SPARC Project Manager

Background
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.

Purpose / Project Description:
The Supporting Pastoralism and Agriculture in Recurrent and Protracted Crises (SPARC) is a six-year (2020– 2025) program. It aims to develop, broker and manage knowledge, to enhance the ability of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), His Majesty’s Government (HMG) and the broader development community to assist pastoralists, agropastoralists and farmers living in the context of climate change, protracted crises and ongoing conflicts. The program is led by Cowater International and co-delivered with Overseas Development Institute (ODI), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Mercy Corps.
SPARC’s ultimate objective is to help communities in the drylands of East, North and West Africa and the Middle East to increase their resilience to recurring shocks and protracted crises. SPARC does this by supporting more effective interventions and a better understanding of the challenges in these communities. Specifically, SPARC:

• Informs the decision-making process for policies, programs, or practices affecting these dryland communities (instrumental changes).
• Influences how stakeholders involved in and affected by decision-making processes think about social, economic and environmental issues in the drylands and how these interact (conceptual changes)
• Enhances the collective ability and competencies of actors who have a stake in decision-making processes (capacity changes).

Consultant Objectives:
Mercy Corps seeks a part-time consultant to be a Project Manager and support the overall day-to-day administration and operations of program implementation. The Project Manager will work closely both with management and headquarters and country-level support staff (including finance, administration and program) to ensure the day-to-day activities are implemented according to schedule, budget, and required quality. The Project Manager reports directly to the Team Leader with written and oral activity and budget reports (as defined by the Team Leader). The Project Manager will assist the Team Leader in outlining a strategic plan for the implementation of this program including tracking progress of individual research activities within the whole research portfolio, coordination and communication with country teams and consultants, and methods of operation for effective programming and maximum results.

Consultant Activities:

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Manage all operations related to the Project according to the work plan, project document and implementation strategy. Troubleshoot, as needed, to prevent disruptions in daily program activities Liaise with Team Leader and Research Managers, as necessary.
• In close collaboration with the Team and Human Resource support staff, the consultant will support the Project team, consultants and staff, ensuring that there are fluent communication channels, that the reporting schedule is timely met and that programme objectives are achieved.
• Coordinate and share information with the Team Leader to ensure overall projects targets and donor obligations are being achieved. Troubleshoot on reporting and programmatic needs. Advise supervisor on suggested improvements and necessities, as required.
• Manage consultant recruitment and contract management in lines with Mercy Corps global and country-level policies and practices.
• Maintain written correspondence with and for the Team Leader and other programme staff responding to daily programme necessities and routine communications.
• Coordinate closely with the Team Leader, Research Manager, and relevant administrative and finance staff to ensure proper logistics, administration, human resources and transport needs of the programme are conducted within MC policy and with the maximum benefit to the programme.
• Work with the Team Leader to forecast expenditure surpluses and deficits to enable adjustments to be made to the programme in a timely fashion.
• Oversee the programme filing system for all SPARC-related activities in the south and ensure that information is organized according to the reporting and auditing needs of the programme. Ensure required levels of confidentiality.
• 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.

OPERATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT

• Assist in the recruitment and training of research consultants to ensure they are of the quality and capacity to ensure the successful implementation of SPARC activities. Ensure contractual processes follow MC and donor policies. Monitor and advise on consulting needs and support gaps throughout the program. Manage consulting contracts and budgets. Ensure evaluations and disciplinary measures are made, as necessary according to MC policy.
• Ensure the close coordination and sharing of information between the various department teams (e.g. Country, Evidence & Learning, TRaQ)
• 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.

SECURITY

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Accountability

*Reports Directly To:*Regional Director of Evidence & Learning, Resilient Dryland Production Systems (SPARC Team Lead)
*Works Directly With:*Mercy Corps and Consultant Researchers, Global and Country Finance Team Members, Global and country-level HR, Administrative and Operations Team Members,

Knowledge and Experience

• This position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Management, Business Administration, Organization Management, Data Science or other Economic or Social Science.
• More than five years of experience focused in the management of research, development projects, or private business including developing and maintain workplans, donor/stakeholder reporting, activity monitoring.
• Demonstrated experience in account management, budget management and forecasting.
• This post requires a high computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications. Advanced skills in the Microsoft 365 platform and applications are strongly preferred.
• Administrative capacity and planning skills to support a large team of national and international staff and consultants of multiple sectors.
• Excellent English communication skills, both verbal and written, required. Working knowledge of French (written and oral) is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge or understanding of Institutional Review Board (IRB) application and approval processes is beneficial.
• An internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.

Success Factors

This position requires professional confidence, humour and humility to work with a multi-disciplinary and internationally diverse team that works across many time zones. The ideal candidate will be self-organized and ready to troubleshoot issues as they arise. She/He must be able to develop and manage her/his own work or activity plans, including projecting future deliverables and actions that need to begin weeks or months in advance. The successful candidate will have weekly check-ins with the Team Leader to review and reprioritize as needed but will not be told what to do on a day to day basis. She/He will be reliably available and comfortable with a flexible work schedule to accommodate the multiple zones the program works across.

Evaluation/Screening Criteria

Click this LINK to access the evaluation/screening criteria.

How to apply

Application Process and Additional Information

1. Qualified applications will submit to Mercy Corps:
   a. Current CV including academic and training qualifications, previous employment or consulting experience and 3 references from your work experience.
   b. Cover letter expressing interest in the role, highlighting relevant experience in research or project management. The cover letter should also include the proposed daily rate clearly listed in Kes.
2. This position is open to individual consultants ONLY. It is not open to consulting firms or individuals that will subcontract the work. Applications from firms, businesses or teams will be disqualified.
   a. This is a part-time role with recurrent responsibilities. The consultant will work each week unless pre-arranged with the Team Lead.
3. The position is open only to Kenya Nationals based in Kenya. Consultants based in Nairobi or within proximity are preferred. The Consultant will be asked to spend a portion of each month working from the Mercy Corps offices in Nairobi.
4. Mercy Corps will review all applications to create a shortlist. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview. Interviews will take place via video conferencing.
   a. Finalists will take a typing test and a written test to demonstrate competency in report writing and spreadsheets.
   b. Mercy Corps will conclude evaluations and interviews in time for a start date on or around 02 September 2024. Applicants available to start immediately are preferred.
5. The consultant will submit a monthly timesheet tracking hours worked. The consultant can submit Invoices monthly or quarterly to be agreed upon during contracting. Mercy Corps will deduct necessary Kenyan taxes from all payments.
6. If domestic or international travel is required, Mercy Corps will cover the costs of accommodation and transport upon delivery of valid receipts. Mercy Corps will not cover meals and incidental costs unless pre-approved in writing by the SPARC Team Lead.
7. Mercy Corps reserves the right to cancel the contract if the consultant cannot perform the necessary tasks and responsibilities in a timely manner.

All applications should be sent to tenders.mck@mercycorps.org with the consultancy title as the email subject (SPARC Project Manager)