Managing Risk through Economic Development (M-RED) Regional Program Manager – Nepal / Indonesia / Timor-Leste

The position is for national position based in Nepal, Indonesia or Timor – Leste

BACKGROUND: Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, and 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 Managing Risk through Economic Development (M-RED) program aim to
develop and implement a sustainable model of integrated disaster risk reduction (DRR) and economic development activities, building sustained and market-driven approaches to DRR that increase resiliency to multiple disasters. The program targets vulnerable communities in Nepal, Timor Leste, and Indonesia building on Mercy Corps’ experience in the countries. Activities initiated at the community and household levels will be those that both mitigate disaster risks and increase income levels. Communities will increase their DRR knowledge and capacity. While at the same time, increasing their economic opportunities by engaging in the production, value addition, and sale of crops utilized for disaster mitigation with the dual purpose of increasing household incomes. The program will reinforce new or improved economic opportunities by enabling communities and households to access markets for inputs and sales of high-demand/ high-value commodities.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY: The Regional Program Manager (RPM) provides accountability and oversight to all aspects of the MRED program implementation and ensures the overall quality and impact of the program’s aim of developing a more effective and sustainable model for DRR that results in improved resiliency for hazard prone communities, including those made more vulnerable by climate change, while increasing local economic development and generating income. The RPM will spearhead the scale and replication of this integrated approach to DRR and economic development that was tested during previous phases (1,2,3) in Nepal, Timor-Leste and Indonesia and S/he will indirectly supervise Program Managers in all three countries, as well as directly supervise Resilience MERL Advisor. The position will work with country-level program teams as they implement and monitor day-to-day activities, while spearheading the program learning agenda. The position will inform wider Mercy Corps resilience strategies and programmes by feeding best practices in DRR, climate change adaptation, market-driven development, and resilience approaches from MRED. Overseeing the design of a more effective M&E system that can capture and aggregate outcome and impact data on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis is also a primary priority. The RPM work will include clear and concise reporting and communications, both internally and externally.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Vision and Strategy

• Deepen the integrated DRR and economic development model that is applied in 3 countries and promote cross learning opportunities, with careful attention to the contextual variation for the countries.
• Ensure relevancy and effectiveness of the model in program locations; the vision for each is different due to the natural hazard risks and the stage of economic development, as well as other social and political factors.
• Supervise the implementation of this vision and strategy including such deliverables as: approach documentation and implementation guidelines; cross-visit and shared learning documentation; and case studies tied to the research agenda which support learning about the vision and strategy.
• The MRED Regional Program Manager will create a regional vision for replication and scaling of MRED model and will work with the regional resilience hub to identify and feed into new opportunities for climate change and DRR programs for the region.

Program Management

• Provide overall management oversight of the MRED program, ensuring program deliverables are implemented at the highest quality and in compliance with donor policies.
• Initiate and manage an effective startup of MRED 4, detailed implementation plan, and the organization of a start-up workshop.
• Provide leadership for the design and implementation of the Emergency Contingency Fund, Innovation fund.
• Together with Resilience MERL Advisor, manage the Research and Learning Agenda, including selection and ongoing management of the Research Partner. Support M&E team to conduct a workshop to jointly design the research and learning agenda and incorporate that plan with the program M&E (see also following point).
• Oversee the development of an effective monitoring and evaluation system that is integrated and fully aligned with the Research Agenda. Meaning the program Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) and Research Design will be carefully crafted together, and the system for ongoing data collection throughout the program according to the PMP will include a substantial portion of research-related data. This will all be developed in close collaboration with the implementing teams and the Research Partner, the Regional Resilience Director, and the Mercy Corps’ global Monitoring & Evaluation, Research & Learning technical support unit.
• Provide budget management for complex multi-country budget including careful tracking of Budget Versus Actuals (BVA) and updating projections with the Program Managers in each country. MACF has very strict financial policies, which require close oversight of individual budget lines. The RPM will be expected to support multiple budget realignments, detailed forecasting, and periodic communication on any changes to the donor. Careful tracking of core-funded elements of the operational expenses in also need to be closely monitored and updated with the Finance Managers, Country Directors and on a quarterly basis.
• Ensure that accurate, concise, and informative narrative and financial reports, together with required supporting documentation, are provided to the MACF.
• At program end, organize a final workshop to discuss challenges and lessons learned, and key accomplishments.
• Ensure project adherence with established timelines, work schedules, and best technical and managerial practices.

