Mercy Corps AGRIFIN Accelerate Program Director Job

Job Description

Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. 

Driven by local needs, our programs provide communities in the world’s toughest places with the tools and support they need to turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve. 

Mercy Corps is looking for committed and dynamic individuals to take up the following position.
 

AGRIFIN Accelerate Program Director – Nairobi
 

General Program Summary: The core problem AgriFin Accelerate seeks to address is the inclusion gap for smallholder farmers who lack access to affordable, accessible, demand-driven products and services that drive higher productivity and income for farm families.

The AgriFin Accelerate program utilizes a market ecosystem approach, working with carefully selected partners to build sustainable models, where farm and crop management tools and financial services are “bundled” in affordable, unified platforms on mobile phone channels to promote mass uptake commercially. 

 

The program involves three interrelated components that seek to address low farmer productivity and capability, and improve institutional ability to deliver appropriate products and build ecosystems to drive scale. 

We work with farmers, banks, mobile network operators, MFIs, research institutes and other ecosystem players in well-defined partnerships to sustainably bundle services, leveraging the offer and outreach of all partners, while increasing the range of services, access points and value for farmers. 

The program works with partners to identify, prototype, test and scale successful mobile-enabled services for smallholders, with a key focus on expanding access to financial services, using a rapid iteration approach to product development and client-centric design techniques.

Our project goal is for smallholder farmers to gain full access to impactful, demand-driven, technology-enabled financial products, tools, channels and knowledge that significantly increase farm productivity and family income, delivered by vibrant ecosystems of diverse service providers. 

Program operations will take place in three countries anchored around a central “Hub” office in Kenya, expanding to serve Tanzania and Zambia over a two year timeline.
 

General Position Summary: The Program Director (PD) will be responsible for implementation of the overall program, including formulating and managing the program inception phase, market research and partner development, followed by conceptualizing and leading project development with program partners and hiring well qualified country directors and other senior management to manage project implementation on a day to day basis, as well as key consultant experts to support project implementation. 

The PD will be responsible for leading establishment and successful performance of the program in all three focal countries, including Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.

The Program Director will be responsible for overseeing the performance of all projects, as well as ensuring that a strong cross-learning, monitoring and evaluation stream of activities is consistently applied, as well as staff development to work at international best-practice levels. 

The Program Director will ensure the highest standard of learning and communication of learning both internal to Mercy Corps and externally to key stakeholders both regionally and internationally. 

The Program Director will be responsible for managing program budgets and developing program reports to the donor, as well as leading overall development of program publications, representation and events. 

The AgriFin Accelerate program will align and coordinate the original AgriFin Mobile program and other AgriFin programming efforts throughout Mercy Corps.

Essential Job Functions:

Management & Program Development

Lead establishment of new programs and country offices in all three target countries, working in coordination with Country Managers and support team based in Kenya, including country registration, securing premises, operational setup and full hiring, aligned with Mercy Corps policies and procedures;

Lead initial country research in each country, including ecosystem, payment and farmer-centric research with strategic partners;

Develop AgriFin Accelerate program strategies which maximize internal and external resources, including hiring and building appropriate staff skills, and partner relationships in order to achieve program goals and objectives;

With the support of the AgriFin Accelerate team, develop and maintain a clear vision and strategy for the program that can be clearly communicated to team members, government, partners, investors, media, Mercy Corps colleagues and program clients, as well as strong strategic links and cross learning with other AgriFin programming within Mercy Corps;

Maintain operational systems that ensure proper administrative support for programs, as well as segregation of duties while ensuring effective, transparent use of resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies/procedures; 

Develop close and productive working relationships with all project participants and stakeholders – including the primary stakeholders, operations departments, private sector and NGOs – all parties required to establish a shared vision of the project and achieve objectives; 

Establish and maintain good working relations with the relevant government ministries, as well as other higher-level stakeholder groups;

Identify opportunities, conceptualize and strategize business models for bundling of mobile financial and agricultural mobile bundled services. 

Oversee and participate in the process of product development including technology requirements, pricing, and a value proposition for program partners;

Oversee development of partner plans, product roadmaps and budgets for each of the countries program and partners. 

Update annually based on new opportunities, including products, financial and outreach projections;

Support Director, Learning Management to document all lessons learned from the program and prepare periodic case studies, beneficiary stories and annual ebooks for publication;

Oversee process of Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) with assistance from program staff. Ensure easy public access to MEL reports and data and make sure they are widely distributed;

Hire and supervise a diverse team of direct and indirect reports and provide leadership on the implementation of the program and provide accountability to the deliverables, objectives workplan and logframe;

Oversee all activities including research, product development, farmer training, M&E, mobile application development, system interfaces, and facilitation with other Mercy Corps programming;

Lead the process of writing, editing, assembling, and submitting program reports as well as publishing all program related case studies, ebooks and lessons learned;

Origination, implementation and ongoing oversight of all contractual relationships with consultants, partners and vendors;

Facilitate workshops and regular internal and external learning events for effective work planning and capturing of lessons learned;

Attend international forum to represent the program and disseminate information on lessons learned from building bundled services; 

Provide strong leadership to staff, promoting teamwork, honesty, efficiency and a commitment and joy for the job; 

Lead overall program governance, forming and reporting to the program Advisory Group and Mercy Corps Complex Program management board; and 

Actively seek opportunities to leverage the program. Work with Mercy Corps’ AgriFin model programs, Social Ventures, TSUs, and country field offices to identify areas for program coordination, as well as opportunities for related new programming.

Administrative and Operational Responsibilities 

Establish the office structure, procurement and recruitment and training of staff in all three countries; 

Ensure that an effective and participatory MEL system is established in as decentralized a manner as is possible and would be effective;

Oversee budget management of sub-grantees/sub-contractors. 

