Technical Lead - Systems and Governance, South Sudan

Description

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 has been working in South Sudan since 2005, and has continued through the country’s independence in 2011, helping communities work together to respond to and recover from emergencies. Last year, we reached over 380,000 people across the country. The anticipated program aims at empowering civil society in South Sudan and will focus on capacity-building for local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) across South Sudan’s ten states, with an emphasis on grassroots, national NGOs, faith-based organizations, women-led, youth-led, and disability-focused groups. The program’s overarching goal is to enable these CSOs to act independently and effectively in governance, social services, and advocacy. By fostering a resilient, independent, and well-networked CSO sector, the program aims to build local capacity for sustained advocacy and service delivery, ultimately enhancing the role of civil society in South Sudan’s development. The program is expected to run for 48 months, adapting to the local context as needed.

General Position Summary

The Technical Lead - Systems and Governance will play a central role in overseeing the implementation of the program in South Sudan. Based in Juba, this position will focus on strengthening the systems and governance structures of local CSOs supported under the program. The Technical Lead will work closely with the Director of Programs, Project Manager, key partners, and South Sudanese CSOs to ensure robust organizational capacity, financial accountability, and effective governance structures within the sector.

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

Program Management and Technical Oversight

• Lead technical guidance and implementation of governance and systems capacity-building initiatives across all CSOs involved in the program.
• Develop and execute systems and governance frameworks, incorporating Mercy Corps ASPIRE model and other capacity development tools tailored to South Sudan’s civil society context.
• Collaborate with key local and national partners to co-design and deliver training on governance, advocacy, digital security, and accountability.

Capacity-Building for CSOs

• Oversee the development and delivery of targeted training and mentorship for CSOs, focusing on governance, financial systems, and operational structures.
• Work directly with grassroots organizations, women-led and youth-focused CSOs, and networks to ensure governance practices and accountability standards are understood and applied effectively.

Systems Development and Risk Management

• Develop risk management protocols to address challenges related to political instability, economic constraints, and social tensions.
• Support the implementation of grant management protocols, and compliance frameworks to ensure the highest level of transparency and accountability across all aspects of the program.

Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the main technical point of contact for the Project with key stakeholders in South Sudan, ensuring clear communication and alignment with donor expectations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local government, community leaders, international NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate collaborative governance and systems strengthening.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

• Support MEL teams in designing and implementing data-driven approaches to assess program effectiveness in governance and systems strengthening.
• Compile and analyze data on CSO performance, governance improvements, and systems development to inform future program adjustments and donor reporting.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Supervisory Responsibility

Project Manager

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director of Programs

Works Directly With: Director of Finance, Subawards Manager & MEL Manager

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.

Knowledge and Experience

• Advanced degree in International Development, Public Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in technical leadership roles focused on systems strengthening, governance, or capacity-building in fragile or conflict-affected settings.
• Demonstrated expertise in building organizational capacity for civil society, with experience in South Sudan or similar contexts preferred.
• Strong knowledge of governance frameworks, financial accountability, and risk management practices for CSOs.
• Experience working with diverse stakeholder groups, including grassroots, women-led, and youth-focused organizations, as well as local government entities.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with a proven ability to foster collaboration among multi-disciplinary teams.
• Excellent writing and verbal skills in English is required.
• Extensive travel to program areas is required.

Success Factors

The ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel is required. A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary. A professional standard of program, finance and procurement ethics as well as the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential. The post must be willing to travel to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Juba, South Sudan and is an unaccompanied post. 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.

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.

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, reach their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborate to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity 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 based on 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. 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).

Keywords

Technical LeadSystemsGovernanceCivil SocietyCapacity BuildingRisk ManagementStakeholder EngagementMonitoringEvaluationLearningSecurity