Mercy Corps-Syria Response Office Hiring for WASH and Shelter Program Manager NWS at Amman, Jordan Full Time

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 manages its North West Syria (NWS) programming remotely from Amman, Jordan. Our NWS program provides WASH, Shelter, FSL and Cash supports to internally displaced populations and Syrians affected by the war. Mercy Corps NWS is currently looking for a WASH & Shelter Program Manager to lead our WASH and Shelter team’s activities implemented both directly through our team in NWS, and through partners.

Mercy Corps NWS WASH and Shelter interventions are driven by a twofold strategy : (1) Emergency lifesaving interventions in IDPs settlements to IDPs living in camps, informal settlements, multi-occupancy buildings and unfinished buildings, including water provision through water trucking; desludging services, solid waste management, hygiene promotion, Shelter rehabilitation and (2) WASH infrastructure rehabilitation in the communities including water network, sewage, water points construction and rehabilitation.

General Position Summary

The WASH & Shelter Program Manager works under the supervision of Director of Programs (DoP) for NNWS. S/he will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of high quality WASH & Shelter (including infrastructural) interventions in NWS and developing strategies for the continuation of water supply, water networks maintenance, hygiene promotion and other WASH emergency services of solid waste management and desludging in addition to the emergency and recovery shelter. S/he will lead on both our direct and indirect activities.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Ensuring high quality by overseeing monitoring and tracking of program activities implemented through direct implementation or through partners.
• In conjunction with the NWS Program Performance & Quality (PaQ) Manager, involve on designing and supervising end line surveys (including KAP) for WASH and shelter activities.
• Promote the development of a holistic strategy through creating linkages with other sectors strategies (NFI, Food Security and Livelihoods).
• Contribute to the development of a sectorial strategy based on a strong contextual understanding of NWS and in line with Mercy Corps values and global strategy. Ensure inclusion of national technical staff and other key stakeholders into strategy process

Design and planning

• Contribute to design of new proposals based on sectoral and general knowledge.
• Integrate the use of community approaches in the design, implementation, and maintenance of projects.
• Partake in planning and design efforts as requested.
• Collaborate with Finance to develop budgets for WASH and Shelter support related work.
• Lead WASH and Shelter aspects of technical assessments in coordination with other thematic areas and/or other external sector agencies when required
• Develop realistic work plans per grant in conjunction with the WASH & Shelter team and the DoP.
• Ensure provision of program quality in all aspects of design, planning, and implementation of WASH and shelter infrastructure interventions.
• Ensure the mainstreaming of core protection principles through design and planning of sector interventions.
• Contribute to design climate friendly intervention in coordination with the Climate and Energy advisors based on sectoral understanding the Cluster’s recommendations.

Implementation and program coordination

• Develop needs assessment strategies, design interventions accordingly and contribute to building the capacity of Mercy Corps team members, partners’ teams, as well as project stakeholders.
• Provide technical oversight to the field teams and oversee the implementation of WASH and Shelter activities, including rehabilitation/renovation of water systems, solid waste management, hygiene promotion, as well as repairs of the partially damaged houses.
• Provide ad hoc technical WASH & Shelter support to the Social Cohesion/Peace & Conflict team on their respective programs, when requested.
• Communicate grant work plans related to WASH and Shelter to Field Area Coordinator/ Program Officer.
• Work with Program team and DoP to overcome implementation challenges based on practical solutions.
• Ensure the tracking, monitoring and quality reporting of all WASH and Shelter interventions.
• Complete budget pipeline planning, monitoring and monthly follow up in communication with the DoP.
• Ensure documentation and filing of project activities in compliance with Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Supervise and monitor the implementation of the WASH and Shelter activities, ensuring that all the activities are compliant with the grant requirements.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met
• Represent Mercy Corps WASH & Shelter team towards the Cluster. Participate in Cluster’s meetings and working groups effectively, while ensuring proper transfer of the knowledge to the program team.

Program impact and program management

• Prepare procurement plan based on project cycle for WASH and shelter intervention work.
• Manage grant budget lines related to technical area of specialization (WASH, infrastructure and shelter), including maintaining partial budget ownership.
• Outline indicators and outputs to be measured to determine success of intervention.
• Work with M&E Unit to translate assessment criteria to tools and methodology for monitoring and evaluation of interventions related to WASH, infrastructure and shelter
• Stay informed of incidents as they arise through the field and are raised through the feedback/complaint mechanism.
• Enhance internal and external compliance through supporting incident reporting mechanisms when needed.
• Maintain and coordinate reporting and documentation of WASH, infrastructure and Shelter activities.
• Timely preparation monthly, quarterly and interim donor reports for relevant activities under the guidance of the Director of Programs.

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.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.

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.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Engineering, Public Health or related field. Masters preferred.
• 5 years in a relief setting with WASH & Shelter management or managerial experience; from starting up programs, managing contracts, to working in emergency and transitional contexts.
• Experience in complex and complicated humanitarian programing with time sensitive deliverables in unstable environments. Experience supporting the Syria WASH & Shelter humanitarian response – particularly in NWS – would be a plus.
• Strong experience mentoring a team, identifying talent and building their capacity.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and communicate effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
• Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.
• Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in humanitarian response preferred.
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.
• Knowledge of participatory approaches and community sensitization and mobilization.
• Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders including host governments, and national and international NGOs.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required.

Success Factors

The successful Manager will combine exceptional technical skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships. S/he will have previous experience in working in large-scale emergency programs in insecure and conflict context. S/he will have an outstanding ability to design and provide technical oversight of innovative programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the area. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. The successful candidate will be able to provide technical oversight to large relief programs in an austere environment.  S/he will be focused on capacity building of national staff, have strong program support skills, good information management skills and maintain a sense of humour.

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. 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.