MCC Representative for Kenya & Tanzania

Job Synopsis

The MCC Representative is responsible for a wide variety of programming and relationships. The MCC Kenya and Tanzania program works closely with the Mennonite Church in both countries, implementing projects and relating to church members. The office also works with a number of other church and non-church partners as well. facilitating projects in the fields of peace, health, education, and food security & livelihoods. The program has implemented a number of successful Canadian Food and Grains Bank projects in the agricultural sector in Kenya and a large Growing Hope Globally project in Tanzania. Travel around both Kenya and Tanzania is a large part of this role, requiring the individual to be gone for about five working days once per month. The team has a mix of both long-term and new staff most of whom work from the Nairobi office.

Job Details

Salaried Employee -Full Time at 1 FTE

Qualifications

All MCC workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to: a personal Christian faith and discipleship; active participation in a Christian church or Christian community; and nonviolent peacemaking. MCC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to employment equity. MCC values diversity and invites all qualified candidates to apply.

Minimum Education Level: BA/BSc or equivalent, preferred MA in related field
Minimum Experience: International experience of at least three years and MCC experience preferred. At least 5 years of program management (international or domestic), with leadership experience.

​Invitations to serve with MCC are contingent on the successful outcome of criminal background check(s).

1. Relational Skills: Ability to form, foster and maintain positive, working relationships with MCC staff, local churches and MCC partners, building trust by demonstrating integrity in actions and communications and modeling the values of the organization. Ability to create an environment on the team that is supportive of staff who may experience oppression or sexual violence.
2. Supervisory Skills: Ability to manage/supervise personnel, which includes staff appointments and terminations, performance appraisals, interpreting and enforcing policies, conflict resolutions/problem solving and development of staff (in cooperation with the Human Resources Department). Ability to foster worker development by providing a supportive learning environment.
3. Computer Literacy: Ability to use email programs, navigate the internet, locate resources, use Microsoft Excel and Word. Ability to navigate and use MCC specific databases for the purpose of planning, monitoring, evaluation, and recording.
4. Adaptability: Ability to adapt as needed to work effectively in ambiguous or changing situations and with diverse individuals and groups.
5. Analytical Thinking: Ability to analyze and synthesize information to understand issues, identify options and support sound decision making.
6. Planning and Organizing: Ability to develop, implement, evaluate and adjust plans to reach goals, ensuring the optimal use of resources.
7. Initiative: Ability to be proactive and persistent in efforts, identifying opportunities and needs then taking action for resolution.
8. Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with others to achieve organizational goals, taking actions that respect the needs and contributions of others.
9. Communication: Ability to listen, to model open communication and foster good will among others.
10. Self-awareness: Ability to understand one’s own emotional framework, maintain a non-defensive posture and manage personal reactivity when leadership is challenged.
11. Cross cultural/multi-cultural awareness: Ability to work with issues of equity in a cross-cultural setting.
12. Financial Management: Ability to successfully manage MCC resources within a country program.
13. Program, Monitoring and Evaluation: Ability to understand and implement Program, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Results based management.
14. Previous experience in making well-informed, effective and timely decisions, taking into consideration impact and implications within local and regional context.
15. Demonstrated ability to serve as MCC Representative without bias or conflict of interest, with ability to withstand intense pressure from local constituents.
16. Organizational Awareness: An understanding of the structure and organizational culture of large non-profit organizations, such as MCC, and ability to work successfully within the structure to achieve results.
17. Conflict Resolution: Ability to bring conflict and dissent between others into the open to arrive at constructive solution while maintaining positive relationships with all parties.
18. Strategic Thinking: Ability to understand and process complex information and exercise sound judgment, considering the situation, the issues and the key players. Is able to propose course(s) of action that further the objectives, priorities and vision of the program and/or MCC.
19. Verbal, Oral and Written Skills: Able to communicate effectively to groups including organizational boards, community groups, congregations and larger gatherings. And, able to ensure that information and messages are understood and have the desired impact.

An MCC Rep role may be filled with a married couple sharing the role, with a single person, or with a married candidate whose spouse is not interested in a Rep role, in which case MCC would discuss possible roles for the spouse. MCC will consider a variety of options to support the Rep in their roles and responsibilities, based on the qualified candidates who apply.

