Sudan: Head of Office - South Kordofan, Kadugli, Sudan

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.

Pr**o**gra**m Summary**

Mercy Corps has been working in Sudan since 1985. In response to Sudan's lengthy civil war, MC has lead humanitarian assistance and recovery efforts in conflict-affected Darfur since 2004, now reaching over 170,000 individuals, including 105,000 IDPs a year. MC has also worked in South Kordofan State since 2012 with funding from the UN, the European Commission, US Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, and Swiss Development Corporation, providing emergency food security, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services and livelihood support for 225,000 individuals affected by the conflict. MC's goal in Sudan is to build resilience through the provision of conflict sensitive humanitarian and early recovery initiatives, emphasizing community-led, market-driven interventions. Our programs promote long-term, sustainable development and contribute to secure, productive, and just communities

General Position Summary**

The Head of Office – South Kordofan (HoO) will lead, coordinate and manage all activities related to the implementation of programs and operations in South Kordofan State (SKS). Currently WASH and Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) projects are being implemented with crosscutting focus on building capacity of community-based organizations to lead program implementation. The HoO is responsible for: 1) implementation, sustainability and potential scale-up program activities, 2) management of operations and logistics, 3) security management, 4) team management and support, 5) communications and reporting, 6) proposal development, 7) coordination and external relations, and 8) advocacy and strategy. The HoO will need to be highly sensitive to the political dynamics of the country and have relevant security experience. This position requires strong coordination on security planning, field visits and ensuring safety of staff. The HoO leads field monitoring and program performance by tracking progress toward specified objectives. This position warrants 40% travel to other sites outside of Kadugli duty station.

Essential Job Responsibilities**

LEADERSHIP, COORDINATION AND REPRESENTATION

• Provide strategic vision, leadership and direction to all aspects of the field site.
• Identify, input and actively participate in the design, development and management of future programs. Engage with donors and conduct field visits with donors and key stakeholders to showcase Mercy Corps' achievements, challenges, goals and future directions.
• Represent Mercy Corps in coordination meetings at field level including the Inter-Cluster Working Group.
• Provide inputs and constant communication with Khartoum colleagues to ensure streamlined messaging and advocacy for country-level coordination mechanisms and advocacy.
• Engage with partners (including NGOs, UN, donors, and local governments) to develop coordinated strategies to reach populations in need of services.
• Communicate program goals and objectives with all team members, local beneficiaries, local and central government and the international community.
• Convey information and ideas and effectively coordinate to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
• Coordinate with other Mercy Corps field offices to ensure a high level of quality throughout our areas of reach.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Ensure program implementation is integrated across sectors, high-quality, serving needs identified by communities, efficient and on target within budgetary and compliance requirements.
• Build capacity of national and international program staff including officers, technical coordinators/specialists, and program managers to understand and implement Program Management at Mercy Corps (PM@MC).
• Responsible for managing implementation of the full project/grant cycle including support and mentoring to develop grants opening/planning documents to conducting grant closing processes.
• Ensure meaningful participation and involvement of the community in all phases of the project cycle, with particular analysis to engage segments of the community that are particularly marginalized. Integrate a protection analysis into all aspects of the field site and programming.
• Lead the implementation of effective assessment and M&E systems with a focus on building stronger systems and allocating budget for relevant activities and specialized staff at the field level.
• Coordinate with program, finance, logistics and administrative staff to ensure systems are in compliance with donor and Mercy Corps Policies and Procedures.
• 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.
• Convene monthly program workshop meetings to ensure program integration.

OPERATIONS, HR AND FINANCE

• Manage and supervise humanitarian operations (procurement, logistics and human resources) and finance duties within the purview of the field site.
• Ensure documentation and processes for procurement and logistics are accurate, timely, comprehensive and compliant with Mercy Corps policies and procedures, donor requirements and relevant Sudan policies and laws.
• Build the capacity of operations and finance staff through advocacy for external trainings, supportive supervision and liaising with Khartoum colleagues for guidance when necessary.
• Advocate for increased funds and personnel for operations and finance tasks in order to effectively run programming.
• Maintain oversight of staff well-being and welfare by ensuring workplace and accommodation amenities foster a productive work environment.

SAFETY AND SECURITY MANAGEMENT

• Operate as Mercy Corps' SKS Security Focal Point (SFP) with direct responsibility for responding to incidents and reporting to the Country Director.
• Maintain oversight of staff safety and security by ensuring basic equipment (e.g. communications, hibernation kits) is in place.
• Maintain oversight of staff safety and security by ensuring contingency plans are in place with staff who are briefed and equipped to address rapid onset incidences.
• Actively communicate and discuss safety and security issues with staff and request updates from staff on safety and security concerns on a routine basis.
• Ensure vehicle safety by working closely with the logistics team and drivers to ensure drivers are trained on defensive driving/scenarios and vehicles are well maintained.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Actively create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Create a culture of learning and growth for all staff regardless of position or status.
• Identify capacity-building opportunities for national staff and support national staff to grow into roles with higher levels of responsibility and accountability.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews to direct reports.
• Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary. Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Contribute to country teambuilding efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

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 developmental work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility: WASH Manager, FSL Manager, Procurement Officer, Finance Officer, Logistics Officer

Acco**unta**b**ility**

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Country Director

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Director of Programs, Program Development Specialist, HR and Logistics Director, Finance Director

Kno**wledge And Experience**

• BS/BA in International Development or related field. MS/MA preferred.
• At least 5 years of overseas experience managing Emergency programs is required; with particular focus on managing projects with time sensitive deliverables in complex settings.
• Experience with IDP/returnee programming is desired.
• Experience managing USAID/OFDA, IOM and UN funded projects is essential.
• Experience in highly volatile security situations and a commitment to team safety.
• Demonstrated ability to implement a complex program, manage a range of staff and with strong emphasis on developing their capacities.
• Well organized and strong in operations and logistics.
• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and constructively with local partners, including community committees and host governments.
• Commitment to the principles of participatory team management and participatory, community-oriented development.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multitasking, organizational skills.
• Prior experience working internationally and ability to work comfortably in the complex cultural environment is required.
• Fluency in written and spoken English required. Arabic skills highly desired.

Success Factors

The successful Head of Office will recognize that Mercy Corps' ability to function safely and successfully in Sudan depends on the ability of staff to understand the context in which programs operate. The successful Head of Office will:

• Apply a strong combination of team leadership, program development and implementation skills and will be able to maintain a sense of humor, calm and clarity in decision-making in stressful conditions.
• Have an excellent understanding of emergency and transitional issues and programmatic approaches and will be able to work across a wide range of stakeholders, working with local community members, governmental authorities, NGO partners, and donors.
• Focus on increasing the capacity and leadership of national staff to transition into positions with greater responsibility.
• Bring a positive approach to the job, embracing challenges as opportunities to innovate.
• Write well and communicate in a manner that is confident and clear, yet diplomatic, enabling him/her to forge positive working relationships with donors and other stakeholders.
• Work well under pressure in a fluid operating and security environment.

Living/Environmental Conditions**

This is an unaccompanied position as accommodation is provided in shared housing. Staff will have access to basic medical services and will need to access Khartoum for anything requiring more advanced treatment. Staff is responsible for purchase and cooking of their own food. Mercy Corps is responsible for transporting staff food to field sites in a timely manner.

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

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