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.
Project/ Department Summary
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 projects 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 projects 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
General Position Summary
The Senior WASH Program Manager provides leaderships to the WASH program on all aspects of WASH project start-up, implementation, quality control, monitoring, and new program development. The Senior WASH Program Manager will be the primary focal point for humanitarian coordination and for liaising with relevant government authorities at the central level, and will lead in strategic planning and positioning for all humanitarian and recovery WASH-related needs in Iraq. Reporting to the Head of WASH Program, s/he will oversee and develop high quality design and implementation of emergency response projects to effectively address the humanitarian gaps and needs while building a base for later activities of early recovery. The Senior WASH Program Manager will guide the WASH Project Managers regarding all engagement with stakeholders including contractors, local leaders, and relevant government authorities. S/he will coordinate with the WASH Program Managers on budget management and will be responsible for planning and spending in line with donor regulations and Mercy Corps policies and procedures. The Senior WASH Program Manager will be principally responsible for grant implementation leading to project outputs and overall progress against WASH technical indicators.
Essential Job Responsibilities:
Program Management
Supervise and monitor the implementation of WASH projects across the country, ensuring all activities are in line with grant agreements, organizational priorities, international standards, follow humanitarian principles, remain needs-based and are implemented in full compliance with donor regulations and Mercy Corps policies and procedures;
Facilitate information sharing among all WASH program team members about contextual updates, coordination and reporting mechanisms, WASH technical guidance at international and national levels;
Lead in strategic planning and preparation for anticipated humanitarian needs and gaps, as well as strategic positioning for recovery programming;
Draft donor reports for review, with input from PMs and tracking tools;
Ensure the tacking, monitoring and quality reporting of all WASH interventions;
Communicate project work plans and progress reports to Head of WASH Program;
Work with the WASH Project Managers and other relevant team members to ensure joint planning, technical quality, coordination with other actors, and commitments to needs on the ground;
Work with Head of WASH Program and Area Operations Managers to overcome implementation challenges based on practical solutions;
Lead in coordination at the Baghdad level with Infrastructure Manager, other humanitarian actors, relevant government officials and other stakeholders as needed.
Team Management
Provide support and technical oversight to the field teams and mentor field staff in the planning and implementation of WASH activities.
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 and orient new team members as necessary;
Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives;
Assist the Head of WASH Program in team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
Finance and Compliance Management
Assist WASH Project Managers to ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming;
Update BVAs, ensuring tracking tools are updated and accurate
Ensure internal and donor compliance through a strong knowledge of rules within grant agreements;
Prepare procurement plans based on project cycle for WASH program interventions;
Ensure all necessary purchase requests are accurately prepared and submitted on time;
Ensure documentation and filing of project activities in compliance with Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
Influence, Representation & Coordination
Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with cluster, suppliers, donors, local governments and other stakeholders relevant for implementation regions
Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met
Represent MC at national Cluster Coordination meetings, ensuring teams engage with governorate level cluster coordination meeting
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;
Stay informed of incidents as they arise through the field and are raised through the program coordination mechanism.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards, guiding relief and development work, whilst actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Project Managers and Senior Administration Officer Baghdad
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Head of WASH Program
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Program, M&E, Operations, and Finance Teams
