Ukraine Response Director

Location: Changing: South Poland & Potentially Ukraine

Position Status Full-time – 6+ months, pending ongoing funding

Salary Level: Level 7

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 Summary

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.

General Position Summary

The Ukraine Response Director leads and manages a team of field professionals to ensure Mercy Corps is implementing high quality, impactful programming with the necessary management and support structures to sustain response programs. The role also includes ensuring appropriate systems and support mechanisms are in place to track, analyze and report on results as well as setting the strategic direction of the overall response.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Set a clear vision for the response, working closely with field leadership across a number of countries
• Ensure response fit within regional and global strategies
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.

Program Management

• Lead the program teams in implementation of the humanitarian response
• Develop program implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, beneficiary targeting and distribution process
• 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 program implementation is responsive to communities and partners, and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Ensure beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria, and that feedback mechanisms are in place.
• 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 all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Code of Conduct; Gender, Diversity and Inclusion guiding documents; Core Humanitarian Principles and Do No Harm.

Team Management

• Hire, orient and supervise new team members as necessary.
• Ensure team members improve performance & reach objectives.
• 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.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• Build and/or maintain operational systems that ensure proper administrative support for programs.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

Influence & Representation

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Represent Mercy Corps programs with national and international media and participate in community activities as appropriate.
• Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.
• Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Contribute to creating a secure environment for team members.

Supervisory Responsibility

The Response Director will manage Program Managers, Finance Manager, Operations Lead, Performance and Quality Lead, and Human Resources.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Regional Director Asia

Works Directly With: Deputy RDs, Sr Director Emergency Response and Global Security Director, program support Asia (Europe and Global), plus relevant departments at HQ including International and Corporate Finance, General Counsel, Human Resources and Recruitment, Global Procurement and Logistics, and Fundraising.

Knowledge And Experience

• 10+ years of field experience in international relief and development programs required, including demonstrable success in managing programs in active conflict zones, transitional environments and working in insecure emergency situations;
• Mercy Corps experience preferred;
• Experience with sub-granting procedures and monitoring under USAID or similar compliance requirements.
• Ability to support multiple office locations simultaneously. A good sense of order and organization.
• Effective communication skills: able to work in person and remotely with geographically dispersed and culturally distinct teams
• Experience designing practical and effective monitoring systems, including data and database management systems.
• BA/BS or equivalent in the relevant field; MA/S preferred.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required; proficiency in Russian or Ukrainian is desirable.

Technical Competencies

• 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 Cash Transfer Programs (CTP)/ Multipurpose cash
• Can develop SOPs in line with Mercy Corps’ Minimum Standards (CTP and Goods Distribution Minimum Standards)
• Can identify and initiate setup of payment mechanisms

Functional competencies

• Understands program strategy development
• Possesses basic fundraising and proposal development skills
• Understands donor regulations and compliance (USAID, ECHO, DFID, UN, etc.)
• Possesses project management skills and applies PM@MC minimum standards for all phases of the project cycle
• Can develop and manage budgets
• Can communicate with donors and convey information on program’s impact
• Can identify and mobilize HQ technical and functional support
• Can oversee and implement participatory processes in all response phases
• Effectively manages teams/people and applies relevant Mercy Corps’ procedures and approaches
• Supports team members through capacity building
• Can ensure team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies
• Is comfortable using social media platforms and speaking publicly
• Has knowledge of humanitarian negotiation

Success Factors

The successful Ukraine Response Director will skillfully represent programmatic priorities of the agency to donors and regional partners while providing effective leadership to the Mercy Corps program team during active conflict and through the transitional response environment. They will be capable of multitasking, rapid decision-making, have initiative, drive and a lot of energy, as well as high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity building. They will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.

Living Conditions

The position is based in Poland or in the Eastern Europe region. Accommodations are being defined and access to services – medical, electricity, water, etc is in place but may change depending on the situation. This position requires travel to surrounding countries, as security permits. 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.