Team Leader

This position is contingent on securing funding

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 

Mercy Corps has been operating in Somalia since 2008 with dedicated skilled staff and programs funded by multitude of donors including the United Nations (UN), USAID, Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), ECHO and Private Foundations. Mercy Corps’ overall country goal is building a peaceful and prosperous Somalia where all people feel secure, are economically empowered, and are meaningfully engaged. Mercy Corps’ current portfolio in Somalia focuses on humanitarian response and resilience; inclusive economic growth; enhancing trust and accountability between communities and their government; and improving youth livelihood and education opportunities. Through the Peace and Governance Pillar- Mercy Corps works to increase participation, trust, and accountability between communities and their government. We strengthen the capacity of formal and informal government structures through context-specific training and promote local community participation, especially of minority groups, in all processes of governance. Mercy Corps works with youth to provide solutions to chronic poverty and unemployment, including vocational skills and training, creating links to employers, and supporting start-up businesses. We promote youth leadership to ensure they have a seat at the table in community-related decisions. We develop and manage savings groups, particularly for internally displaced youth and women. We also provide training in marketable skills and then place participants in apprenticeships to get on-the-job experience.

• Lead the development of a vision and strategy for the programme shared with the programme team, partners and key stakeholders, including FCDO.

• Play an active role in identifying and developing new initiatives that foster and/or improve strategic objectives of the programme.

• Ensure consortium partners and FCDO have a common understanding of the programme’s strategy and vision and understand approaches to reach that vision.

• Ensure programme implementation is high quality and delivers desired impact, in line with strategy and vision. Translate strategy into operational workplan and approach.

• Provide leadership to ensure the program remains agile and adaptive to shifting context/reality on the ground and responds to emerging evidence from programme successes/challenges.

• Oversee programme start-up, management and administration. Ensure programme implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.

• Ensure that programme implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant programme guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.

• Develop partnership frameworks, partner agreements/Memorandum of Understandings, and oversee partner capacity building.

• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.  Certify all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

• Ensure programme strategies and activities represent global good practice for women, peace, and security programming in conflict-affected environments.

• Supervise and/or review the work of programme consultants.

• Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, administration, and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.

• Fulfil Mercy Corps’ Programme Management Minimum Standards based on the organisation-wide guide.

• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.

• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.

• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.

• Promote learning and reflection, in collaboration with MEL manager, to ensure the program remains responsive to programme evidence and context.

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps’ regulations. 

• Create and maintain systems to ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with programme, donor and Mercy Corps’ needs.

• Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events, in close coordination with the Country Director.

• Coordinate activities with consortium partners, subgrantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programmes.

• Foster shared understanding with FCDO of operational approach, strategy and any adaptations.

• Ensure the programme avoids duplication and fosters complementarity to other donor and government efforts.

• Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.

• Ensure that programmes are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

• 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.

• MA/S or equivalent in development studies, international relations, conflict management, or other relevant fields pertaining women, peace and security in conflict-affected settings.

• A minimum 7 years of relevant development experience, including extensive experience working on GESI and conflict/security/peacebuilding related issues in Somalia.

• At least three years in a senior management position with experience managing programmes of a similar size and scope (GBP 4.5 million).

• Demonstrated ability to build and foster an adaptive team culture and a record of accomplishment in strategic visioning, leadership, and inspiring teams.

• Experience managing a consortium or operating within a consortium, ideally FCDO-funded.

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organisations, and partners

• Experience with FCDO- funded programmes, particularly FCDO contracts, strongly preferred.

• Experience managing complex programmatic and financial rules and reporting requirements, preferably with FCDO.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Somali fluency is strongly preferred.

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

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.

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 (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).