Nigeria Job Openings

Mercy Corps

Program Performance & Quality (PAQ) Manager

Maiduguri

FULL TIME

August 28, 2024

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.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on humanitarian assistance, economic development, and conflict mitigation. With the ongoing insurgency in Northeast Nigeria causing the displacement of millions of individuals, Mercy Corps started its humanitarian response in 2014 to address the rising humanitarian needs. As the crisis has persisted, Mercy Corps’ strategy has also expanded to address the root causes of the conflict and seek to build the long-term resilience of communities with integrated programs focusing on governance, the recovery of markets and livelihoods, social cohesion and social protection, youth empowerment, and local conflict management. With funding from institutional donors, foundations and private corporations, Mercy Corps operates along the humanitarian-development-peace nexus across Nigeria with the ambition of further deepening linkages across the country portfolio and expand both in depth and length its interventions to provide durable solution in current programming areas and address the emerging needs in new areas.

General Position Summary

The Program Performance & Quality (Pa Q) Manager is a key position within the Mercy Corps Nigeria country team who will provide technical guidance and support for program management and coordination across the country programs’ portfolio of multiple grants. S/he will ensure accountability checks are in place for Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standards (PM@MC) by working closely with the Pa Q Director and Director of Programs and advising Program Managers/Directors on best practices for program management, in line with PM@MC standards.

S/he will have oversight of the development and management of an effective program filing and archiving systems, standardization of the process for program deliverable quality assurance checks. The Pa Q Manager will also assist in securing new programs by supporting proposal development processes and partnership development. S/he will work collaboratively with the Programs Managers and Directors, Technical Advisors, and MEL teams, and Headquarters Technical Support Unit (TSU) and Desk staff. The Pa Q Manager is highly motivated, s/he is an effective communicator, self-driven and able to move forward complex projects with limited daily support and direction; s/he is able to work remotely with internal and external stakeholders to achieve common objectives.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY & VISION

Ensure accountability checks are in place and functional for Mercy Corps Program Management (PM@MC) approaches.

Contribute to direction setting by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and support the DOP and the Pa Q Director in the country-wide strategy development. This includes supporting development of any sector-specific strategies.

Support cross-program learning, including operation of sector-specific Technical Working Groups.

PROGRAM QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Lead development of a MC Nigeria programs’ health dashboard in line with Mercy Corps Program Management minimum standards (PM@MC).

Provide technical oversight and support to Program Managers/Directors and focal points to develop program filing and archiving systems and to ensure programs’ documentation is filed, in compliance with PM@MC, donors’ regulations and good practice.

Provide technical guidance to Program Managers/Directors to set up effective internal and external program coordination structures.

Work with Programs to refine processes for program deliverable quality assurance checks, including monitoring and spot check procedures.

Provide support to Program Managers/Directors at key implementation moments (such as kick-off meetings, program initiation meetings, 90-day inception meetings, 90-day end of program transition meetings), as required.

Maintain effective communications with headquarters staff and program teams on program quality and grants tracking issues, and information requests from internal/external sources.

PROGRAM AND PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT

Provide support for prepositioning and new program strategy design efforts.

Contribute to proposal development and the design of new programs.

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND COORDINATION

Support Programs Managers/Directors and the MEL Manager in the development of an adaptive management culture at country-level, providing guidance in adaptive management techniques and decision-making.

Build capacity of program teams with information, tools and resources to improve performance and reach objectives, and review programmatic tools (implementation and follow-up of quality assurance process, development and/or revision of SOPs, etc.).

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

Create a culture of knowledge sharing among departments and programs collaboratively

Create and operationalize a knowledge management system and capture new knowledge and ensure information is utilized in new initiatives

Ensure team members are trained and aware of knowledge management processes including the objectives of knowledge management

REPRESENTATION AND COMMUNICATION

Provide support to the Programs Managers/Directors to represent Mercy Corps programs with national and international counterparts, donors, partners and participate in coordination forums as required.

Provide support to Program teams in the organization of donors’ visits.

Support the development of strategic, cross-program communication materials, such as sector profiles, impact reports, program briefings, key messages, talking points, and other relevant pieces.

SECURITY

Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.

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

Will supervise the Reporting Specialist and Strategic Learning Specialist.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Program Performance and Quality (Pa Q) Director

Works Directly With: Director of Programs, Program Directors and Leads, MEL Unit, Gender Adviser, Nutrition and Food Security Adviser, Protection Adviser, Finance Director, Operations Director, CARM Unit, HQ-based desks, TRAC, and regional teams.

Knowledge and Experience

BA/S or equivalent in international studies, economics or other relevant field; MA/S preferred.

Five years of relevant working experience in program quality and implementation for European and US institutional donors.

Demonstrated ability in program quality assurance required.

Field experience in both emergency and development environments preferred.

Ability to work across diverse, multicultural teams and get buy-in from a variety of stakeholders is essential.

Advanced written and spoken English is required.

Ability to deliver high quality deliverables within short deadlines.

Ability to multi-task and juggle several tasks and relationships at one time.

Previous experience building staff capacity/training and providing technical guidance required.

Excellent communication skills and experience in representing an organization.

Demonstrated proficiency with the MS Office software (i.e., Word, Excel, Power Point) is required.

Proven ability to work effectively in with technical and administrative staff and consultants.

Success Factors

The successful Pa Q Manager will combine exceptional writing skills and experience in providing technical support across program teams. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural teams and will possess high level of adaptability and be able to adjust to the constantly changing working environment. S/he will have previous experience working on a variety of different programs/sectors in emergency and development settings. Prioritizing, problem solving, ability to seize opportunities, 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

This position is an unaccompanied position based in Maiduguri but will provide support for the entire Country Office. Shared housing will be provided in Maiduguri according to Mercy Corps Nigeria’s housing policy. Travel may be required up to 30% of the time across the country.

Considering the travel from/to different field locations, this position will require flexibility in terms of accommodation and logistics. Housing in the field will be in hotels or guesthouses where available. Security in the field locations requires additional vigilance and accessibility will be reassessed continuously. Access to good medical services in the field is limited. Phone communication, internet, electricity, and water are available but might be erratic. Given the nature of the role, working hours require flexibility, and working through weekends/evenings might be necessary.

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 professionally 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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