: Senior Program Officers in Portland, Oregon USA and Edinburgh, Scotland; Regional Finance Officers; Technical Support Unit team members; Legal and other HQ departments as relevant.
Knowledge and Experience
- BA/S or equivalent in relevant field required; MA/S preferred.
- 7-10 years of field experience in international relief and development programs, including demonstrable success in managing (large, complex, transitional) development programs of more than $40M.
- 5 years of senior-level leadership, capacity building and field management experience.
- Capacity to respond to emergency and disaster response as appropriate.
- Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in emergency response preferred.
- Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGO, NGO partners and other stakeholders in complex environments.
- Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.
- Proven skills in financial and grants management; prior experience with (donor), (government) grant management.
- Successful and proven negotiation, communication and organization skills.
- Excellent oral and written English skills required; proficiency in (language) is (a plus/required).
- Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
- Previous work experience in Guatemala or Central/South America and in insecure environments preferred.
Success Factors
The successful Guatemala CD will skillfully represent programmatic priorities of the agency to donors and regional partners while providing effective leadership to the Mercy Corps program team. S/he will have high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity building and will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The CD is based in Guatemala City. The location is accompanied. Housing is individual accommodation with unlimited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. There are high quality International schools in Guatemala. Staff have good access to services and modern conveniences, including medical, electricity; water, etc. This position requires up to 35% travel by car to field offices throughout Guatemala.
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.
PI97380135
How to apply:
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