Team Management and Capacity-Building

• Establish governance structures and country agreements on delivery, implementation, and reporting of MRED project activities. In close collaboration with the in-country Director of Programs/Country Director, provide management oversight to Program Managers- ensuring that tasks are carried out as planned and with quality, and that the overall program complies with Mercy Corps program management minimum standards (PM@MC).
• Develop the capacity of in-country program managers in effective leadership, coordination and program implementation, providing on-going guidance and mentorship. Support program managers to build and manage teams effectively on the ground.
• Provide regular performance and programmatic feedback to country teams in an ongoing effort to ensure program quality.
• Coordinate and where appropriate facilitate regular team review and reflection meetings, to support team capacity-building and adaptive management towards achieving program deliverables.
• Develop and manage an effective system of team communication and collaboration, including an email group, regular conference calls, monthly reporting systems, a shared Google/one Drive/Share point filing system, and annual team meetings, etc.

Representation, influence and Visibility

• Work with program partners to develop materials that highlight and communicate lessons learned and success stories featuring the activities, approaches, and impacts of the program. Share these with and in relevant forums on resilience, DRR and economic development as feasible.
• Serve as a primary liaison with the donor on this program, in collaboration with the Director of Foundation Partnerships.
• Participate and represent Mercy Corps in various DRR, climate change and economic development forums both online and/or in person as opportunities arise. 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.

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

Supervisory Responsibility: Directly supervises the Resilience MERL Advisor; indirectly supervises the M-RED Program Managers in Nepal, Timor-Leste and Indonesia.

Accountability: Regional Resilience Director, with strong coordination with the Country Directors and Directors of Programs in Nepal, Timor-Leste and Indonesia. These complex reporting lines in and of themselves indicate that the incumbent must be a collaborative, self-motivated, independent leader.

Reports Directly To: Regional Resilience Director, with strong coordination with the Country Directors and
Directors of Programs in Nepal, Timor-Leste and Indonesia. These complex reporting lines in and of themselves indicate that the incumbent must be a collaborative, self-motivated, independent leader.

Works Directly With: Directors of Programs, Country Directors, Corporate & Foundation Team, Finance
Managers, HQ Technical Support Units (particularly Economic and Market Development including Agriculture and Livestock technical team, Resilience, and Energy, Environment and Climate, Research Team, Global M&E team, local partners, peer agencies and implementing partners)

Knowledge and Experience

• MA or equivalent in business management (MBA), agricultural or environmental economics, disaster management, or a related field.
• Minimum 5-7 years of field experience working in international economic development programs that utilize market-based, value chain approaches to private sector development and/ or DRR programs.
• At least 3 years of senior-level leadership and field management experience preferred, with a proven record of sound financial management.
• Prior experience working with corporate/ foundation funding agencies preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to function as a social entrepreneur and proven success with building, managing and leading a team of professionals and the ability to function as a team player among peers.
• Successful and proven negotiation, communication, organization, and prioritization skills and experience. In particular, the successful RPM will have excellent communication and documentation skills that allow the incumbent to coordinate teams across the focal countries while documenting approaches and lessons learned.
• Experience in South Asia or Southeast Asia is preferred.
• The ability and desire to grow individually and professionally.
• Regional language skills are an advantage, but not required

Success Factors The successful Program Manager will have senior level experience in coordinating and managing programs in complex areas affected by poverty, natural disasters, and climate change patterns and will be motivated by finding new solutions and working in a positive, team-oriented way. S/he will be expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to program beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work and will have exceptional team, partner, and donor communication skills, as well as an outstanding ability to design, implement and manage innovative programs that respond to current needs and reinforce the future program structure of Mercy Corps in the regions. The RPM will have proven experience with cross-cultural teams, with strong leadership, with applied research and/ or learning processes, communication and mentoring skills, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential.
S/he will be committed to working flexibly and constructively with a new donor to develop the overall Mercy Corps donor relationship and evolve success in the current program into the design of future programming. 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. Patience, tenacity, diplomacy and a sense of humor will contribute to success.