Emergency Program Manager for Cash – Ukraine Response (Candidates must have the rights to live and work in Poland)

Mercy Corps

Position Description

Location: Krakow, Warsaw/ open for other locations in Poland

Position Status: Full Time

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

The conflict in Ukraine has resulted in over 5M people fleeing the country and many millions more displaced within Ukraine. There are many more who are unable to safely leave their homes. The circumstances and populations are constantly evolving with the conflict. Mercy Corps has reopened its registration and presence in Ukraine as well as offices to support people in neighboring Poland and Romania. This includes partnership models, cash, information provision and other emergency response activities in a very fluid environment. Partnerships with Polish organizations are expected to be a key Mercy Corps approach, which leverages the skills of diverse civil society groups to provide much-needed assistance to Ukrainian refugees. As humanitarian standards and Mercy Corps’ standards for subawards are new to most Polish organizations, we will need to adapt and create practical orientation sessions, training, and coaching models to onboard our partners to our processes, formats, and program management standards. In addition, we will want to support organizations with monitoring, evaluation, and accountability in order for us to demonstrate our impact and account for responsible use of funding.

General Position Summary

The Emergency Program Manager ensures the efficient and effective implementation of the response program. As Mercy Corps focal point for cash, Emergency Program Manager will be responsible for coordinating and implementing the delivery of the response program, including daily management of program activities and program staff, and ensuring appropriate systems and support mechanisms are in place to track, analyze and report on results. She/he should be a strong team leader, able to develop and mentor team members and are effective communicators, able to work with internal and external stakeholders to achieve common objectives. Emergency Program Manager will be responsible for managing relationships with local partners, beneficiaries and donors, contributing to the achievement of the response program’s objectives.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Program Management

  • Oversee program startup and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations.
  • Integrate the use of community approaches in the design, implementation, and maintenance of projects.
  • Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners, and consistent with
  • Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
  • Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
  • Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
  • Ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donors and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
  • Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria, and that feedback mechanisms are in place.
  • Develop partners’ MoUs and contracts & oversee induction/training for program partners.
  • Ensure proper maintenance of project files for the partner(s), keep all trackers up-to-date, and ensure project related deliverables are completed in a timely manner.
  • Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Code of Conduct; Gender, Diversity and Inclusion guiding documents; Core Humanitarian Principles and Do No Harm. .
  • Assist in the completion of monthly projections and other requested documents.
  • Work with partners to ensure timely coordination of the subaward closeout process

Team Management

  • Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage team members and technical consultants
  • Ensure team members improve performance & reach objectives.
  • Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
  • Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence and cultivate resilience and well-being under challenging situations.

Coordination & Communication

  • Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
  • Ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
  • Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.
  • Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
  • Ensure that information from coordination meetings is shared internally and with other sectors, as appropriate.
  • Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning and CARM teams to aggregate and analyze
  • data provided by partners to both influence programmatic decision making and contribute to reports to the donor and/ or Mercy Corps stakeholders at headquarters or in the region.

Other

  • Adherence to all Mercy Corps policies and procedures as outlined in Mercy Corps policies and
  • procedure manuals.
  • 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.

Accountability: 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: Cash Program Officer, Cash Program Officer-FSP

Reports Directly To: Team Leader

Works Directly With: Program Departments, Program Accountability and Quality, Operations Team,

Security Management, Sub-awards&Compliance and Finance, Human Resources, MEL, CTP Advisors.

Knowledge and Experience

  • Diploma or University Degree in international studies, social, economic or other relevant field is desired.
  • Experience working in non-governmental organizations, preferably in Poland
  • Basic understanding of structures and processes of NGOs – including project cycle management
  • Demonstrated capacity to collaborate closely with a broad range of stakeholders in different geographic
  • locations; experience with remote management or monitoring a plus
  • 2 years of experience in managing programs in emergency contexts.
  • Self-starter — must be productive with minimal direction and flexible to sudden changes in requirements
  • Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills; demonstrated ability to successfully work
  • in a fast-paced environment within and across departments/functions/geographic locations, and develop
  • positive relationships with locally and remote based staff
  • Required excellent oral and written English, Polish language

Success Factors

Must be able to understand compliance requirements for subawards and have the ability to assist and offer support with partnerships. Excellent multi-tasking, organizational,communication and prioritization skills are necessary. Accuracy and attention to details are required. A demonstrated ability to work quickly, accurately, meet deadlines, and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary. Ability to manage, coordinate and practice empathy with different members/levels of a team. Ability to work in remote project environment and travel between the project locations

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

How to apply

If you are suitable and interested, please e-mail us your CV and cover letter to

[email protected]

Attention please: When applying, please indicate the position name in the subject line of your e-mail. Please be aware that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Disclaimer: Mercy Corps is in the process of obtaining its legal registration in Poland and the offer will be finalized upon registration of the organization.


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