Nepal: Chief of Party - Promoting Agricultural and Alternative Livelihoods (PAHAL)

Oct 24, 2016 | Mercy Corps
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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.

Mercy Corps specializes in development in transitional areas. Mercy Corps has been operating in Nepal since 2005, implementing programs in food security, agriculture, market development, financial services, youth engagement, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We take a systems-based approach in our programming, with the aim of improving the lives and potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal.

The Chief of Party (CoP) will provide overall leadership, management and strategic vision to the implementation of a five-year, multi-million dollar USAID/Food for Peace and USAID/Nepal-funded Development Food Assistance Program (DFAP), titled PAHAL. The CoP will manage staff,  resources and partnerships to ensure that the program meets its targets and deliverables on-time and within budget. The CoP will supervise 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 implementer and external stakeholders. PAHAL is currently in its second year of implementation.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy and Vision

  • Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
  • Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve objectives.
  • Oversee the development of annual, integrated strategic work-plans for the program.
  • Lead the development of a program-wide resilience-building framework to guide coordination and integrated implementation.

Program Management

  • Oversee program start-up and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations.
  • Lead the development of detailed implementation plans, flowing from annual strategic work-plans, and ensure the delivery of the same.
  • Lead the socialization of the program with Government of Nepal stakeholders, ensuring necessary approvals and collaboration as required.
  • Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.
  • Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
  • Provide managerial and programmatic oversight to partners and sub-grantee(s).
  • Document processes and achievements to ensure best practices are captured and disseminated. This will include the continual re-evaluation of program activities and information, with resulting activity adjustments in keeping with new insights.
  • Produce written reports on program activities, capturing the impacts of activities.
  • Oversee efforts to design effective M&E systems for the program, and linkages with internal M&E systems.
  • Create and follow effective stakeholder management plans, ensuring sound and proactive communications with Mercy Corps Nepal, Partner organizations, Mercy Corps headquarters, USAID, Government of Nepal authorities, and colleague agencies.
  • Conduct frequent field visits to all project sites – spending up to 40% of her/ his time in the field.

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 regular 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.
  • Supervise and manage all program staff to ensure day-to-day activities are implemented in a coordinated fashion according to schedule, budget and quality.
  • Supervise and manage all program partnerships to ensure sound coordination in the context of an overall program strategic and resilience-building framework.
  • Manage and help with the recruitment, orientation, professional development and ongoing training of DFAP staff to ensure they are of the quality and technical capacity necessary to ensure the successful implementation of activities.

Finance & Compliance Management

  • In collaboration with the country program’s operations and finance departments, ensure proper financial management, procurement, administration, human resources and logistics (including transport, warehousing and asset management) needs of the program are conducted within Mercy Corps’ policy and with the maximum benefit to the program.
  • Monitor adherence to grant agreement, Mercy Corps’ policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations, including those of the government of Nepal.

Representation

  • Liaise with and represent program to USAID and other Title II cooperating sponsors and stakeholders.
  • Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field, in close coordination with the Country Director.
  • Ensure close coordination and information sharing with consortium partners, sub-grantees, local government and other implementer, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.
  • Establish and maintain relationships with communities and local government.
  • Coordinate with Mercy Corps’ Regional Director for Resilience for thought leadership on resilience vis-a-vis this program in Nepal.

Security

  • Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
  • Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

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:

The Chief of Party is responsible for supervising national and international team members working on the program, as well as for managing partnerships with international and national program partners. The number of direct and indirect reports is to be determined.

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:

Country Director

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH:

Director of Programs, Finance Manager, Operations Staff, HQ Regional Program Team, Technical Support Unit and Partner Organizations

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE: 

  • MA/S or equivalent experience in international development, management, economic development or other relevant field.
  • At least 10 years of relevant international experience with positions of progressively greater responsibilities. At least five years in a senior management role is required with experience in project management related to multi-sectoral, Title II funded activities strongly preferred.
  • Experience in at least two, and ideally more, of the following sectors is required: food security, alternative livelihoods, agriculture, nutrition, maternal & child health, water, sanitation and hygiene, adaptation to climate change and disaster risk reduction.
  • Practical experience managing consortia of local and international partners is preferred.
  • History of working effectively and respectfully with host government, NGOs, contractors and other partners.
  • Experience with USAID rules, regulations and requirements is preferred.
  • Experience working in South Asia required.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
  • Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.

SUCCESS FACTORS: 

The successful CoP will combine exceptional management skills and experience in building and maintaining donor and partner relationships. The position requires an ability to think creatively about improving food security, community development and resilience. The CoP will have proven experience with cross-cultural team 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 position is based in Kathmandu, and is an accompanied position for spouse and children. Kathmandu is a culturally dynamic capital city that can provide a comfortable, safe living environment with access to amenities, although a sense of patience with routine (and extended) power cuts, water shortages, air/ noise pollution, and traffic is required.  Approximately 40% travel will be required to field locations, some of which are easily accessible but many others of which are quite remote and require extended travel (by flight, vehicle, hiking, and occasionally motorcycle) in locations that may be distant from amenities or health care. 

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of 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.