Key Responsibilities

1. MCC Vision and Mission – Be the carrier/communicator of institutional identity in relationship to:
Local partners, church, government, other international NGOs
MCC workers: Nurture understanding of and respect for MCC values and witness; reflect upon and communicate the spirituality of the team
2. Oversight of Country Program – Direct and oversee implementation of regional priorities and country-specific strategies
Select, build, maintain and strengthen relationships with partners
Prepare and administer long-term country strategies
Plan, monitor, report and evaluate projects
Facilitate, coordinate and respond to disasters, including those that generate unexpected additional resources and require shifts in focus of time/energy and requiring development of immediate and/or short term plans
Understand and ensure compliance with local laws
Coordinate and strengthen local advisory committees
3. Management of MCC Resources
Prepare, monitor and evaluate annual goals and objectives in the context of a multi-year strategic plan
Prepare and monitor budgets in accordance with strategic and annual plans and in alignment with Financial Management Policies
Develop and monitor financial record-keeping and reporting, taking corrective action where needed
Develop and maintain lists of inventories of equipment, including computers, vehicles, etc. along with replacement plans
Maintain and update registration documents in respective countries
Ensure resource stewardship across the country
Prepare and monitor project reporting
Receive and respond to worker reports
Ensure maintenance of personnel records and other documents for MCC Records and Archives
Manage Material Resources distribution as needed
Provide information about the country situation through PlanWin, Annual Plans and Reports, Learning Tours, and written communication.
4. Select, supervise, and motivate MCC workers: International Service Workers and National staff
Negotiate suitable service assignments and write assignment descriptions
Select highly qualified service workers and national staff using predetermined criteria based on job content and organizational values
Provide orientation for new workers, including language study
Create an environment where all individuals are comfortable openly addressing concerns/opinions
Ensure spiritual, emotional and professional support for workers
Monitor relationships between workers and partners with whom they work
Implement MCC Human Resource policies and assist in policy interpretation for workers
Conduct timely performance appraisals and End-of-Term reports for service workers
Ensure workers’ compliance with MCC values and witness
Develop and/or monitor compensation, benefits and policies for national staff
5. Teambuilding: build and maintain MCC personnel team
Clarify team expectations regularly
Monitor team relationships
Lead team in decision making
Demonstrates skill in resolving difficult situations, drawing on a variety of resources
6. Hospitality: arrange for hospitality as needed
MCC program and support staff, as well as MCC constituents from North America
Others who are travelling in the country and who are interested in the work of MCC
7. Represent the Country to MCC and Constituents
Cultivate and maintain awareness of the political, economic, social, cultural, and historical contexts of the country/region
Provide information about the situation, needs and resources of the country/region to the Associate /Area Directors and others within MCC and to MCC constituency
8. Relate to the local church
Maintain good relationships with local Anabaptist churches by: minimally visiting churches and church leaders, attending their annual meetings, and including their representatives on advisory committees
Regular attendance at a local congregation

Challenges

Security issues;Occasional overnights;Occasional long days;Work requires healthy boundaries;Large geographical scope;Externally funded program;Location requires digital communication

Start Date

01 May, 2024 – Semi-flexible

Term Length

4-5 years

Benefits

MCC cover all basic needs (Travel expenses to and from assignment, housing, and transportation related to assignment). Education for children benefit Retirement Plan Life Insurance and Death Benefits Student Loan reimbursement benefit End-of-term benefits

Additional Information

At certain times in the program cycle, the routine demands of the job can become great, requiring more than 40 hours of work during the week.

This job requires occasional weekend and evening work, either in traveling for meetings, hosting consultants or MCC visitors, caring for staff needs, or catching up on communication. At times, the needs arise at all hours; thus, it is important that successful candidates are deliberate to establish self-care routines and ensure that time is taken off when the program cycle is lighter.

MCC Kenya hosts many visitors, both official and unofficial. Also, due to its proximity in East Africa, the MCC office is often involved in supporting neighboring MCC programs. Such needs include medical appointments and emergencies, financial assistance, travel arrangements, and so forth.

Location Description

Nairobi is a thriving metropolis with many options for social life, shopping, church options, international schools and healthy lifestyle.