ORGANISATION SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps is a global team of humanitarians working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises to create a future of possibility, where everyone can prosper. Our mission: to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

Mercy Corps Europe, formerly known as Mercy Corps Scotland, has been operational in Sudan since 2009 and is facilitating recovery by addressing economic recovery needs and laying the groundwork for long-term development. MC Europe’s work in Sudan has three major components: Civil Society Development, Economic Recovery and Development and Humanitarian Assistance with activities that span many sectors including agriculture, market and livelihoods development, water/sanitation, capacity building, peace building, infrastructure rehabilitation, emergency distribution. MC Europe is committed to long-term programming in Sudan and faces numerous opportunities for expansion.  

PROGRAM SUMMARY:

The Strengthening markets, Productive Alliances & financial services in Rural communities (SPARK) programme, implemented by Mercy Corps and funded by the Netherlands MOFA ($3.4 million), aims to improve prosperity, employment, and food security in rural Sudanese communities through a market systems development approach. The programme strengthens value chain linkages between smallholder farmers, MSMEs, and larger buyers in the agricultural sector through key activities: value chain development, business development services, market aggregation networks, solar-powered agro-processing hubs and irrigation, and business grants. By doing so, SPARK enhances agricultural productivity, creates job opportunities, and improves livelihoods, ultimately boosting economic growth and stability in rural Sudan

THE POSITION (GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY)

As the Project Lead, you will oversee the implementation of the SPARK project, a program focused on strengthening agricultural value chains. You will lead a team of experts, ensuring efficient day-to-day operations and high-quality program delivery. You will provide technical leadership, supervise staff, and coordinate program activities to achieve on-time, on-scope, and on-budget outcomes. Promote a culture of continuous improvement, mentor the team, integrate monitoring and evaluation, and identify opportunities for operationalizing recommendations. You will also manage operations, logistics, security, team management, results measurement, and coordination.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: 

Program Management:

Under the guidance of the Team Leader, the Project Lead will:

• Oversee Program Operations: Manage all aspects of project implementation, ensuring alignment with the work plan, procurement plans, project documents, and implementation strategy. 
• Troubleshoot issues and liaise with the MSD Technical Lead as needed to ensure program has adequate support and delivers technical alignment to approaches and the entire quality scope.
• Build and Develop Teams: Foster a high-performing team by ensuring effective communication, timely and quality achievement of deliverables and capacity building initiatives.
• Monitor and Evaluate Progress: Track project targets and donor obligations, providing recommendations for improvements and adjustments for attainment of expected deliverables.
• Reporting and communication: Prepare comprehensive program reports, document learnings and ensure effective communication with the positions for updates and support needs.
• Coordinate with Key Staff: Collaborate with the MSD technical Lead, Director of Program, and staff from human Resources, finance and operations for efficient program operations.
• Program oversight: Regularly visit program sites to provide support, guidance, and oversight to program staff, ensuring achievement of program targets.
• Manage Program Documentation: Maintain a well-organized program filing system, ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps standards for reporting, records retention and audit
• Adhere to Standards: Ensure that all program activities align with humanitarian principles, Sphere standards, and other applicable internal policies, guidelines, and standards. 
• Strategic Alignment: Contribute development of strategies and ensure alignment with MSD portfolio strategies, country strategies, and overall regional and global strategies.

Team Management:

• Manage Team Performance: Monitor and advise on staffing needs, recruit and train qualified program staff, and ensure adherence to Mercy Corps policies.
• Foster Collaboration: Promote collaboration and information sharing among program staff through regular meetings and activity plans.
• Provide Supervision and Support: Offer direct supervision, management, and support to national staff, setting targets, reviewing outputs, and ensuring adherence to Mercy Corps policies.
• Develop Team Capacity: Enhance team members' understanding of their roles and assist with career development by providing information, tools, and resources.
• Create a Positive Work Environment: Foster a respectful and supportive work environment where team members strive for excellence

Representation

• Ensure ongoing productive relationships with communities, local councils and locality and state level government in the target states
• Mobilize communities to participate in implementation and maintenance of Program assets as  well as design viable strategies which are both respectful with the local culture and sensitive towards the female population but effectively engages women in the activities of the program.
• Ensure close coordination with relevant government institutions (Ministry of Agriculture, Humanitarian Aid Commission, Government representatives, etc.).
• Stay informed on Sudan-wide cross-cutting issues relevant to the Programme including agricultural programming, agri-enterprise development, livestock issues and community development initiatives. 
• Maintain Professional Conduct: Conduct oneself professionally and ethically to uphold Mercy Corps' reputation and humanitarian mission.

Collaboration, Networking, Representation and Coordination

• Maintain good coordination and working relationships and soliciting participation in activities where appropriate and as directed to create synergy, share experiences and obtain support for program objectives.
• On team leaders guidance, coordinate and share information with relevant stakeholders (government, NGOs etc) and obtain their support for meaning participation, access to resources and decision making by women.
• Represent Mercy Corps and the program in FSL and relevant sector working groups 
• 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. Respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues. 

Documentation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Support the monitoring, evaluation, learning (MEL) and reporting on the FSL thematic area by ensuring formulation of relevant indicators, participating in assessments, surveys and ensuring appropriate analysis. 
• Work closely with the MEL team to capture data for measuring output, outcome and impact.
• Prepare and submit timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that are indicative of program progress. Respond to queries when necessary and maintain a proper filing system as required.
• Provide follow up on recommendations and solutions where there are problems in implementation.

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.

Organizational Learning 

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves. 

Accountability to Beneficiaries 

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward 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.
• 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.

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES: 

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Agribusiness development, agriculture economics, business development, or a closely related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 4 years of experience managing agriculture development programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience: Experience in market systems development (MSD), market-based approaches, business development, financial services, or related fields.
• Certification: Internationally recognized qualification in Program or project management.
• Skills: Strong leadership, and administrative skills to lead a large team in. Ability to coordinate multiple sectors to develop agriculture markets. Knowledge of Sector and humanitarian standards. Excellent negotiation, representation, and communication skills, both written and oral, in English and Arabic languages. Proficiency in MS Office programs. Commitment to working with program participants regardless of race, religion, or gender.
• Knowledge: Understanding of gender dynamics and national gender policy frameworks. Proven skills in networking, collaboration, consultation, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Safeguarding Responsibilities[TF1] 

• 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

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports Directly To: 

Works Directly With: 

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 

SUCCESS FACTORS 

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING[TF2] 

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

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

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. 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. 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 (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. 

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

LIVING CONDITIONS / ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The position is based in Port Sudan.

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

 [TF1]This part is standard language should be added to each and every PD

 [TF2]From here and down its standard language should be  included into each and every PD