Mercy Corps Chief of Party (KEVP Program) NGO Job in Nairobi Kenya

Sep 5, 2017

Mercy Corps is a leading global relief and development agency saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. In more than 40 countries, we partner with local people to put bold ideas into action, help them overcome adversity and build stronger communities. 

We help communities survive and move beyond emergencies. When natural disasters strike, economies collapse or conflict flares, Mercy Corps is there. 

Working with communities, we leverage local logic to help people transform their lives to grow more food, earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs. 

 

We see global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions. 

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

Position: Chief of Party
 

Location: Nairobi

Program / Department Summary: Mercy Corps implements high-quality, analytical development work in very difficult places. We have been operating in Kenya since 2008 and are presently implementing development programs across the Central, Rift Valley, North Western and Northern Eastern regions of Kenya.
 

Mercy Corps is implementing a Kenya Election Violence Prevention and Response Program (KEVP) that works to mitigate the risk of escalation of election-related violence in the lead up to, during, and immediately following the Kenyan elections. 

KEVP will shore up ongoing efforts of Kenyan civil society organizations, including student organizations, youth bunges (parliaments) and the local private sector, religious groups, as well as current USG partners in Kisumu, Nakuru, Nandi, Nairobi and Uasin Gishu counties to ensure that youth and communities are able to remain resilient to political manipulation and ensure a peaceful election. 

KEVP is working with these key stakeholders to create communications materials such as film to be used in workshop trainings and for public screenings. 

The program will establish and strengthen existing local networks, including the 2013 Champions for Peace networks in Kisumu and Nakuru, establish county level Early Warning Early Response (EWER) Hubs, and link them to Uwiano platform, leverage different players and networks to preempt political manipulation by providing administrative and logistical support to enable them to monitor risks, and develop actionable plans for prevention and response.

General Position Summary: The Chief of Party (CoP) will have responsibility for the overall achievement of Mercy Corps’ implementation of the program to mitigate the risk of escalation of election-related violence in the lead up to, during, and immediately following the Kenyan elections currently scheduled for August of 2017. 

The CoP will lead the program that will pursue three inter-related objectives; 

1) Identify and map the relationships between key influential actors, in identified at-risk areas, capable of mobilizing people toward and away from violence;

2) Develop or expand upon existing structures that facilitate coordination and information sharing related to electoral security planning and response between identified local influencers, including community leaders, local administrators, and the security sector, and; 

3) Work with electoral security structures to develop plans and processes that enhance prevention and responses to early indicators of violence.
 

Essential Job Functions:
 

Program Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the program activities in cooperation with key project stakeholders, including political parties, religious leaders and groups, local non-governmental organizations, local government officials, community-based organizations, other international agencies on the ground, and key donors;


• Oversee relevant program, finance and administrative staff to ensure systems are in compliance with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures;


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


• 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;


• Increase staff capacity by ensuring high quality technical training on election violence prevention, conflict management and peacebuilding for Mercy Corps staff and local implementing partners, and provide ongoing coaching and mentoring;


• Promote learning and knowledge management through documentation and knowledge sharing around best practices and lessons learned;


• Ensure donor reporting is submitted on time and is of excellent quality.  

Program Development

• Lead efforts to pre-position the agency for additional opportunities to develop a robust portfolio of peacebuilding and conflict mitigation programs;


• Lead assessments and program design for new opportunities that build off existing MC Kenya programs, in pursuit of integrated multi-sector programs addressing the root causes of conflict in the various contexts in Kenya.

Strategy and Vision

• Work with the Country Director to develop a comprehensive strategy for peacebuilding and resilience and other development programs in Kenya, integrating agency best practices and building off the existing portfolio of programs in country;


• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve these objectives and contribute to country-wide strategy development;


• 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.

Representation

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with IESCs sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders;


• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met;


• Maintain good working relationships with the donor, the host country government and county governments, local leaders, partner agencies, and other key stakeholders;


• Document and disseminate lessons learned and best practices from MC Kenya’s conflict and peacebuilding portfolio to internal and external stakeholders, including at international conferences and similar forums;


• Develop and maintain working relationships and coordinate with relevant international and local agencies active in the humanitarian response and protection sectors, including donors, other humanitarian and human rights organizations, local authorities and local partners, including representing Mercy Corps at local and national coordination meetings.

Team Management

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


• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via 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 processes;


• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance & reach objectives;


• Supervise and regularly coordinate with project staff and support departments to ensure smooth planning, preparation, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of program activities;


• Provide overall leadership to a broad team of program staff implementing various peacebuilding and other Mercy Corps development programs; ensuring synergy, sharing of best practices and resources.

Other

• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission;


• Other duties as assigned.

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: Deputy Chief of Party and other project staff

Accountability
 

Reports Directly To: Country Director
 

Works Directly With: Local national staff and affiliated relevant Mercy Corps headquarters units as necessary, including Mercy Corps’ Conflict Management Group and various administrative/financial units.
 

Knowledge and Experience:

• Master’s degree in conflict mitigation, social sciences, international relations or other relevant field preferred;


• Minimum 8 years’ relevant professional experience implementing conflict management and peacebuilding programs, preferably in insecure or transitional environments;


• Experience with election violence prevention programming is a plus;


• Previous experience managing a portfolio of programs in insecure environments;


• Experience in at least one of the following program areas: election violence prevention, protection/psychosocial, economic development, and/or natural resource management;


• Knowledge of people-to-people peacebuilding programs and ‘Do No Harm’ principles;


• Strong facilitation and consensus-building skills;


• Experience managing national and international staff;


• Familiarity and experience with USAID regulations preferred;


• Demonstrated experience with new program development and design including leading the proposal development process;


• Must be able to work independently while being a strong team player;


• Fluency in both English and Swahili are required.

Success Factors: The successful Chief of Party candidate will demonstrate the capacity to lead a multi-dimensional effort in a complex and fluid security / political environment. 

S/he will employ excellent judgment, strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, and be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps. 

S/he will take initiative, calculate risks and benefits of various courses of action, lead others to achieve to the highest level possible, and demonstrate solid decision–making while working in concert with diverse partners.
 

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed to a field posting. 

Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures and values at all time and in all in-country venues.
 

How to Apply

Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit a Cover Letter and detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to ke-hrkenya@mercycorps.org on or before Wednesday 15th September, 2017.

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

Applications without an appropriate subject heading will be automatically disqualified.
 

Please do not attach any certificates.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

NB: We do not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.