Livelihoods program manager (LIFT – Delta)

Program/Department summary:

Mercy Corps works in Myanmar to build more resilient communities with increased economic opportunities and protection from hazards, improved public health and strengthened civil society networks. Myanmar is a country at a key time of transition. Mercy Corps Myanmar ensures relevance not only by focusing on high impact agricultural livelihoods, food security and disaster recovery projects; but also by incorporating key cross-cutting themes such as youth engagement, social inclusion, community participation, environmental sustainability and disaster risk reduction, and the facilitation of private-public-civic sector partnerships into our work. Mercy Corps’ agency focus on working with civil society plays to the needs and the necessary modus operandi in Myanmar.


General position summary:

Essential job functions:
- Manage the implementation of the LIFT program, including staff management, reporting, and budget control.
- Conduct surveys, need assessments, and oversees M&E data collection throughout project cycle and for development of future program initiatives.
- Monitor and maintain coordination with the village and sub-district/district heads for all areas in which the Mercy Corps’ agricultural/food security/livelihoods programs operate.
- Participate or lead in NGO, INGO, and other coordination meetings on food security/livelihoods/early recovery.
- Ensure all food security and/or livelihood program activities are in line with government strategy/policy and understand and apply all relevant best practices.
- Responsible for day-to-day management of the engineering and technical staff. Assign tasks and projects to each staff member. Monitor their progress in regards to the plan and provide all necessary follow. Ensure the timely completion of technical support activities in line with budgets and estimates.
- Report on any problems encountered in the field such as project participant complaints, local authority interference, and security threats to Mercy Corps staff and activities.
- Providecapacity building to Mercy Corps staff to promote greater understanding of and adherence to principles and mechanisms of Transparency and Accountability.
- Act as contact person and provide oversight for program implementation conducted by local NGOs and other implementing stake holders.
- Work with Finance to manage program budgets to ensure appropriate spending in accordance with donor commitment.
- Foster a collaborative team atmosphere which engages the stakeholders.
- Willing to travel frequently and extensively throughout the Delta as needed.
- Willing and able to implement Mercy Corps security protocols even when they impact upon projects and personal time.

Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards 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.

Organizational Learning: As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.

Supervisory responsibility: National staff (up to 20 project officers, agronomists and finance advisors)


Accountability:

Reports directly to: Senior Livelihoods Manager
Works directly with: Logistics, Procurement and Finance, Administration and Field Staff


Knowledge and experience:

- A BA/S or equivalent in relevant field and 3 years food security/livelihoods program implementation and management experience in developing countries. Experience with agriculture, agribusiness, and value chain development preferred.
- Demonstrated experience and abilities in donor and host government representation, capacity building of local staff and local government, negotiation, and monitoring are necessary.
- Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, prioritization skills are necessary.
- Clear understanding of logistics, finance and administrative procedures
- Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.
- Understanding and experience utilizing the Sphere Project’s Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response and other humanitarian standards and codes.
- Fluency in spoken and written English.
- Computer literate and strong organizational skills.


Success factors:

The successful Livelihoods Program Manager will be conscientious, with an excellent sense of judgment. S/he will have the ability to foster solid working relationships with communities, government representatives, INGOs, local NGOs and other stakeholders. S/he will be personally and programmatically sensitive to cultural, ethnic, gender and diversity issues. The Livelihoods Program Manager will have the ability to work simultaneously on multiple tasks and meet deadlines, and will be able to work self-sufficiently and as part of but as part of a team.


Living conditions/Environmental conditions:

This position may be based in either Laputta, in the Ayeyarwady Delta, or in Yangon. Laputta is an accompanied location suitable for spouse/partner only; Yangon is a location suitable for families.
Living conditions in Laputta are generally good. Rural areas may have very rustic conditions, with virtually no amenities available, poor water and sanitation and inadequate roads. Medical and dental services exist in Yangon. Myanmar is a diverse country with pockets of occasional unrest.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members 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.