Basic Needs Consortium Director - Palestine

Description

***The position is contingent on funding approval

Location Ramallah, Palestine

Position Status Full-time, Exempt, Regular

Salary Level: Field 5-6

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 / Department Summary

Since 1986, Mercy Corps has helped Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza access critical services and become more economically self-sufficient focusing its interventions on WASH, community crisis resilience, economic opportunities, and cash programming. The escalation of conflict that began on October 7, 2023, has sharply exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the region. With funding from ECHO, BHA, and multiple other donors, Mercy Corps and its partners are actively working to respond to the crisis and provide basic needs support at scale.

Mercy Corps is the lead agency for the Basic Needs Consortium. The Consortium, funded by ECHO, is composed of Catholic Relief Services, Danish Refugee Council, and an experienced network of local partners. The Basic Needs Consortium is implementing the Integrated Humanitarian Response program, which has the overall objective for conflict-affected populations in Gaza to have increased self-reliance and dignity in the face of shocks and stresses. The program supports a coordinated humanitarian response that enables vulnerable households in Gaza to safely and consistently meet basic needs while reducing their reliance on negative coping strategies, through shelter and settlements, protection, multi-purpose cash transfers, and coordination.

General Position Summary

The Consortium Director is a key leadership role for the consortium. The position is hosted by Mercy Corps but the Director is accountable to the Steering Committee (SC, composed of the 3 Country Directors). The Director serves as a strong team leader for the consortium as a whole, represents the interests of all partners, and ensures the program is working effectively and efficiently across member organizations. The Consortium Director represents the consortium at the highest levels in Palestine with external stakeholders and donors, leading on communication and advocacy in coordination with partner Country Directors, and leads on the programmatic discussions including coordination with UN bodies and other Gaza response implementing actors.

Essential Job Responsibilities

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g. Integrity Hotline and other options

Strategy & Vision

• Lead the implementation of the Basic Needs Consortium strategy and vision and ensure successful roll-out of this strategy including program development.
• Ensure the unity and shared vision of the SC on the Consortium mandate, external communication, and donor engagement, including coherence in the interaction with external stakeholders.
• Maintain strategic vision shared across the members and ensure timely harmonization and roll out of approaches.

CONSORTIUM COORDINATION

• Organize and Chair monthly and ad hoc Steering Committee (SC) meetings when required by any partners or by the initiative of the Consortium Director. Communicate minutes and action points following the meetings in a timely manner.
• Ensure efficient coordination amongst partners in terms of implementation and involvement in the Gaza response coordination structures.
• Maintain strong and transparent communication with all consortium partners and facilitate relation between partners and donor(s).
• Provide to the SC consolidated talking points and narrative on the program, its achievement and future programmatic development.

COORDINATION AND REPRESENTATION

• Ensure the Basic Needs Consortium’s representation with external stakeholders and donors and lead on the programmatic discussion including coordination with UN bodies and other Gaza Response implementing actors.
• Lead monthly and quarterly meetings with donor in accordance with donor schedules and in collaboration with the SC members and provide clear talking point to the SC members prior to the meeting.
• Represent consortium progress to donors, the Cash Working Group (CWG) and the Gaza humanitarian community.
• Share learning from the consortium with the greater humanitarian community within Palestine as well as regionally and globally as relevant.

Program Management

• Oversee program start-up, management and administration. Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.

• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.

• Confirm participants are effectively targeted according to transparent criteria.

• Develop partnership frameworks, partner agreements/Memorandum of Understandings, and oversee partner capacity strengthening and sharing.

• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.  Certify all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

• Ensure harmonization of technical standards/approaches/tools, mainstreaming best practices.

• Ensure that the Consortium has a clear workplan and roadmap, implements activities in a timely manner, and has a strong, up to date and clear system for tracking and reporting against deliverables.

• Ensure monitoring systems are in place within the Consortium, including gathering data for case studies and lessons learned.

• Oversee the operational planning for ongoing program activities across the consortium.

• Ensure that program implementation is meeting donor expectations and agreed standards and timeframe by having regular check-in with partners. In case of discrepancy between agreed standards and implementation approach, support the partners to get the program/partner back on track.

Team Management

• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to 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.
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps’ regulations.

• Create and maintain systems to ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with program, donor and Mercy Corps’ needs.

Influence & Representation

• Represent the Consortium at stakeholder, donor, NGO and other relevant events, in close coordination with the Country Director and Gaza Response Director.
• Coordinate activities with consortium partners, subgrantees, stakeholders and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.
• Ensure thought leadership from the BNC program results is represented and reflected in higher-level conversations around the needs in Gaza and appropriate programming modalities and best practices.

Security

• Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
• Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

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 toward 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

MEL Manager, Communications and Reporting Officer

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Gaza Response Director

Works Directly With: Partner program leads in-country, finance and operations teams, HQ Regional Program Team, Global Technical Resources and Quality team.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/S or equivalent in international studies, economics, or other relevant field; MA/S preferred.

• A minimum of 5 to 7 years of international relief and large-scale program management.

• Strong skills and a track record in strategic visioning, leadership, and inspiring teams.

• Effective personnel management, coordination, and decision-making skills, with proven ability to be accountable for all components of the program.

• Competent in building networks, strong problem-solving skills, and ability to influence with effective listening, persuasion, negotiation and other techniques.

• Strong understanding of ECHO compliance issues.

• Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.

• Previous experience in managing consortiums or managing/facilitating/influencing in network or partnership settings preferred.

• Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in humanitarian response preferred.

• Persuasive written and oral communication in English, including report writing.

• Oral and written Arabic preferred.

Success Factors

The successful Consortium Director will combine exceptional management skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships.  S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural teams and capacity building, individual staff development, and strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential.  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.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Ramallah, and it requires up to 50% travel across Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank to support teams and country programs, which will include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Housing for this role is in individual apartments, and shared housing inside Gaza. Access to medical care in Gaza is extremely limited, but adequate medical services are available when outside of Gaza.

Ramallah is an unaccompanied position.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside 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.

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision.  Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

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.

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. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

SDG Impact