Ensure all consultant and subgrant agreements are properly structured, ensure that detailed specifications are prepared in a timely, objective, fair and transparent manner, including the reporting responsibilities and administration of terms and awards; 

Make sure the business of the project is conducted in an efficient manner by supervising and monitoring project implementation. 

Ensure that timely decisions on corrective actions are made and implemented; 

Direct and supervise the day-to-day operations of the project, guided by the project document and the logframe;

Assure that all contractual and compliance related obligations are adhered to and make the necessary contacts and efforts to ensure implementation meets project targets;

Regularly appraise staff and provide feedback and support to enable them to do their jobs better and build their technical and professional skills;

Establish leadership, direction and personal credibility with staff; implement and maintain a clearly understood chain of authority and accountability.

Maintain an adequate human resource plan consistent with Mercy Corps’ policies, including current position descriptions for all positions, personnel orientation and professional development plans, personnel evaluation systems.

Manage with an emphasis on excellence and achievement; encourage a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation.

With full knowledge of the technical nature of the program, act as a technical resource for team members and lead and/or create opportunities for professional growth in technical areas that bring considerable value to the program.

Prepare and ensure timely submission of donor and internal Mercy Corps reports;

Manage all aspects of the budget within approved spending levels and oversee program cash flow plan to ensure a steady and adequate supply of funds for program activities;

Oversee budget management of sub-grantees/sub-contractors;

Maintain strong operational relationships with Mercy Corps finance, administration and logistics teams to ensure clarity and full support of program activities;

Ensure adherence to operational guidelines and standards as per internal/ external audit requirements;

Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting;

Exercise sound judgment to ensure program expenses are reasonable, allowable and prudent;

Ensure all program funds are spent in accordance with donor rules and regulations including private funds;and 

Control the budget and safeguard against project funds and assets misuse.

Communications 

Make all efforts to engage key stakeholders in important external evaluations to ensure an understanding of locally perceived impacts and problems; 

See that all ad hoc evaluation studies needed to gain timely and relevant insights into emerging areas of concern are undertaken. 

Make sure the data are shared with all those involved in decision making and follow up on the implementation of any decisions;

Assist with development and dissemination of program promotional materials, including updates for web page; press releases, newsletter articles and other publication materials related to Mercy Corps’ programs;

Represent Mercy Corps and AgriFin Accelerate at public events, conferences and workshops to promote the AgriFin Accelerate program and disseminate learnings;

Develop and nurture productive internal and external relationships and networks to ensure optimum communication and program success.

Build strong constituencies to include Mercy Corps headquarters and regional teams, national and international investors and partners, government officials, donor community officials, vendors, media and the general public.

Formulate, lead, document, and communicate Mercy Corps’ AgriFin Accelerate program public relations and advocacy messages in program countries and abroad with the media, donors, colleague NGOs, local partners and the government.

Work closely with the Regional and Country Director to ensure that the AgriFin Accelerate program and its complicated set of activities are woven into overall country and regional strategies so that at no time does it become a stand-alone initiative separated from the broader strategies in which it was intended to function.

Lead strategy and ensure adequate communications around program implementation, as per donor requirements.

Supervisory Responsibility: Finance Director, Director – Learning Management, Zambia Country Program Manager, Tanzania Country Program Manager, Operations Manager and Program Assistant

Reports Directly To: Regional Program Director, East and Southern Africa

Works Directly With: AgriFin Accelerate Advisory Committee, Relevant Country Directors, Regional Program Director, Program-Related Consultants, and other Program Stakeholders
 

Knowledge & Experience:

Minimum MA/Sc/MBA or equivalent in business administration, information technology, agriculture, finance or related field required;

Minimum twenty years’ relevant working experience required; preference for experience in both private and public sector and a strong working knowledge of financial services, information technology and agriculture;

Demonstrated ability to work at highest international technical levels of international best practice in financial inclusion, including track record of publishing relevant publications and international speaking experience;

Demonstrated ability to develop sustainable and socially actionable business models through partnerships including extensive development of products, pricing, marketing strategies, delivery channels, SWOT analysis, financial projections and building value propositions;

Demonstrated ability to engage with major banks, mobile networks and private sector players at the highest levels, developing and implementing successful programming related to financial inclusion and technology;

Strong experience in developing & maintaining complex donor programs, organizational relationships & partnerships, with experience managing significant multi-country programs for major foundations;

Proven track record of ability to lead and manage multi-million dollar grants and related programming, including workplans, budgets, reporting, HR management and commitment to deliverables and timeframes;

Deep experience with Mercy Corps or similar international non-profit agency preferred;

Strong written, oral communication and presentation skills; and

Full proficiency with MS Office software (i.e., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), mobile phone applications (i.e. IPhone, Android, USSD, SMS, MMS, WAP, IVR, STK) and project management software (i.e. MS Project) required.

Success Factors:

Innovative, decisive and inclusive leadership approach

Excellent communication and team-building techniques

Demonstrated technical skills in mobile financial services, technology & agriculture

Proven experience managing teams of senior experts

Ability to launch and manage country offices

Cultural knowledge, sensitivity and respect

Ability to manage ambiguity, frustration and stress in self, partners and others

Ability to travel frequently nationally and internationally

Ability to maintain a sense of humor throughout.

How to Apply

Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to hr@ke.mercycorps.org on or before Thursday 30th April by 4.00pm. 

The email subject line must clearly show the job title and location they are applying for. 

Applications without the right subject heading will be automatically disqualified. 

Please do not attach any certificates.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 

We will only get in touch with shortlisted candidates.

NB: Mercy Corps does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

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Company: Reputable Company

State: Nairobi

Location: Anywhere

Job type: Full-Time

Salary:

Job category: NGO Jobs in Kenya

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Job expires in: Endless