Latest Job Vacancies at Mercy Corps Nigeria, 14th May, 2019

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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Program Officer: Policy/Advocacy

Reference Number: ABV/PRO/2019/0013
Location: Abuja, Nigeria (With an estimated 50% travel to other program locations)
Position Status: Full-time, Field-based, and Regular.

Program / Department Summary

• This is a five-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Community Initiative to Promote Peace (CIPP)
• The CIPP program aims to strengthen conflict prevention, mediation and early warning by facilitating community-led analysis and action to prevent, manage, and mitigate conflict and violent extremism
• The program will work in twenty-four (24) high-risk local government areas in Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi and Plateau states.

General Position Summary

• Based in Abuja office and reporting to the CoP, the Program Officer-Policy & Advocacy will play a supporting role to the program team in development and implementation of strategies to support CIPP decision making and advocacy efforts
• S/he will enhance the effectiveness of the program’s  advocacy efforts and help manage risk and reputation by developing an integrated approach to engaging key actors in government and other stakeholders (private sector, developmental agencies, communities), including CIPP implementing partners to advance CIPP’s support for the Government of Nigeria’s Peace agenda.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Develop and implement advocacy strategies and corresponding work plans to achieve CIPP-anticipated policy change at the state and federal levels in Nigeria.
• Develop supporting documentation (agenda, talking points, presentations, agreements, and meeting notes) for convening CIPP team led events.
• Engage policy makers directly to advance the case for peace, as well as specific issues important to Mercy Corps.
• Support, develop, and maintain relationships with local actors including the private sector, development partners and other institutions to achieve the desired impact of CIPP.
• Communicate and interact effectively with individuals across all political parties and stakeholders in Nigeria.
• Develop and maintain partnerships and networks with key Mercy Corps and policy development stakeholders in Nigeria, including key government ministries, LGAs, multi-lateral organizations, private-sector institutions, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), professional associations, and educational and research institutions.
• Organize coalition-building meetings and events, maintaining regular communication with members, representing Mercy Corps and CIPP program externally as may be appropriate.
• Gather evidence to support the development of advocacy documents and presentations, including policy memos, briefs, and fact sheets for both internal and external purposes.
• Work in consultation with communication colleagues to document and translate CIPP’s program implementation experiences for policymakers and advocacy partners.
• Provide technical assistance to CSO partners, and other organizations on the development and implementation of effective advocacy strategies/initiatives or approaches on key CIPP areas of interest and programmatic issues.
• Contribute to the development, documentation, and dissemination of cross-program lessons learned, best practices, and experience.
• Represent CIPP in national meetings and events, and on relevant policy and advocacy forums, coalitions and working groups, as necessary.
• Develop and ensure timely submission of project reports and other deliverables as may be directed by the chief of party from time to time.

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.

Accountability:

• Reports Directly To: The Chief of Party
• Works Directly With: MEL manager, DCOP, Operations, Finance, Compliance, and country level Technical Support Units.

Knowledge and Experience

• Advanced Degree in Public Policy, Peace and Conflict Management or related field required.
• 4+ years of relevant experience with a preference for data policy and advocacy experience.
• Deep knowledge of issue advocacy and policy.
• Strong understanding of policy at the federal and state level.
• Deep understanding of how Development (in particular data) policies at the federal, as well as state level are formulated, enacted and implemented.
• Familiarity with data privacy and security issues in peacebuilding and other sectors.
• Ability to leverage and build advocacy partners to meet policy goals.
• Ability to work across teams in a highly matrixed environment.
• Shown ability to lead and influence others in a constructive manner and to build and sustain collaborative relationships internally and externally.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to effectively synthesize information to reach diverse audiences and build consensus.
• Strong quantitative analytic skills.

Success Factors

• The successful Sr. Program Officer will skillfully lead the implementation of CIPP activities within time, scope and budget and provide effective leadership to program officers and Assistants
• S/he will have high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with peacebuilding conflict Transformation and will be committed to 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 position is based in Abuja and it requires up to 50% travel to field offices.

 

Job Title: Project Communication Officer

Reference Number: ABV/PRO/2019/0012
Location: Abuja, Nigeria (With an estimated 40% travel to other program locations)
Position Status: Full-time, Field-based, and Regular.

Program / Department Summary

• This is a five-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Community Initiative to Promote Peace (CIPP).
• The CIPP program aims to strengthen conflict prevention, mediation and early warning by facilitating community-led analysis and action to prevent, manage, and mitigate conflict and violent extremism.
• The program will work in twenty-four (24) high-risk local government areas in Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi and Plateau states.

