Job Description

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.

 Position Title:  Crisis Response Team Lead

 Duty Station: Addis Ababa

 Open Position:  1

 Duration: 12 months

 Position Status: Contingent on funding

 Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004, working in rural, peri-urban and urban areas in five regional states - Somali, Oromia, Afar, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples, Amhara - and the capital city of Addis Ababa. We engage in both development and humanitarian work, and seek to integrate approaches, programs and geographies as much as possible. Our partners include government, academic institutions, development and private sector actors, civil societies and communities. Mercy Corps envisions contributing to the emergence of a peaceful, prosperous, and resilient Ethiopia which is inclusive of youth and women. Our strategic focus in the country includes in promoting dynamic and inclusive markets; natural resource management; peace and social cohesion, and humanitarian responses.

Mercy Corps’ Resilience in Pastoral Areas (RIPA) program is a five-year USAID-funded initiative that aims to improve the resilience capacities of households, markets and governance institutions across 22 woredas in the Somali, Afar and Oromia regions. RIPA includes a Crisis Modifier component that allows us to pivot our approach and respond to humanitarian needs in ways that support, not undermine, long-term development and resilience objectives. In relation to this, Mercy Corps is planning to implement a $10 million Crisis Modifier in response to the drought and Global Food Crisis impacting Ethiopia. This includes the following three objectives: 1) Improve short-term food security, nutrition, and WASH outcomes for vulnerable households; 2) Sustain and increase food production by farmers and livestock producers while fostering a shift to more resilient production practices; 3) Female and male youth TOPs have improved capacity to make a successful transition to alternative livelihoods.

General Position Summary

The Crisis Response Team Leader supports and manages a team of field professionals to ensure that Mercy Corps is implementing high quality, impactful programming with the necessary management and support structures to sustain response programs. The role also includes ensuring appropriate systems and support mechanisms are in place to track, analyze and report on results as well as engaging with senior management on the strategic direction of the overall response.

 Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

●       Set a clear vision for the response, working closely with field leadership

●       Ensure response fit within country and regional strategies

●       Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives

●       Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.

●       Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.

Program Management

●       Lead the program team(s) in implementation of the crisis response

●       Develop program(s) implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, beneficiary targeting and distribution process

●       Oversee program startup and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations.

●       Integrate the use of community approaches in the design, implementation, and maintenance of projects.

●       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.

●       Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria, and that feedback mechanisms are in place.

●       Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.

●       Ensure program implementation is on time, target, and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.

●       Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for relevant interventions

●       Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Code of Conduct; Gender, Diversity and Inclusion guiding documents; Core Humanitarian Principles and Do No Harm.

Team Management

●       Hire, orient and supervise new team members as necessary.

●       Ensure team members improve performance & reach objectives.

●       Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence and cultivate resilience and well-being under challenging situations.

●       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 processes.

Finance & Compliance Management

●       Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.

●       Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.

●       Build and/or maintain operational systems that ensure proper administrative support for programs.

●       Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

Influence & Representation

●       Identify, build, and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments, and other stakeholders.

●       Represent Mercy Corps programs with national and international media and participate in community activities as appropriate.

●       Demonstrate flexibility, resilience, and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.

●       Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.

Team Management

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.

Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

Be a thought partner in the recruitment of diverse team and promoting inclusive and safe work environment including supporting early career team members to fulfil their professional goals)

Lead by example to promote gender equal and inclusive workplace culture in a day-to-day interaction with team members, partners and program participants 

Security

●       Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.

●       Contribute to creating a secure environment for team members.

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.

·       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.

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.

Supervisory Responsibility

·       3 x Crisis Response Coordinators (Afar, Somali and Oromia Regions)

Job Requirements

Knowledge and Experience

●        BA/S or equivalent in development or humanitarian-related field is required, MA/S is preferred.

●        8 years NGO experience, including 5+ years working on humanitarian response

●        5-years of senior-level leadership is required

●        Previous experience working on USAID funded programs preferred

●        Relevant experience in market-based approaches (e.g. vouchers, de-stocking etc.) is preferred, but not essential

●        Excellent oral and written English skills required

●        Good interpersonal skills and ability to manage government relationships

●        Excellent report-writing skills

●        Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of MS Office applications in particular Excel

●        Strong team coordination, listening, and consensus building skills.

●        Understands SPHERE standards

●        Experience of implementing rapid needs assessments, in line with Mercy Corps’ approach and industry best-practice

●        Experience of Cash-Transfer-Programming is required (e.g. MPCA / vouchers)

●        Experience of developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. S/he will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, with an ability and willingness to remain mobile for short-term and/or long-term as necessary within the region, based on programmatic needs. An ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Addis Ababa, and it requires up to 50% travel to target areas in Afar, Somali and Oromia Regions.

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.

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision.  Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

How to Apply

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised.  All applications submitted to the Mercy Corps office or electronically include a CV, three references, and all relevant official documents. Applications will not be returned and will not be retained for future recruitment efforts.  In order to ensure fairness to all applicant’s personal inquiries are not permitted.

 Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

 “Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and    diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”

 DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 13 August 2022/ 4:00 PM

 Please send non-returnable applications and credentials to one of the following addresses:                            

                                                                                      et-recruitment@mercycorps.org

 Note: Please make sure that you mention the position title in the subject line of your email application.

 OR:Mercy Corps RecruiterAddis Ababa: P.O. Box 14319Arbaminch: P.O. Box 33 , Jijiga: P.O. Box 225Negelle Borena: P.O. Box 116Dire Dawa: P.O. Box 974Gambella Office in person