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.

Program / Department Summary 

The Program Performance and Quality (PaQ) unit exists to strengthen program efforts and ensure quality programming in addition to accountability to community and participants. The PaQ team works with programs and other support functions to ensure program management minimum standards are adhered too and programs are adequately supported to ensure adaptive programming.

General Position Summary 

The Program Performance and Quality (PaQ) team is an integrated unit consisting of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team, the Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism (CARM), Protection, Safeguarding and PaQ itself. The purpose of PaQ is to support effective, efficient, and equitable program performance through a culture of quality program/project management, to achieve results for those that matter most (our program participants). Mercy Corps is seeking bold and proactive individuals to be Senior PaQ Officer. The role will work very closely with PaQ Director and other support functions including MEL Manager, MEL Systems Manager and other team leaders, HR, Finance and Operations among others. The Senior PaQ Officer will be a key member of Mercy Corps Sudan team, tasked with helping to strengthen the quality of its programming; and our ability to innovate, learn and adjust to continually changing realities in the country. This includes PM@MC standards and training, support the development of effective Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) processes, oversight of capacity development strategy and process, providing support to programs during key project development and implementation moments, checking in on program quality and impact and taking lead in facilitating program start-ups and closeouts among others.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Support PaQ Director in establishing systems, policies and approaches necessary to ensure and demonstrate the quality of programs. 
• Assists with the development of M&E systems for the coordinated design, planning, management and monitoring of programs/projects within identified priority areas. 
• Support the collation and development of donor reports – monthly, quarterly, bi-annual/semi-annual, annual and other reports including final program/project reports. 
• Provide support and participate along with program teams at key moments including program start-up, kick-off meetings, inception meeting check-ins, quality audits and spot checks, and end of program transition meetings. 
• Support program teams ensuring they have the tools and support needed to lead technical excellence across WaSH, cash, food security, voucher programming, construction activities, protection, shelter, Market Systems Development sectors, protection and peace building etc. 
• Develops operational reporting templates that facilitate the acquisition and aggregation of information on programmes. 
• Facilitate kick-off meetings, closeout meetings, learning and review meetings among others to ensure continuous improvement and documentation of learnings. 
• Engage programs leadership in ongoing context analysis that enables programs and teams to adapt to significant and work together in a collaborative and impactful manner. 
• Support and maintain systems to ensure efficient and transparent capture of program data for management decision-making and timely and informative internal and external reporting. 
• In coordination with the PaQ Director, ensure the PaQ unit effectively contributes to proposal development processes, ensuring the incorporation of lessons learned and technical excellence to program design.
• Ensure retention of programmatic documents are in place and accountable. 
• Support the periodic review of program management standards and evaluate those meeting the pre-set organizational standards. 
• Perform other related duties as required. 

Safeguarding Responsibilities 

• Actively learn about safeguarding and integrate it into his/her 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. 
• Encourage openness and communication in their team; encouraging team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

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.

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: PaQ Director

Works Directly With: Project Teams, Partnership Manager, other PaQ Team Members among others. 

Knowledge and Experience 

• A Degree in communications, development studies, management, business or another related field is required. 
• At least 3 years of work experience in a similar position is required. 
• Experience in humanitarian operations in a field environment. Excellent knowledge of local institutions, politics and culture and context. 
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint and/or other graphic design softwares. 
• Adequate understanding of donor rules and regulations is required. 
• Demonstrated ability to successfully initiate and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders e.g. donors, partners, iNGOs and local NGOs. 
• Demonstrated flexibility, creativity and enthusiasm and willingness to learn and to be continually adaptive within a dynamic and often self-directed working environment 
• Excellent written and oral communication in English and Arabic. 
• Excellent teamwork abilities, interpersonal and problem-solving skills, attention to detail and timeliness. 
• Commit to working with program participants regardless of race, religion or gender. 

Success Factors 

The ideal candidate will have a strong curiosity for understanding and working effectively within the complex cultural, political, security and social environment of Sudan.  He/She will be a good communicator, multi-tasker, and able to work in ambiguous situations. He/She will be a tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures.  The successful candidate will focus on team building and capacity-building of national staff; be a strategic thinker, have strong skills in design monitoring and evaluation of development programs and maintain a sense of humor.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Gaderef with 20% travel to field offices to support 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. 

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING 

Ongoing learning in support by 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 Efficiency 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 that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out different 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.

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 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).