Humanitarian Rapid Response Team Leader – Ukraine

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Program / Department / Team

Mercy Corps is responding to the Ukraine emergency since military operations were launched across the country in February 2022. The attacks set off a wave of displacement internally and into the countries along Ukraine’s western borders. Mercy Corps response program will focus on multi-purpose cash intervention and other key sectors, particularly food security, livelihoods, NFIs, and protection. Mercy Corps is also supporting local NGOs and other civil society actors currently supporting displaced populations, as well as those in Ukraine sheltering in place. As Mercy Corps pursues its objectives in the region it will continue to assess the security situation in areas of potential operation, with an eye towards the logistics of possible programmatic interventions and positioning going forward.

The Position

The Humanitarian Rapid Response Team (HRRT) Leader ensures the efficient and effective implementation of the emergency response program inclusive of NFI, Food, WASH, Cash and shelter basic needs assistance. They are responsible for coordinating and implementing the delivery of the HRRT program in Ukraine, including daily management of program activities and program staff; ensuring appropriate systems and support mechanisms are in place to track, and analyze and report on results. They are 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. They are responsible for managing relationships with local partners, participants and donors, contributing to the achievement of the program’s objectives and the HRRT overall objectives.

Essential Responsibilities

STRATEGY AND PLANNING

• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to humanitarian strategy development.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs.
• Play a role in analyzing areas of operation and mapping actors and dynamics.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Oversee HRRT 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’ minimum standards and other 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.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring 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.
• Ensure, in coordination with local partners, the planning of safe delivery and distribution of NFIs to beneficiaries, including advising on and adhering to standard operating procedures (SOP) for NFIs distribution, safety and security measures, and training program and partners staff on SOP and safety and security measures.
• Facilitate capacity building for program team and other project staff.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Codes of Conduct and Ethics; Gender, Diversity and Inclusion guiding documents; Core Humanitarian Principles and Do No Harm.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and provide technical support to HRRT team members
• 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.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with Ukrainian partners, sub-grantees, donors, local government and other stakeholders.
• Actively monitor CASH, Shelter and NFIs, and Food sectors trends in Ukraine, and with the different actors and areas of operation for effective planning and coordination.
• 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.
• Exhibit an awareness of their own strengths and development needs.

SECURITY

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies
• Contribute to creating a secure environment for team members.

Supervisory Responsibility: Relevant HRRT program staff

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director Of Programs
Works Directly With: Other program teams of the Ukraine response, Crisis Analytics team, TSU cash team, PaQ and MEL teams

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• BA/BS or equivalent in relevant field
• 3-5 years of experience in managing humanitarian programs in emergency contexts.
• Demonstrable ability to deliver high performance in stressful and insecure contexts.
• Program Management Certification – PMD Pro is required
• Excellent oral and written English skills required; proficiency in Ukrainian or Russian is a plus.
• Proficiency with MS Office software required (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Understands Sphere Standards and ensures they are met
• Can conduct rapid needs assessments, in line with Mercy Corps’ approach and industry’s best practice
• Understands theoretical and applied knowledge about emergency rapid response programming.
• Can develop SOPs in line with Mercy Corps’ Minimum Standards
• Possess project management skills and applies PM@MC minimum standards for all phases of the project cycle
• Can oversee and implement participatory assessment processes
• Can oversee program budgets, project cash flow and expenditures
• Understands donor regulations and compliance (USAID, ECHO, FCDO, UN, etc.)
• Effectively manages teams/people and apply relevant Mercy Corps’ procedures and approaches
• Supports team members through capacity building
• Possesses basic understanding of procurement and logistics
• Can ensure feedback from crisis-affected people and other stakeholders is incorporated in program design, implementation and learning
• Can ensure team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
• Develop weekly plan, movement plan, and liaise with the relevant departments for smooth implementation
• Recognizes opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed
• Drives impact by building high performing teams
• Broadens influence by role modeling and leveraging networks

Success Factors

The successful Emergency Program Manager will combine exceptional management skills and experience in running emergency programs. Prioritizing, problem solving, ability to seize opportunities, attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. They will also have proven experience with cross-cultural teams and capacity building. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, and thrive in an evolving and changing environment while taking care of self and others.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Ukraine. Kyiv and Dnipro are considered hardship locations. Accommodations are being defined and access to services – medical, electricity, water, etc is in place but may change depending on the situation. Given the emergency context, this position requires exceptional work schedules, including evenings and weekends.

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.