Sahel Program Director - West & Central Africa Region

Position Description

Department: Programs function – West and Central Africa

Location: Dakar, Senegal

Employee Type: Full-Time, Regular

Risk Level: ☐ Level 3 ☐Level 2 ☐Level 1

(Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability.

Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.

Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data)

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.

The Department Summary

Mercy Corps operations in West & Central Africa region consist of countries including Niger, Senegal, Nigeria, Liberia and Chad. 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 Sahel Program Director is part of the regional program leadership team who works closely with the Regional Vice President and Deputy Regional Directors to ensure that 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. They will provide strategic direction and support to regional and country teams to build an impactful portfolio that strengthens community resilience to conflict and climate shocks, aligning to Mercy Corps’ three P2P impact priorities of: 1) Addressing Urgent Needs: People’s immediate needs are met - enabling them to survive, recover, and build a better future; 2) Accelerating Climate Solutions: People can adapt to the immediate effects and long-term risks and impacts of climate change; 3) Driving Economic and Food Security: People have expanded security and opportunity through sustained access to food, income, and jobs. The Sahel Program Director will primarily focus in building productive relations with donors, partners, peer agencies and critical stakeholders to our work in the Sahel sub region. They will be responsible for the successful delivery of high-impact programming that is responsive to donor commitments and adheres to Mercy Corps’ program management standards. They will work closely with the Regional leadership team to ensuring the Sahel portfolio is set-up to deliver programmatic excellence through established and responsive systems.

Position Summary

The Sahel Program Director is a strategic position that has overall responsibility to lead external engagements in the region, new business development, program design, quality, implementation and compliance and business development for key country programs across the region (Senegal, Niger, Chad and beyond). The Sahel Program Director represents Mercy Corps in various platforms in the subregion including FONGA, donors, UN agencies and other key partners. The role supervises program/country teams, ensuring evidence-based and data-driven decision making, using existing systems and processes while introducing new ones as needed to strengthen efficiency, proper control and oversight. The Sahel Program Director is expected to maintain, adapt and expand the scale of portfolios through forward-looking business development strategies informed by regular engagements with donors, partners, peer organizations and coordination bodies in close collaboration with the Country or Program Managers in their respective countries. The Sahel Program Director works closely with other members of the Regional Team inspiring a focus on effective delivery and high impact for those we serve. The Sahel Program Director represents Mercy Corps at the highest level and is able to develop, articulate, deliver, and operationalize a strategic vision in line with context shifts and Mercy Corps’ global strategic direction.

Essential Responsibilities

INFLUENCE AND REPRESENTATION

• Represent Mercy Corps programs with regional and international stakeholders in the respective countries and in the region/Dakar as needed in close coordination with the Country/Program leads, Multi-Country Program leads and the regional leadership team.
• Maintain productive relationships with internal and external constituents such as private partners, local NGOs, civil society organizations, and academic institutions in close collaboration with Country Managers.
• In close coordination with the Country/Program Managers and the Regional leadership, identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, governments and other stakeholders.
• Connect analysis and evidence from the field with advocacy efforts.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

• Drive Business Development Strategies in the Sahel and regionally with the support of the Regional/global Business Development leads, Technical and Award Management Teams and actively support Country/Program Managers to prioritize proactive and evidence based, participatory program designs.
• Ensure go-no-go decisions remain in line with agency priorities and the strategy.
• Develop strategic donor relationships in the Sahel toward funding the strategy and impact Mercy Corps wants to achieve in each country and at the regional level.
• Provide leadership and quality assurance on program design processes.
• Apply the agency’s best practices in proposal development efforts for institutional donors.

STRATEGIC VISION & LEADERSHIP

• Support the development and operationalization of the countries’ strategies and operational plans, in close collaboration with Country and Program Managers.
• Develop new and innovative program approaches in line with the country and regional strategies based on needs and donors' trends.
• Maintain deep understanding of the social, political, environmental and economic context in all countries to inform program performance, relevance, and impact.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Ensure that Mercy Corps strategy is understood and guides decision-making throughout implementation.

