Regional Technical Resources & Quality Director

Department: Programs function – West and Central Africa

Location: Dakar, Senegal, or other countries within the West & Central Africa region where Mercy Corps maintains a registered presence.

Employee Type: Full-time, Regular

Regional Program Technical Advisors, Evidence & Learning Advisors

None

Mercy Corps expanding operations in West & Central Africa region consist of 9 countries including Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Liberia, Nigeria Central African Republic, and Democratic Republic of Congo. This is a thriving and growing region with programming that covers all of Mercy Corps’ strategic pillars including food security, economic opportunities, water security, and peace and good governance. Mercy Corps’ programs in West Africa are undergoing both momentous humanitarian crises and significant development challenges that offer the opportunity to empower people to survive through crises, build better lives and transform their communities for good.

The Regional Technical Resources & Quality (TRaQ) Director is a senior leader providing technical support and strategic direction to Mercy Corps’ country programs and initiatives across the region. The Regional TRaQ Director works closely with the Deputy Regional Director, Programs (DRD-P) and manages Technical, Quality and Standards Advisors across the region to ensure transformational change occurs through the combination of: programmatic impact in our communities; the ability to influence change makers at local, regional and global levels; and a restlessness to innovate in search of better solutions.

The Regional TRaQ Director will support the development and promotion of a clear and impactful regional technical excellence strategy, in-line with Mercy Corps’ Pathway to Possibility and reflective of the countries’ specific strategies to ensure Mercy Corps’ vision can be delivered across the region. The Regional Technical Resources & Quality Director coordinates with program departments at the country, regional and global levels to ensure that our program portfolio is of the highest quality, meet all minimum technical and program standards, are evidence-based and that programs receive the support that they need. The Regional TRaQ Director will also be the primary representative for the region liaising with teams within the Global Programs & Support Department and advocating to ensure the region is strongly represented in conversations across the agency and that the Global teams remain responsive to the technical and program quality needs of the region. They will support country offices in positioning for funding opportunities and facilitate adaptive management and reflective processes to ensure learning improves programming.

· Lead the development and implementation of an ambitious and compelling regional technical strategy for Mercy Corps, in alignment with P2P framework, in close collaboration with other regional teams. Support Country Teams in the successful development and implementation of their country strategies and annual implementation plans.

· Work as a key partner to the Deputy Regional Director-Programs to drive and implement an impactful regional strategy.

· Work closely with the Business Development teams to ensure compelling proposals are submitted with high-technical input.

· Work closely with the Evidence and Learning team to ensure technical inputs feed into the Global and/or Regional Evidence and Learning Agenda and other Country learning priorities.

· Supervise the Regional Technical Advisors and create a cohesive regional technical team to deliver utmost and timely technical support to country teams.

· Develop efficient systems to identify support needs of country teams and ensure that programs access quality, relevant and timely support from Technical Advisors and structures from Global Programs & Support

· Fill in as needed for Deputy Regional Director, Programs, and for field leadership during vacations/home leave and or leadership gaps as necessary.

· Develop and lead the regional technical and program excellence vision and strategy across the region to deliver transformational change and impact at scale.

· Ensure country teams in the region have access to technical support and resources to deliver quality-based and technically sound programs across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.

· Ensure all programs adhere to minimum program management standards, technical standards and best practices and disseminate and promote new tools and guidance developed by the global teams.

· Lead capacity strengthening and learning initiatives across the region to ensure country teams continue expanding their technical knowledge and expertise over time in close coordination with Evidence and Learning Teams

· Work closely with global, regional and country teams on any new business opportunities that require strong technical leadership, input and review.

· Identify, explore, and pursue funding opportunities that support regional and country technical strategy objectives.

· Support – and when relevant – lead, the development of evidence-based technical concept notes, proposals, and other funding requests, ensuring quality submissions that maximize chances for success, including sourcing internal or external technical expertise to assist, in close collaboration with the regional Business Development Advisor.

· Position Mercy Corps for strategic funding opportunities that build on country and/or regional programmatic priorities and technical excellence.

· Work closely with the global program support units to ensure resources are available to country teams when needed and to facilitate continuous quality improvement of field programs to maintain technical excellence at all times, especially during rapid growth.

· Represent Mercy Corps in strategic internal and external high-profile events and conferences, including with donors, higher-level government stakeholders, and multilateral institutions.

· Facilitate relationships management with key donors and partners for countries in the region, jointly identifying priorities and opportunities for influence and demonstrating impact.

· Ensure program coordination and information sharing within and between the regional teams to maximize efficiency and cross-learning.

· Represent the region in Global Programs & Support working groups, while amplifying the region and country technical needs to advocate for additional support.

· Identify and pursue areas for thought leadership, including building connections with donors, private sector partners, academia and other actors, showcasing Mercy Corps’ programs impact and promoting the region’s capabilities, expertise, innovation, strategic vision, and values.

· Support all countries in the region to adopt and adhere to Mercy Corps’ programs and global best practices, policies and standards for utmost program quality,

· Coordinate closely with the Evidence and Learning Regional Team to ensure country teams are evidence-driven and adhere to MEL procedures, standards and policies.

· Support the regional team in defining priorities for each of Mercy Corps’ five commitments within Pathway to Possibility (Climate Smart, Locally Led, Evidence Driven, Innovative and Creative, and Safe, Diverse and Inclusive) in partnership with relevant Global leads.

· Work with Global commitment leads to conceptualize, deliver, and monitor the progress of plans, workstreams, and communication and collaboration modalities required to implement the commitments effectively at the regional level.

● Detailed understanding of the finance, operations and administration mechanisms that support a grant/project implementation life cycle.

● Demonstrated ability to think strategically, and to solve complex problems at an organizational level.

● Confident communication skills applicable to donor relations, media outreach, and inter-agency coordination.

● Ability to handle multiple issues at one time, especially in emergency situations, and to organize and prioritize accordingly.

● BA/BS or equivalent in international development, political or social science, public administration, business management, required and MA preferred.

● At least 7 to 10 years’ field experience in senior management related to technical support and advisory, and/or, direct program development and implementation.

● Direct experience managing and supervising large teams, as well as mentoring and development.

● Demonstrated technical experience in one of MC’s outcome or sub-outcome/distinctive areas of P2P.

● Demonstrated proficiency and experience with US, UK, EU, UN and other public and private donors, government grant and financial management requirements.

● Demonstrated understanding of the critical humanitarian and development issues in the region, and significant experience with the challenges of operating in the region.

● An 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.

● Fluency in written and spoken English and French is required.

The position is based in Dakar, Senegal and it requires up to 30% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/short term assignment to a field posting. Staff 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.

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.