Multi Country - Senior Operations Manager - MENA

Description

Location: Any current MENA location where Mercy Corps operates

Position Status: Full-time, Regular

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.

The Program / Department / Team (Program / Department Summary)

Mercy Corps implements a variety of programming throughout the MENA/Europe region in response to the diverse humanitarian and long-term development needs of the region. Mercy Corps has ongoing programs in Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine. Mercy Corps is committed to delivering high quality, high impact programming that reaches communities or individuals in need, wherever they are.

Mercy Corps just launched its new global ten-year strategy, ‘’Pathway to Possibility’’, which reflects our ambitions to not only meet basic needs of communities affected by conflict and climate, but to achieve lasting, transformational change at scale. Pathway to Possibility (P2P) includes a three-layers resilience approach at its core and aims to deliver impact through four key outcome areas: Food Security, Water Security, Economic Opportunity, and Peace and Good Governance. P2P is also driven by five organizational commitments on being climate smart; evidence-driven; safe, diverse and inclusive; locally-led; and innovative and creative.

As a result of recent funding disruptions, Mercy Corps MENAE Leadership has decided to optimize resources and create efficiencies by creating a new structure for smaller country portfolios under the management of the regional team directly. This role is the product of this structural change decision.

The Operations Department provides key support to the multiple country programs in procurement, asset management, warehouse management, fleet management and facilities & office management for successful program implementation.

The Position (General Position Summary)

The Regional Operations Manager - MENA is a key person within the regional operations management support team to Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, who ensures the resources are planned and utilized towards effective program support.

The Regional Operations Manager – MENA plays a key role in the overall leadership of the Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen country programs under the guidance of the Deputy Regional Director – Operations and Regional Supply Chain Operations Director.

As a member of the support management team to Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, the Regional Operations Manager – MENA shares the overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of the Mercy Corps country operation activities.

Essential Responsibilities

• Manage reliable and cost-effective operations and effective implementation of the strategies of Mercy Corps towards the right direction, including supervision of facilities & office management, information technology, procurement, asset management, fleet management and warehouse management.
• Supports the program team on timely provision of operations support at a higher level of standards.
• Ensures compliance requirements of Mercy Corps and rules and regulations specified by the donors and sometimes host governments.
• Conduct procurement for the respective countries within the region.
• Provides management information for decision making as required.
• Support developing budgets for operations activities of country programs as an integral part of program proposal development and country level budgeting.

Responsibilities of Operations Manager:

As a member of support management team, the Regional Operations Manager – MENA is responsible for but not limited to key responsibilities of strategic oversight, development and implementation of policies and procedures and resource management.

STRATEGIC OVERSIGHT

Strategic oversight, direction and advice on all aspects of Mercy Corps operations management, aiming at the achievement of the following results:

• Successful contribution for implementation of country operations strategies and establishment of management guidelines.
• Advice on operations strategies, policies and plans affecting operations, program deliverables and staffing.
• Analyzing Mercy Corps' operating environment in the country and adjusting operations and providing advice on contextual changes.
• Guide Mercy Corps operational strategies and activities.
• Successful implementation of operational strategies and direct establishment of management achievements with operations.
• Maintain regular control on operations budget and identify any exceptions or possible implications of under / overspending in a timely manner.
• Promote continuous organizational learning culture with the empowerment of individuals and teams with the identification of learning needs. Create learning opportunities and ensure access to available learning resources.

IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Implementation of appropriate operations policies and procedures that comply with Mercy Corps policies and procedures and with donor rules and regulations focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Full compliance of operations with Mercy Corps Global Supply Chain Operations policies, procedures and processes.
• Provide strategic, technical and managerial leadership in implementation of Global Supply Chain Operations policies in the country programs supported.
• Ensure ongoing full compliance of Mercy Corps finance policies and procedure and others (i.e. Program Management Manual, National Staff Handbook and etc.)
• Act as focal point from operations for all internal and external audit matters in coordination with country management.
• Provide expert advice on Mercy Corps policies regarding resource management, tools, etc.
• Development of local policies and procedures with the support of country management and implementation of them.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Effective and efficient resources management in administration, procurement, logistics and IT on the achievement of the following results:

• Ensure effective management of administrative / logistics resources and reporting in a systematic, transparent and efficient manner to country management.
• Responsible for provision of high quality and timely procurement and other program support.
• Exercising oversight over procurement processes and logistics ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps procurement policies and procedures as well donor rules and regulations.
• Oversee provision of transport and travel support (international and domestic).
• Oversight on maintenance of proper custody of Mercy Corps assets, warehouse inventory and general inventory.

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.
• Work with all Mercy Corps staff to ensure smooth introduction and adoption of operational systems.

PROCUREMENT

• Support country procurement teams on all standard tenders and above procurement activities to ensure FP3 compliance and other donor regulations are adhered to.
• Proactively ensure that team members managing procurement at country level are fully compliant with all key procurement activities.
• Periodic review of country level procurement to make sure all risk mitigation and ethics matters are fully covered as per the organizational needs.
• Use existing resources in ProSource to remote management and monitoring of procurement at country level.
• Coordinate with Global Supply Chain Operations team on MPP, MEP and other procurement special circumstances.
• Act as Head of Procurement for Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Operations Team in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen

Accountability

Reports on Dual Management To: Deputy Regional Director – Operations and Regional Supply Chain Operations Director.

Works Directly With: Country Managers in Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, Finance Manager, Global Procurement Team for High value Tenders.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• BA/BS degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum of 5 years senior management experience in a corporate or an INGO sector, including experience in operational support including developing strategies.
• Working knowledge in SAP Ariba.
• Sound knowledge of administrative and logistics procedures is highly desired.
• Proven supervisory ability and/or technical skills combined with leadership.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues in a diversified multi-cultural and multi-ethnic working environment.
• Skills in managing, organizing, planning and implementing assigned tasks under pressure of frequent and tight schedules.
• Strong ability to apply good judgment and decision-making skills in difficult and complex working environments.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills in handling management and coordination issues at country program level.
• Effective verbal and written communication, organizational, prioritization and Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required; proficiency in Arabic is a plus.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
• Internal or former Mercy Corps staff are highly encouraged to apply

Success Factors

The successful Operations Manager will be good at problem solving and have the ability to work out methods to deliver successful programs while demonstrating excellent stewardship of donor funds and compliance with Mercy Corps and donor regulations. They will maintain strong cooperative relationships with other departments and interact effectively with international and national personnel both in a managerial as well as training capacity, while demonstrating the ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. They will be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment and be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites. 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 one of the current MENA office location, and it may require occasional travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.

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.

Team Efficiency and Effectiveness

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out different 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.