General Position Summary

• The Project Communications Officer will be responsible for raising awareness about CIPP-related activities among the government and the Nigerian public at large. S/he will be responsible for engaging counterpart organizations and also work with the affiliated Ministries and LGAs to implement CIPP project activities and record their outcomes.
• An important role of the Project Communications Officer is to produce press releases, and maintain a vibrant and engaged social media platforms. The Project Communications Officer will report to the Chief of Party.
• The position is based in Abuja and it requires up to (40 %) travel to Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi and Plateau states.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Oversee the project Communications strategy and activities related to project outreach;
• As directed by the COP, provide quality control on all reports, publicity materials, and other documents generated from the program with particular emphasis on those for submission to USAID;
• Collect content for weekly, monthly and quarterly status reports;
• Draft weekly status reports for submission to USAID and other stakeholders;
• Attend meetings with project partners on an ad hoc basis regarding communications, outreach, PR, and media-related issues, program deliverables and reports, and USAID branding and marking guidelines;
• Assist with planning, logistics and attend project events as requested by the COP, provide technical editing and formatting assistance with program deliverables and reports;
• Manage consultant labor with regards to desktop publishing, graphic design, and technical writing/editing;
• Work closely with COP on tracking reports and deliverables as related to the monitoring and evaluation and program management plan;
• Assist technical staff with public outreach/awareness campaigns;
• Work with project partner organizations to assist them in developing and implementing communications strategies;
• Together with the policy and advocacy officer, work with project partner organizations to assist them in engaging in public advocacy/public relations campaigns to raise public awareness;
• Daily monitoring of state and federal level newspaper articles and other periodicals, including broadcast media for material substantively affecting the work of CIPP;
• Organize and coordinate with local vendors to host CIPP gatherings and public events;
• Show a willingness to perform other duties as assigned by the Chief of Party.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• Reports Directly To: Chief of Party
• Works Directly With: DCOP, Program officers, finance and operations and security and safety teams.

Knowledge and Experience

• At least 3 years of relevant, professional experience in roles with increasing levels of responsibility required, Five+ years preferred;
• Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, Communications, Publishing or similar area required; Master’s Degree preferred;
• Strong communication skills in English, both written and oral.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe applications;
• Working knowledge of USAID policies, rules and regulations preferred;
• Previous project work experience in the Middle Belt preferred;
• Team player, with excellent organizational, training design and delivery, time management.

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 Nigeria.  He/She will be an excellent communicator, writer, 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.
• Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/STA 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.

 

Job Title: Program Assistant

Reference Number: ABV/PRO/2019/0011
Location: Abuja, Nigeria (With 20% travel to other program locations)
Position Status: Full-time, Field-based, and Regular.

Program / Department Summary

• This is a five-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Community Initiative to Promote Peace (CIPP).
• The CIPP program aims to strengthen conflict prevention, mediation and early warning by facilitating community-led analysis and action to prevent, manage, and mitigate conflict and violent extremism.
• The program will work in twenty-four (24) high-risk local government areas in Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi and Plateau states.

General Position Summary

• Under the supervision of the Program Officer, the Program Assistant is responsible for making sure that all systems are in order for workshops, team travel and program diary.
• In addition, the Program Assistant helps to develop materials, translate documents, and organize the program files, including updating the program Management and Mercy Corps (PM@MC) file on a regular basis.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Program Management:

• Collaborate with the procurement staff on collecting invoices and finishing the procurement process to purchase materials for CIPP.
• Assist with planning travel and workshops and other program events.
• Assist groups in case they have problems that hinder the project in the field.
• Remain flexible and willing to handle unforeseen circumstances.
• Write minutes of CIPP and working group meetings.
• Send, receive, and dispatch information to the field. Follow-up on difficult to reach sites in order to ensure that every correspondence makes it to the proper destination. Always double-check that correspondence has arrived in the hands of the proper person.
• Assist in facilitating field visits for Mercy Corps staff and coordination of USAID field visits.
• 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.

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.

Accountability:

• Reports Directly To: Program Officer
• Works Directly With: Sr. Program Officers, Program Officers, MEL team, DCOP, COP, finance, procurement, Admin and security teams.

Knowledge and Experience

• Willingness to engage in problem-solving and troubleshooting.
• Advanced degree in English or the Social Sciences
• Excellent computer skills, including with graphics, and expertise in PowerPoint, Explorer, PhotoShop and digital camera technology, Excel and Outlook Express.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Willingness to interact effectively with international and national personnel.
• Ability to perform several activities simultaneously, while maintaining a controlled presence.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong team player.

Success Factors:

• The Program Assistant will be a smooth operator with strong communication and organizational skills. S/he will have strong interpersonal skills, and ability to move teams and issues at short notice.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions:

• The position is based in Abuja and it requires up to 20% travel to field offices.

Deadline: 19th May, 2019.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and Cover Letters in one document, addressing the position requirements, reference number and location to: ng-recruitment.nigeria@mercycorps.org

Note

• All applications must include the position title and reference number in the subject line
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview
• We are an equal opportunity organization so women are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.