Area Manager South Kivu - DRC

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

Mercy Corps has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since August 2007, with a staff of approximately 400 people working in Eastern DRC. Mercy Corps’ national office is in Goma with sub-field offices in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces. Mercy Corps’ key programming areas include a combination of longer-term development and immediate humanitarian response programs in order to: 1) Improve water service delivery and ensuring equitable access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services, in urban and rural areas; 2) Improve food security and nutrition; 3) Promote diversified livelihoods, economic recovery and development. Mercy Corps DRC’s humanitarian programs aim specifically to assist populations affected by the conflict and crisis in Eastern Congo with multi-purpose cash assistance and emergency WASH support to displaced and host populations. Mercy Corps is also currently responding the unfolding Ebola epidemic in North Kivu and Ituri Provinces. The current annual budget includes resources from DFID, USAID, ECHO, UN-donors, Government of Netherlands, OFDA, FFP, SDC and others.

The Bukavu field office supports Mercy Corps’ large multi-year urban water infrastructure program and rural food security program, as well as our rapid response humanitarian programming implemented throughout South Kivu. The Bukavu operations team supports an additional two more remote field offices. Overall, there are approximately 110 staff working across our South Kivu offices.

General Position Summary

The South Kivu Area Manager is directly responsible for identifying program design, development and implementation and providing overall leadership to the operations support functions in the Province of South Kivu. This is an important role, the suitable candidate will demonstrate strong communication relationship-building skills in order to represent the organization and its vision. Combined with strong leadership and operational decision-making, this is an important management position within Mercy Corps DRC, with supervisory and managerial responsibilities.

The Area manager represents Mercy Corps with authorities, donors and partners, facilitates the coordination of programs operating in South Kivu Province, supports the DCD Program in the development of new projects, and finally supervises the operations teams (security, logistics, procurement, administration, and human resources). To this end, he manages a Head of remote field-Office, a Logistics Manager as well as Team leaders in Administration and Human Resources. S/he is supported by a Finance Manager who reports directly to the Finance Director.The position will support the strategic positioning of Mercy Corps and ensures all Mercy Corps work is planned and executed with quality, accountability and measurable impact.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

STRATEGY & VISION

• Communicate a clear vision of present and future program goals and strategies to South Kivu area team members and stakeholders, translating into concrete work plans;
• Contribute to countrywide strategy development and prioritize and organize actions and resources to achieve objectives set through those processes;
• Ensure that technical support teams are collaborating with program and other internal stakeholders effectively, adding value to the program and maintaining strategic focus;
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Working closely with the program development team and DCD-P, identify/elevate potential opportunities for new programming or funding in the South Kivu province.

PROGRAM & OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP

• Work closely with the DCD Program and DCD OperationS and other Senior Members of the DRC program to ensure that Mercy Corps strategy is understood and guides decision-making throughout the response;
• Provide leadership to increase coordination, collaboration, communication and harmonization of Mercy Corps programming and operations in South Kivu area;
• Engage South Kivu program leadership in ongoing context analysis that enables programs and teams to adapt to significant changes in the geopolitical/conflict environment;
• Support program development initiatives for South Kivu programs, in particular with coordination, partnership development and representation during the program development process.
• In coordination with Country Director, DCD Program and other senior leadership, engage in strong regional-level representation with donors, international and local NGOs and networks;
• Participate in shaping policy positions and advocacy messages pertaining to the overall humanitarian situation inside South Kivu area.

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 and reach objectives;
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, leading this for the South Kivu teams, helping team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

OPERATIONS & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

• Ensure adequate technical, analytical and administrative support for programs.
• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.
• Ensure the smooth running of the Office in Bukavu in terms of having appropriate staff and systems are in place including providing any necessary training or guidance.
• Supervise Operations/Logistics Manager to ensure optimal operational support for Mercy Corps programs and offices, in accordance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures, and provide any necessary training or guidance to operational staff.
• Ensure that ops support staff are able to adhere to work plans, and that deliverables are completed as promised.
• Ensure effective and transparent use and documentation of financial resources by all staff in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
• Review and approve requests for purchase according to the delegation of limit of authority; track commitments and expenditure against budgets

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• Ability to work with formal and informal government structures and representatives, maintain and develop relevant and productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders;
• Maintain productive relationships with internal and external constituents such as private partners, local NGOs and civil society organizations and academic institutions;
• Explore, evaluate and present innovative funding opportunities that support program objectives;
• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, governments and other stakeholders.

SECURITY

• Maintain oversight of access provisions to ensure Mercy Corps’ continued ability to access our most vulnerable and hard-to-reach beneficiaries;
• Assist Country Director and Operations Director in maintaining and advising on appropriate security systems and procedures, ensure that all team members are aware of, and adhere to these procedures.
• Ensure all team members understand and are compliant with Mercy Corps policies on safety and security, conflict of interest, and general conduct, in a manner, which is appropriate to an international NGO.
• Provide regular reports on program and administrative activities and the security situation, as well as incident reports, to Country Director and Deputy Country Director as per determined communication schedule.

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.

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.

Supervisory Responsibility

Logistics Manager, Head of Office Kavumu/Katana, HR & Admin TL / Officers

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Deputy Country Director of Operations

Works Directly With: Deputy Country Director of Programs; FSP Chief of Party and Managers, IMAGINE Chief of Party and Managers, Director and Manager of Emergency Programs, Directors and Managers of Support Departments in Goma, Finance Manager Bukavu.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/S or equivalent in relevant field required, MA/S preferred;
• At least 5 years of senior-level leadership and management experience in large and complex programs including humanitarian operations, previous work experience in the DRC and insecure environments preferred;
• Substantial knowledge of the international humanitarian system, institutions and donors, and of compliance requirements, accountability frameworks and best practices; prior experience with funding from USAID, DFID, ECHO, SDC and other leading donors;
• Robust experience in developing, operationalizing, and implementing program strategies;
• Demonstrated expertise in representation and negotiation resulting in securing significant new opportunities or partnerships for the organization;
• Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGO, NGO partners and other stakeholders in complex environments;
• Highly-developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching;
• Solid operations management skills related to international, cross-functional teams;
• Experience of solving complex issues collegially, defining a clear way forward, and utilizing best practices in management to ensure shared success;
• Outstanding analytical and strategic thinking skills, with a focus on results and impact;
• French proficiency required and excellent oral and written English skills an advantage, with Swahili skills a bonus.

Success Factors

The successful candidate is an opinionated, fast thinking, experienced leader. S/he has a thorough understanding of what it takes to deliver impactful programs in challenging environments. S/he is an excellent communicator who can inspire broad and diverse teams towards achieving a shared goal and drive a fast-paced and adaptive program. S/he is able to create a stimulating working environment encouraging innovation and accountability. S/he is a confident representative in public settings, able to speak up when needed to defend Mercy Corps’ positions and influence key stakeholders internally and externally to further and expand MC DRC’s goals in the response. S/he is able to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment and prioritize team building and capacity building of national staff. S/he has excellent information management skills, is a strategic thinker. S/he has an outstanding ability to design, implement and manage innovative programs that respond to current needs and reinforce the future program structure of Mercy Corps in DRC.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Bukavu, DRC and requires up to 30% travel to other locations in the region. The position is in accompanied status with the possibility of living in Rwanda. 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 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.