PROGRAM LEADERSHIP

• Oversee the management and implementation of country programs
• Lead program review systems and processes that ensure the right information is available at the right time and at the right level for adaptative management and effective decision making.
• Ensure programs meet donors and internal compliance.
• Ensure necessary tools are in place to provide sound program cycle management and that programs are delivered on scope, time and budget. Assess areas of improvement and provide capacity strengthening accordingly.
• Create and maintain systems to ensure technical coherence and adherence to global and MC standards for program excellence.
• Ensure responsiveness and appropriate levels of in-person and remote support to all country programs, with regular visits to various countries and field offices, when possible.
• Ensure that learning from the field contributes to development and implementation of compelling evidence-based products to support business development and advocacy initiatives.

PROGRAM QUALITY, EVIDENCE & LEARNING

• With the support of the Regional Program Teams (Business Development, Award Management, and technical teams), support and guide the Program Managers and their program quality, evidence and learning teams (e.g. MEL, CARM) in establishing systems, policies and approaches necessary to ensure and demonstrate the quality of programs and incorporate learning into decision making.
• Ensure that proper Monitoring and Evaluation tools in line with Mercy Corps guidelines and policies are effectively used by the programs teams.
• Ensure that all the programs team members have received training in line with their level of responsibility and receive technical support relevant to their programs.
• Ensure strong coordination and collaboration is happening between Regional Technical teams and field teams to provide expert advice and ensure technical consistency and soundness across programs.
• Promote an evidence-driven culture, contributing to the establishment of the countries’ evidence and learning priorities, in line with the regional Evidence and Learning Agenda.

FINANCE AND COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

• Maintain a monthly system for budget oversight, analysis, decision making, and proactive adaptation.
• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory Responsibility: Country/Program leads Senegal and Niger

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Regional Vice President, Africa

Works Directly With: Program leads, Country leads, Country Program Team, Regional Leadership, Regional Program and Technical Team, Regional Support Services Teams, Global Program Technical Teams, additional global support teams as needed.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• BA/S or equivalent in relevant field required, MA/S preferred.
• Seven years of senior-level leadership and program management experience in large and complex programs including humanitarian, resilience, recovery, and development operations.
• Previous experiences working in the Sahel region.
• Good technical knowledge in some of Mercy Corps P2P’s outcome areas and other technical focus areas (Food Security, Water Security, Economic Opportunities, Energy, Peace & Good Governance, Resilience, Climate, Market Systems Development, Private Sector Engagement, etc...)
• Experience in humanitarian and development multi-country programs design and implementation in context of interconnected and rapidly evolving regional dynamics.
• Substantial knowledge of the international humanitarian system, institutions and donors, and of compliance requirements, accountability frameworks and best practices.
• prior experience with funding from USG, FCDO, ECHO, Dutch MFA and RVO and other leading donors, including Cooperations, Foundations and other private donors.
• Robust experience in developing, operationalizing, and implementing program strategies.
• Demonstrated expertise in representation and negotiation resulting in securing significant new opportunities for the organization.
• Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGOs, NNGOs and other stakeholders in complex environments.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching.
• Solid project management skills related to diverse and cross-functional teams.
• Experience of solving complex issues collegially, defining a clear way forward, and utilizing best practices in management to ensure shared success.
• Outstanding analytical and strategic thinking skills, with a focus on results and impact.
• Excellent oral and written English and French skills required.

Success Factors

Success in the role requires excellent program management skills, solid team management experience and strong leadership qualities, including in remote settings, to provide clear guidance and model behavior conductive for success. Passion for evidence-based program design, quality-based program implementation, technical excellence and innovative business development mind and skillsets. The successful candidate is a decisive, critical, and collegial professional with solid management and leadership skills. They have a thorough understanding of what it takes to deliver impactful programs in challenging environments. They are excellent communicator who can inspire broad and diverse teams towards achieving a shared goal and drive a fast-paced and adaptive program and is able to create a stimulating working environment encouraging innovation, creativity, ownership and accountability. They have a confident representative in public settings, able to speak up when needed to and influence key stakeholders internally and externally to further and expand Country Programs’ goals in the Sahel. They are able to work effectively with a diverse team in sensitive and highly fluid environments to prioritize team building and capacity-building of national team members. They have excellent information management skills and is able to translate strategy into action and also an outstanding ability to design, implement and manage innovative programs that respond to current needs and reinforce the future program structures of Mercy Corps in the Sahel.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

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 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.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Team Engagement and Effectiveness

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Safeguarding & Ethics

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. 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 elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).