Country Director – Liberia

About Mercy Corps

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.

The Program / Department / Team

Mercy Corps has been present in Liberia since 2002, focusing its interventions on Governance, Youth Livelihoods, Economic Growth, and Development. With funding from the EU, SIDA, AFD, Irish Aid, and USDA, Mercy Corps has worked together with Liberian communities to respond to their various needs bringing benefits to more than 300,000 people through the provision of employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, access to health, markets, and good governance.

The Position

The Mercy Corps Liberia Country Director is an innovative and visionary leader responsible for developing and managing all programming, resulting in lasting improvement in the lives of communities in Liberia. S/He has held senior roles in formulating strategic direction within an international development context. The Country Director is responsible for developing the overall strategic direction for programming in cooperation with Mercy Corps’ senior management team and local and international partners. S/He is also responsible for developing and implementing systems, policies and procedures for Mercy Corps’ operations in Liberia. As Mercy Corps’ senior manager in Liberia, the Country Director is also responsible for financial oversight, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, staff security, human resource management and representation in the field. The CD develops sustainable, multi-sector programming and is accountable to beneficiaries and donors, placing a high value on innovative solutions and potential new partnerships to development issues and creative partnerships in tough environments.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategy & Planning

● In consultation with the in-country team, formulate, plan and communicate a clear vision of present and future program goals and strategies to team members and stakeholders that translates into concrete programs and work plans.

● Lead the strategic planning process and ensure alignment of country office and program resources with its direction.

● Explore, evaluate and develop new country and project funding opportunities that leverage impact and integrate initiatives and activities; support and direct related fund-raising activities with both institutional and private donors.

● Mobilize support services and risk management resources to enable the country leadership team to execute their respective strategic priorities.

● Lead on measurement and analysis of country key performance indicators to inform strategic decision making.

● Use technical support teams collaboratively.

● Lead on identifying innovative, new partners and programs that push development approaches and programs beyond traditional development.

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Team Management

• Develop and grow the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
• Motivate and support a robust and united Mercy Corps team across Liberia with strong team spirit and collaboration.
• 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.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence and support each other.
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

● Support Mercy Corps global and regional initiatives for human resources, including safeguarding and diversity, and talent development;

● Collaborate with the people team to promote staff access to high quality learning opportunities, with a special emphasis on national team member development;

● Assist with the on-boarding of senior team members, ensuring they are set up for success and familiar with agency systems, procedures, and protocols.

Program Operation Management

• Oversee program quality and impact by ensuring programs are based on sound design principles, are well executed and utilize Mercy Corps and donor required M&E systems.
• Ensure effective, transparent use of resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies/procedures.
• Oversee budget management of programs, sub-grantees/sub-contractors, if applicable.
• Build and maintain operational systems that ensure proper administrative support for programs, as well as segregation of duties between finance and operations.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and accountability standards.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Oversee and ensure the fiscal health of the country organization and it programs.
• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations in the operations of the country office and execution of programs.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
• Build and maintain operational structures that ensure proper segregation of duties between finance, administration and logistics and fully support field programs.

Influence & Representation

• Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
• Represent Mercy Corps programs with national and international media and participate in community activities as appropriate.
• Maintain productive relationships with internal and external constituents such as private partners, local governments, foundations, the private sector, etc.
• Anticipate needs, understand donor pool and contribute to shaping donor’s views on development.
• Explore, evaluate and present innovative funding opportunities that support the objectives for the country as a whole.
• Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.
• Exhibit awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs.

Security

• Liaise with the Regional Security Advisor on crucial events, high-risk periods, incident reporting and security policy changes.
• Ensure that safety and health of staff and beneficiaries is protected in the daily execution of work responsibilities.

Supervisory Responsibility: The Country Director supervises all Team Members in Liberia.

Accountability

Reports Directly to: Deputy Regional Director

Works Directly with: Program, Operations, Finance Teams, Technical Support Unit, People Team, Regional Program Team, New Initiatives Managers.

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.
• 7-10 years of field experience in international relief and development programs, including demonstrable success in managing development programs.
• 5 years of senior-level leadership, capacity building and field management experience.
• Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in emergency response preferred.
• Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGO, NGO partners and other stakeholders in complex environments.
• Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.
• Proven skills in financial and grants management; prior experience with EU, Sida, AFD and US government grant management.
• Successful and proven negotiation, communication and organization skills.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
• Previous work experience in West Africa is preferred.

Success Factors

The successful Liberia CD will skillfully represent programmatic priorities of the agency to donors and regional partners while providing effective leadership to the Mercy Corps program team. S/he will have high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity building and will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The Country Director is based in Monrovia. This location is accompanied and secure. Housing is individual accommodation with unlimited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. There are several International schools in Liberia. Staff will have access to basic essential services – medical, electricity, water etc. This position requires travel by road to field offices in safe environments.

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.

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.

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. 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.