Mercy Corps is hiring a
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 Summary
Mercy Corps has been working in Afghanistan since 1986. Following the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan government in August 2021, Mercy Corps Afghanistan (MCA) formally restarted its activities at the start of January 2022, with offices in Kabul, Herat, and Kandahar.
With Afghanistan facing a complex humanitarian crisis, MCA is committed to rebuilding its country program to deliver impact for all Afghans, working with them toward a more peaceful and resilient Afghanistan. Current programs areas are in water and sanitation, health,, livelihoods, vocational training, and shelter.
The Position Summary
The Director of Operations is a critical member of the country's senior management team (SMT) with supervisory and managerial responsibility. Reporting to the Country Director, the Director of Operations will be primarily responsible for enabling excellence and building strong, compliant operations systems and functions, including for logistics, procurement, asset management, fleet management, ICT, administration, warehousing and general operations in office locations and field activity.
It will be required to strengthen the operational performance of the organization by developing the capacity of staff and establishing the effective and appropriate systems and processes for efficient and responsive operational support to the program. S/he will also ensure that managerial processes, resources, compliance and the necessary infrastructure are all in place. In addition to ensuring high performing operations functions during a period of regrowth, the Director of Operations will manage ongoing efforts to address and resolve any legacy issues arising from the period of program suspension and earlier.
Essential Job Responsibilities
STRATEGY AND VISION
Lead the development and implementation of robust, compliant operations systems for MCA.
Support and contribute to the implementation of MCA’s growth action plan.
Provide support to the Country Director on matters pertaining to the planning, budgeting, and performance of support functions, including logistics and procurement.
Set direction of program support departments by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide program development.
SAFETY, SECURITY AND RISK MANAGEMENT
Work closely with the Safety and Security Manager and the Senior Management Team to ensure all facilities and operations meet minimum safety and security requirements.
Ensure drivers and logistics staff implement movement security operating standards.
Assist in the development of the country Security Management Plan and risk mitigation plans and practices.
Cooperate with the MC compliance and ethics teams to identify vulnerabilities, implement mitigation meassures and conduct investigations.
INFLUENCE AND REPRESENTATION
Represent Mercy Corps operations work in relevant external and coordination forums i-e, Logistics Cluster etc.
Identify, build and maintain an effective network of like-minded partners to improve the operation environment.
Interface with relevant government authorities responsible for international NGOs, working with the Country Director and Government Liaison Manager, as well as provincial operations and liaison staff.
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Lead the development of operations systems and procedures for MCA. Ensure that these policies are effective and efficient.
Work closely with Global Procurement and Logistics (GPL) HQ department to ensure alignment to agency rules, procedures, systems and regulations.
Ensure integration of program support systems and processes in all MCA offices.
Ensure all offices have capacity (human and technical) to support smooth program operations.
Ensure internal and donor procedures, policies and guidelines are followed.
Ensure unified and cost-effective fleet management, including tracking of maintenance, fuel usage and vehicle scheduling.
Ensure robust, best-practice asset management across the country program.
Establish and maintain pipeline of supplies, overseeing the logistical aspects of the operations; oversee NFIs, commodity storage and movement as needed.
Oversee set-up and development of Mercy Corps offices including drafting and reviewing contracts for office and housing space, leasehold improvements, IT.
Ensure that country and field office specific policies are up to date and communicate them to teams. Develop new policies and guidelines as needed.
Oversee database and file management for administration, procurement, and logistics documents.
Oversee facility management, including housing and office leases; ensure that high security standards are maintained at all premises.
Ensure that Mercy Corps contracts and business transactions/relationships are transparent and in compliance with local law and Mercy Corps/donor policies.
Work closely with program management to facilitate planning and upcoming procurement and logistics resources needs.
Support the CD to review the operational effectiveness and take necessary corrective measures to create or upgrade policies, systems, and capacities in support of anticipated portfolio growth.
TEAM MANAGEMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING
Train and coach the operations and other team members.
Build a cohesive team spirit and culture among the team and effectively delegate functions and responsibilities to them while ensuring performance.
Lead and develop program support teams in the main office and all field offices.
Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
Provide team members with information, tools, and other resources to improve performance and reach career and performance objectives.
Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
Take ultimate responsibility for performance and capacity building of the operations support function.
Serve as a cooperative member of the senior management team.
FINANCE AND COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT
Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps policies and regulations.
Input to project and country program budgets, ensuring adequate coverage for operations functions and services.
Draft and review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
Work closely with finance and compliance to mitigate fraud, conflict of interest, and legal ramifications of MC procurement activities.
Address any audit findings related to operational efficiency and compliance.
Work with finance and HQ departments one internal and external audits.
Supervisory Responsibility
Directly Supervising: Kabul operations team, Operations Technical Advisor; Field Coordinator, ICT Manager
Indirectly Supervising: Other operations team members in the field offices
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Country Director
Works Directly With: Country Senior Management Team**,** MCA department teams, HQ and Regional teams, HQ Global Procurement and Logistics (GPL), Internal Auditors, HQ Compliance and Ethics.
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 Qualifications & Transferable Skills
At least 8 years of Operations experience with international NGO, including at least five years in senior management position.
Demonstrated experience setting up and managing administration, procurement, logistics with NGOs or a business.
Demonstrated understanding of supporting complex operations and programs in challenging environments.
Demonstrated experience and passion to develop the capacity of team members.
Extensive experience developing systems, policies, and processes.
Demonstrated attention to detail, following procedures, meeting deadlines, and working and problem-solving independently and cooperatively.
Knowledge of USAID, State/PRM, European and other donor regulations required.
Excellent and demonstrated negotiation and representation skills.
Effective verbal and written communication, organizational, prioritization and Microsoft Office applications.
Excellent oral and written English skills required. Knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto is a distinct advantage.
Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
Success Factors
The Director will have high emotional intelligence; be an exceptional capacity builder; and a systems professional. A successful Director of Operations will be excellent at problem solving and have the ability to work out methods to deliver the operational needs of a growing portfolio implemented over diverse geographies in a very challenging context. The Director will provide excellent stewardship of donor funds and compliance with Mercy Corps and donor regulations. An impeccable professional standard and procurement ethics and the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential. S/he will maintain strong cooperative relationships with other departments and interact effectively with all personnel both in a managerial as well as training capacity, while demonstrating the ability to multitask, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. Able to maintain balance and good working relationships in periods of high stress and insecurity.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Kabul and requires up to 40% travel to field locations, including Herat, Kandahar and Mazar-i-Sharif. The location is unaccompanied and, while relatively safe there are significant safety and security risks. Housing is in shared accommodation with limited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. Staff will have access to health and utility services (hospitals, clinics, electricity, water, etc). This position requires frequent travel by road and air to field offices in less secure environments, where basic amenities are limited.
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. Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.
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 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.