Consortium Director – Agricultural Market Systems, Sudan
Description
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps (MC) 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.
Program / Department Summary
MC Sudan’s head office is located in Khartoum with programs in South Darfur, South Kordofan and White Nile states. MC is currently implementing a strategy that has an overarching goal of building resilience of communities in Sudan, utilizing both early recovery and humanitarian approaches. The country team’s overall goal is underpinned by four key objectives: strengthened economic opportunities through market orientated programs, enhanced access to safe drinking water and improved hygiene practices, reduced levels of conflict between diverse communities, and strengthened institutional capacity for local government, civil society and the private sector. MC has adopted an integrated approach to achieving all four objectives and will prioritize the expansion of programming into three additional thematic areas that cut across all four objectives. Thematic areas are: youth led programming that will prioritize increased participation of youth in program design and implementation while enhancing their long-term employment prospects; increased engagement with the private sector; and a stronger focus on development programming in areas of IDP returns and refugee influx.
General Position Summary
The Consortium Director will be responsible for the overall management and coordination of a multiyear Market Systems based early recovery program in Sudan focused primarily on improving agricultural services, governance and markets for smallholder farmers. The Consortium Director will lead, coordinate and manage all activities related to the implementation of the program and operations in South Kordofan and Blue states. The Consortium Director will provide leadership to the consortium, including ensuring cohesion of activities.
The Consortium Director will provide strategic direction, overall program management and technical leadership. The Consortium Director will promote a culture of constant program improvement, mentor Program Managers, create an adaptive management culture, integrate monitoring and evaluation into program activities and ensure the delivery of high-quality program that delivers impact. She/he will also identify opportunities to operationalize recommendations from ongoing context analyses.
The Consortium Director is responsible for: 1) implementation, sustainability and potential scale up program activities, 2) management of Program Managers and M&E Coordinator, 3) coordination and external relations, 4) communications and reporting, 5) proposal development, and 6) learning and 7) advocacy/strategy.
The Consortium Director will need to be highly sensitive to the political dynamics of the country and have relevant security experience. The Consortium will leads field monitoring and program performance by tracking progress toward specified objectives.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy and Vision
- Provide leadership and strategic vision in all aspects of the program’s development, implementation and management in 2 states.
- Continuously review and advise on adaptations and adjustments to the program activities for growth and sustainability.
- Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and influence stakeholders to provide support.
- Develop and manage a clear system for tracking and reporting against deliverables.
- Maintain strong and transparent communication with consortium partners.
- Support and lead on future fundraising efforts.
Representation and Coordination
- Lead and participate where relevant in external representation of the consortium with various groups including donors, UN agencies, and Government actors
- Represent consortium progress to donors as well as within other relevant for a
- Share learning from the consortium with the greater humanitarian and development community
Technical oversight and expertise
- Provide management oversight the implementation team, including review of work plans, sector result chains, intervention designs, growth structure, sustainability, vision, monitoring implementation and impact, ensuring that program deliverables are completed, supervising lead implementation staff, and managing the program budget.
- Work with the M&E Coordinator to develop monitoring systems and provide regular, high-quality reports on program activities, both internally for Mercy Corps as well as for donors. Demonstrate progress of activities and capture lessons learned.
- In collaboration with the M&E Coordinator, ensure monitoring, evaluation and analysis are integrated into program implementation to promote adaptive management and a culture of constant program improvement
- Support the design and implementation of relevant surveys, need assessments, data and information collection for ongoing monitoring and learning.
- Organize and conduct monitoring visits to the project sites and host visitors and donors, as needed.
- Together with the Program Managers and other Mercy Corps team members, lead field level inquiry of the project learning agenda.
Team Management
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
- Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
- Work with Program Managers to lead capacity development initiatives for project team members through trainings, mentoring and coaching to ensure there is a cohesive understanding of market systems and project implementation approaches.
- Guide team to develop, document and implement adaptive management practices that lead to improved quality and responsive implementation.
- Work with program and M&E staff to ensure high quality measurement on key performance indicators for MSD programs.
Finance & Compliance Management
- Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to the program.
- Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
Influence & Representation
- Represent Mercy Corps at partner coordination meetings and with external stakeholders as relevant to the programs.
- Identify and engage with technical, private and public sector partnerships needed to execute program strategies and support the growth and formalization of partnership arrangements as necessary.
- Lead learning initiatives within the consortium through documentation and evidence of program actions.
- Participate in relevant strategic fora to share Mercy Corps’ experience and promote thought-leadership.
- Identify strategic implementation, research and private sector partners that can contribute to Mercy Corps Sudan’s portfolio development, influence and impact.
- 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.
Security
- 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 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.
Supervisory Responsibility
Program Managers (South Kordofan and Blue Nile states) and M&E Coordinator
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Deputy Country Director
Works Directly With: Country Director, Program Managers, M&E Coordinator, Finance Manager, Heads of OfficesKnowledge and Experience
- At least 10 years of relevant progressive experience, out of which 5 years in managerial positions. Experience in a humanitarian environment including significant field operations experience running both emergency and development programs are required, especially in market-based approaches.
- BA/S or equivalent in a relevant field; an advanced degree is preferred.
- Direct experience in implementing market systems development programming and economic recovery.
- Experience of and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability.
- Prior experience in developing partnership with both private and public actors as part of program implementation in achieving projects desired goals.
- History of working effectively with host country governments, INGO and NGO partners.
- Experience facilitating workshops and multiple stakeholder meetings.
- Strong writing and report development skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work in complex programming and volatile environments and applying market based approaches in fragile contexts.
- Demonstrated monitoring and evaluation skills.
- Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff.
- Oral and written English skills required.
