Program Management and Quality Coordinator

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. Mercy Corps works in places of transition, where conflict, disaster, political upheaval, or economic collapse present opportunities to build more secure, productive, and just communities. Providing emergency relief in times of crisis, we move quickly to help communities recover and build resilience to future shocks and promote sustainable change by supporting community-led and market-driven initiatives. Recognizing both the great potential and the complex challenges faced by the Middle East, since 1989 Mercy Corps has been implementing a range of humanitarian assistance and development programs tailored to the specific needs of the region and of those communities where we work. Mercy Corps has worked across Iraq’s 18 governorates since 2003, implementing relief and development programming, more than a third of which has focused on the specific needs of refugees and displaced persons. Mercy Corps Iraq current goal is to work with new and existing civil society, public and private sector partners to meet immediate and long-term needs by strengthening communities’ ability to rebuild amidst increasing crisis. Mercy Corps Iraq focuses on (1) a relief-to-resilience pathway to meet the needs of conflict-affected communities leveraging agency expertise in conflict management and civil society development (2) a humanitarian response that empowers conflict-affected populations to meet their own needs (3) partnering with conflict-affected adolescents to address their diverse needs, promoting leadership and linkages with civil society.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps Iraq is implementing a market systems development (MSD) agriculture program (PERMA) that aims to improve the business environment for farmers and agribusinesses, improve access to financial services, as well as social cohesion in the area of Hamdaniya in Ninewa and Tikrit, Baiji and Samara in Salaha-din Governorates. PERMA is a 3 year program funded by Agence Francaise de Developpement, currently midway through implementation and due to finish by March 2025.

General Position Summary

The Program Management and Quality Coordinator is a proactive, organized and enthusiastic individual. S/he will work closely with the program lead and intervention teams to provide overall coordination, support and quality control to activity implementation.

The Program Management and Quality Coordinator will be responsible for supporting field teams with activity implementation, coordinating and preparing high quality donor reports and visibility materials and taking the lead on ensuring the program is adhering to minimum standards. S/he should be an imaginative problem solver, pre-empting challenges or delays in implementation and working to find solutions before they arise.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Program Implementation

• Support the Program Lead and Intervention Teams with reviewing and updating the PERMA workplan on a regular basis.
• Support field teams in the preparation of activities, including the associated procurement, finance and administrative processes.
• Play an active role in implementation of PERMA activities including backstopping for Intervention Teams when they are on leave.
• Take detailed notes during meetings, sharing the write ups afterwards. Provide translation support as and when required.
• Assist in and facilitate workshops, training and meeting preparation.
• Coordinating and managing the development and updating of a procurement plan, along with payment and purchase requests ensuring that they are properly filed, documented, and photocopied for filling.
• Responsible for consultancy requests, acting as focal point for consultant and supporting from hiring to payment stage of the process.

Grants Management

• Lead on preparation of donor reports and other donor deliverables; coordinating input from field teams and ensuring high quality written material.
• Lead the collection and compilation of success stories, engaging in interviews with partners and participants and writing these into case studies that can be used by the donor and for external representation.
• Coordinate timely inputs to the BVA, support the Program Lead in reviewing transactions and monitoring spending.
• Own the PERMA Visibility Plan, leading and coordinating input and preparation of deliverables.

Quality Management

• Track and review PERMA program adherence to PM@MC Minimum Standards, taking ownership and proposing solutions for indicators that have not yet been achieved.
• Participate actively in QRM meetings, contributing to discussions on adaptive management and how to improve program implementation.
• Manage the program filing system for all activities and ensure that information is organized accordingly to the reporting and auditing needs of the program, while ensuring required levels of confidentiality.
• Support the PERMA MEL Coordinator with engaging with program teams and as required.
• Identify any challenges to program management, coordination and implementation and develop and implement a new solution or tool – this could include things such as team leave trackers, communication tools etc.

Organizational Learning

In line with our dedication to fostering continuous organizational growth and recognizing the enhanced effectiveness, efficiency, and community relevance that learning-oriented entities exhibit, we anticipate all team members to allocate 5% of their working hours to engage in learning initiatives that both enrich Mercy Corps and contribute to their personal development.

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. Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

Supervisory Responsibility: n/a

Accountability: Accountable to position description, MC HR Manual

Reports Directly To: Director of Program Operations and Standards

Works Directly With: partners, PDG, PAQ, MEL, intervention teams

Qualifications & Preferred Skills

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in related field, OR equivalent work experience of at least 2 years
• Fluency in English (reading, writing, speaking) is required with knowledge of Arabic a plus.
• At least 3 years’ experience working on supporting program implementation and/or administration
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse staff in a sensitive environment.
• Dynamic relationship builder, with effective communication skills and able to adapt these for a range of stakeholders.
• High level computer and internet skills are required.
• Strong multi-tasking, organizational, prioritization skills are necessary.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.
• Excellent writing and reporting skills.
• Commitment to working with vulnerable groups in need regardless of race, religion, or gender.

Success Factors

The successful Program Coordinator will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, multi-tasking and demonstrated attention to details. S/he will be highly motivated, with initiative and capable to work without direct supervision. S/he will be willing to conduct field travels (minimum 30% of their time) and work in an ethnically and culturally diversified team. S/he must know how to prioritize tasks and deliver outputs on time. S/he must have good writing English skills.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCES:

Successful candidates should meet the education and experience requirements in the position descriptions for the vacant positions. S/he must be self- motivated, creative, tolerant, and able to work in difficult, stressful environments and follow Mercy Corps procedures. S/he must respect diversity and gender equality at the workplace.

Interested candidates should submit their CVs to the email address [email protected] before the deadline indicated below.

Please indicate on the subject of the email the title of the position you are applying for, for full position description for the noted posts, please visit websites NCCI and F-Job.

Female Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

ALL APPLICATIONS/ CVs SHOULD BE RECEIVED BY January 29^th, 2024

Potential candidates for the post will be contacted for an interview and processed according to Mercy Corps Human Resources policies and procedures. As soon as qualified candidates are identified the positions will be closed automatically. Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for potential interview. Any documents submitted will remain with Mercy Corps and will not be returned to candidates.

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer. Females are highly encouraged to apply. 

Female Candidates are encouraged to apply for This Position. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global Impact.

Mercy Corps Iraq offers a variety of arrangements that enable women to excel in their careers. Mercy Corps Iraq ensures a safe and inclusive working environment for women and men through field security training and measures to provide secure working arrangements on-site and in the office.