Temporary - Humanitarian Program Manager - Ukraine

Description

Location: Kyiv or Dnipro, Ukraine

Position Status: Full-time, Regular

Salary Level: 6

Risk Level:          x Level 3       ☐Level 2    ☐Level 1

(Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability.

Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.

Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data)

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps has been responding in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war in February 2022. The humanitarian team supports local and national organizations that are working quickly to ensure people who are displaced or sheltering in place can meet their basic needs. The humanitarian portfolio addresses the needs of conflict-affected people through multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA), in-kind food and non-food assistance, and other key sectors, protection and shelter support.

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

The humanitarian portfolio includes the Locally led, Inclusive and Versatile Emergency Support to Conflict Affected Populations in Ukraine program (LIVES), funded by FCDO, which has been implemented since August 2022, as well as Private Funding.

The Position (General Position Summary)

Mercy Corps is seeking a strong Humanitarian Program Manager to ensure sufficient support to a complex program with high levels of donor engagement, as it undergoes a transition. The current year of LIVES is in its third and busiest quarter implementation, and new partner relationships, proposals, and project designs will need to be finalized in anticipation of next year’s funding cycle, for several donors. In addition, Mercy Corps Ukraine will seek to move from having a non-Ukrainian manage the humanitarian portfolio to hiring and onboarding a Ukrainian and then begin to close out the current year of LIVES. Finally, in the wider Ukraine response, Mercy Corps seeks to continue its strong advocacy for localization, multi-purpose cash, and rapid response.

The Program Manager also ensures the efficient and effective implementation of humanitarian programming, with the support of a ten-person program team, including a Deputy Program Manager. The Program Manager is responsible for coordinating and implementing program delivery, including daily management of program activities and coordination across departments, and ensuring appropriate systems and support mechanisms are in place to track, analyze and report on results. The Program Manager is a strong team leader, able to develop and mentor team members in Ukraine. The Program Manager is an effective communicator, able to work with internal and external stakeholders to achieve common objectives. The Program Manager is responsible for managing relationships with internal and external stakeholders including maintaining close working relationships with technical teams, the regional program team at HQ, and the donor.

Essential Responsibilities

STRATEGY AND PLANNING

• Implement the Mercy Corps strategic vision and provide operational leadership to the implementation of Mercy Corps activities within the humanitarian portfolio.
• Provide structure to the existing activities and response mechanisms to reinforce program quality while ensuring the programs swiftly responds to needs.
• Work closely with Deputy Program Manager to provide mentorship and support.
• Support team members through capacity strengthening opportunities.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Oversee program startup and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations.
• Develop program implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, participant targeting SOPs, and clear distribution procedures.
• 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.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Work with program teams to ensure day-to-day activities are implemented in a coordinated way according to workplan and budget.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donors and Mercy Corps policies and procedures. This includes careful budget management/oversight through coordination of monthly budget vs actuals meetings and accurate monthly forecasting, seeking input across departments.
• Ensure that participants are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria, and that feedback mechanisms are in place.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Code of Conduct; Gender, Diversity and Inclusion guiding documents; Core Humanitarian Principles and Do No Harm.
• Oversee the production of written reports on program activities, capturing the impacts of activities.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Work with program and PAQ teams to hire and orient team members for the FCDO program and other humanitarian projects.
• Facilitate project-specific progress team meetings and ensure all workplans of the various departments are harmonized.
• 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 and cultivate resilience and well-being in challenging situations.
• Coordinate with teams on support gaps and needs, providing back-stopping support for urgent tasks.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• In close consultation and collaboration with the Director of Programs, act as main focal point and liaison for donors including FCDO and other external stakeholders.
• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• 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, working with Partnerships Team to ensure duty of care to partners.
• Contribute to creating a secure environment for team members.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO PARTNERS

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our partners and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging participant communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

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.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Cash/NFI Coordinator
• Deputy Humanitarian Program Manager
• Collaborative Cash Delivery (CCD) Network Collaboration Manager

Accountability

Reports To: Director of Programs

Works With: Programs, Partnerships, MEL, CARM, Subawards & Compliance, Finance, GESI, Protection, HR, Operations and Security Teams

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

• 5 years of experience in managing programs in emergency contexts, with proven track record
• Experience managing donor relationships, FCDO preferred
• Consortium management experience preferred
• Experience designing projects and writing proposals, for ECHO and FCDO preferred
• Project DPro Certificate required (or willingness to complete within first months of joining)
• Experience with partner-led programming and localization methodologies, demonstrated ability to implement these practices
• Strong understanding of cash, NFI, and rapid response programming
• Can oversee program budgets, project cash flow and expenditures
• Understands donor regulations and compliance including FCDO and ECHO
• BA/BS or equivalent; MA/S preferred.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required; Ukrainian a bonus
• Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in humanitarian response preferred.

Success Factors

The successful Humanitarian Program Manager will combine exceptional donor engagement, project development, writing, management skills and experience in running emergency programs. Prioritizing, problem-solving, ability to seize opportunities, attention to detail, and strategic vision are essential. The Program Manager will also have proven experience with cross-cultural teams and capacity building. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability and thrive in an evolving and changing environment while taking care of self and others.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The Program Manager position is based in Kyiv or Dnipro, Ukraine, with frequent travel. Given the emergency context, this position requires exceptional work schedules, including evenings and weekends.

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

Team Engagement 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 committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

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.

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).