Water and Sanitation Program Manager - Yemen

This position is contingent upon funding.

PROGRAM SUMMARY

Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Libya. Mercy Corps opened its office in Yemen in 2010. Current programming in Yemen includes a two-year, USAID-funded youth program that aims to increase the dialogue between youth and decision-makers and to help youth engage more constructively in their communities. Mercy Corps aims to implement a second program in Yemen that will focus on assisting vulnerable communities in Lahj and Taiz Governorates through cash-for-work programs that repair water sources and irrigation infrastructure as well re-stocking livestock assets.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY

The Program Manager will organize all activities related to the implementation of this OFDA-funded program including cash-for- work, budgets, logistics, team management and monitoring. S/he will lead field monitoring and program performance by tracking progress toward specified objectives. The PM will also oversee the work of the Agriculture (Livestock) Program Officer. S/he will work with administration of projects and coordinate with supervisors, colleagues and communities regarding security in the field. The Water & Sanitation Program Manager will need to be highly sensitive to the political dynamics of the country and have relevant security experience. This position requires strong coordination on security planning, field visits and ensuring safety of staff.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Strategy and Vision

• Provide leadership and direction to all aspects of the program and participate in the design and management of future programs.

Representation

• Communicate program goals and objectives with key team members, to be communicated to all team members, local beneficiaries, local and central government and the international community.
• Convey information and ideas and effectively coordinate to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
• Develop collaborative relationships among Mercy Corps, communities, local partners and local government.

Program Management

• Coordinate with program, finance and administrative staff to ensure systems are in compliance with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, on target and on-budget using effective M&E systems.
• Ensure community involvement in all phases of the project cycle and establish Community Committees to facilitate this participation.
• Using agreed upon survey methodologies and established prioritization criteria, identify suitable locations for cash-for-work water and sanitation projects and distribution of livestock vouchers.
• 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.
• Supervise the procurement and warehousing of all program materials through a competitive and transparent bidding process in adherence with donor and organizational polices.
• Ensure full adherence to security plans and protocols. Understand that Yemen has complex community and tribal dynamics and the success of a program is dependent on not only technical outputs but the building of relationships.

Team Management

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• 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.

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: Assistance to Communities in Lahj & Taiz Program team members (Water, Cash-for-Work, Livestock & Community Mobilization) – 5 to 8 national staff

ACCOUNTABILITY

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Country Representative

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Program and Program Support teams throughout Yemen, as well as with Technical Support Units in Headquarters

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• BS or higher in Civil or Water Engineering, Water Resources Management, or related technical field. MS/MA preferred.
• At least 3 years of overseas experience managing water and sanitation programs is required with particular focus on managing projects with time sensitive deliverables in complex settings.
• Experience with cash-for-work and livestock inputs desired.
• Experience managing USAID funded projects is essential.
• Experience in highly volatile security situations and a commitment to team safety.
• Demonstrated ability to implement a complex program, manage a range of staff and with strong emphasis on developing their capacities.
• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and constructively with local partners, including community committees and host government.
• Commitment to the principles of participatory team management and participatory, community-oriented development.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational skills.
• Prior experience living overseas and ability to work comfortably in the Yemen cultural environment is required.
• Fluency in written and spoken English required. Arabic language skills desired.

SUCCESS FACTORS

The successful Program Manager will recognize that Mercy Corps’ ability to function safely and successfully in Yemen depends on the ability of staff to understand the context in which programs operate and will apply a strong combination of team leadership, program development and implementation skills in a volatile security environment. The ideal candidate will be able to maintain a sense of humor in stressful conditions and will have an excellent understanding of emergency and transitional issues and programmatic approaches. S/he will be able to work across a wide range of stakeholders, working with local community members, governmental authorities, NGO partners and donors and will bring a positive approach to the job, embracing challenges as opportunities to innovate. S/he will write well and communicate in a manner that is confident and clear, yet diplomatic, enabling him/her to forge positive working relationships with donors and other stakeholders. It will be essential to work well under pressure in a fluid operating and security environment.

LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

This unaccompanied position will be based in Aden, Yemen with travel to Lahj and Taiz Governorates as permitted by security conditions. This position will be required to reside in a group living environment in guest housing. The candidate must be able to work in an environment with energy, transportation and communication challenges. This position is unaccompanied and work may be completed remotely, when necessary. The team member must follow all security protocols at all times. This position is eligible for R&R breaks.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Please apply directly at:
http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjob&jobid=217802&company_id=15927&jobboardid=479