Deputy Team Lead Job - Mercy Corps

Job Title: Deputy Team Lead

Organisation: Mercy Corps

Duty Station: Gulu, Uganda

Reports To: Team Leader

About US:

Mercy Corps is an international non-profit organization which implements high-quality, analytical development programmes in very difficult places. Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006. It has and continues to implement programs in Acholi and Karamoja sub regions. Mercy Corps is taking a community-led, market driven approach to address poverty and food insecurity needs through interventions that get to the root causes and contributing factors of economic vulnerability.

About Programme Summary:

The Climate Smart Jobs Programme (CSJP) is a £39 million four-year FCDO funded programme that seeks to grow climate smart agribusinesses to create jobs, support climate smart land management and services, as well as innovation on climate adaptation and mitigation, and remove barriers that stop businesses from getting deals done. Under Component (4) of the CSJP: Climate Smart Land Management Services, (worth approx. £8.5m) Mercy Corps will lead a consortium of partners to implement three overall outputs under the ‘REVIVE’ programme, focusing on stimulation of supply, demand, and a supportive enabling environment for improved ecosystem services across Northern Uganda.

Job Summary: Reporting to the REVIVE Team Leader, the Deputy Team Leader will support successful delivery of the REVIVE programme, supervise program staff, and coordinate the implementation of all program activities.The Deputy Team Lead will help to ensure interventions are on time, on scope and on budget. The Deputy Team Leader will promote a culture of constant program improvement, mentor the program officers and assistants, integrate the learning and research agenda into program activities and ensure the delivery of a high-quality program that delivers impact. S/he will also identify opportunities to operationalize recommendations from ongoing context analysis, monitoring and evaluation and research.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Management & Technical Oversight

Provide technical leadership and support to program staff on budget management, monitoring and reporting activities in line with Mercy Corps program management minimum standards and donor guidelines and regulations.
Provide technical feedback on monthly, quarterly narrative reports ensuring that established project objectives and targets are met.
Responsible for planning and oversight of program activities and outcomes
Oversee the implementation of technical approaches in climate smart agriculture, sustainable land management and services, economic development, climate financing, gender and social inclusion and new innovations.
Directly supervise the program team to ensure satisfactory completion of tasks and responsibilities at all times and identify training needs, in coordination with the Team Leader.
Ensure mainstreaming of age, gender & diversity during activity implementation to promote safe, dignified, and equitable access to resources and services for all.
Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with implementing partners, local governments, donors and other stakeholders to promote a positive profile of the program and good understanding among key stakeholders.
Represent Mercy Corps at relevant meetings and forums.

Documentation, Research and Learning, and Reporting

Oversee production of high-quality assessments and reports to be shared internally and externally, working closely with the programs team and MEL team.
Support the Research Manager and Communications Officer to develop and implement a research and learning agenda, integrating findings into program design and implementation and disseminating findings to contribute to sector-wide learning.
Develop and implement an advocacy and influencing agenda.
Prepare and submit timely reports and work plans that will be indicative of program progress during implementation.
Coordinate data gathering and management with program staff, working closely with the MEL team to measure output and impact of climate smart agriculture and land management activities.
Maintain a proper filing system of all activities implemented in the program following Mercy Corps standards and requirements.

Financial and compliance Management

Alongside the Team Leader, prepare monthly and quarterly expenditure forecasts and work plans for program activities to ensure that project remains on track against the forecasts and budget commitment tracker.
Work with the Team Leader to regularly monitor expenditure and support budget reviews and revision processes at team, partner and program level
Ensure the value for money propositions outlined in the proposal are met through effective mainstreaming of the relevant approach.
Ensure compliance by the program team with systems developed by the Team Leader to ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.

Program Support Operations:

Coordinate and with support of finance, operations and administration staff to ensure operational systems are in place to facilitate field activities including logistics (transport, warehousing and asset management), procurement, security, administration and human resources.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The ideal applicant must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Entrepreneurship, Economics or any other relevant fields.
At least four years mid-level work experience with NGOs with focus on market facilitation or private sector led approaches or interventions.
Experience working in large scale complex programs and challenging environments
Strong financial and risk management, ensuring value for money while also meeting Mercy Corps and donor requirements
History of working effectively and respectfully with government, private sector, INGO and NGO partners in complex environments.
Experience working for FCDO funded programmes is preferable
Strong interpersonal, writing and oral presentation skills in English is a requirement; knowledge of local languages (Acholi, Alur, Karamojong, Lango, Lugbara, Luo, Pokot) is an added advantage.
Strong leadership and proven team building experience is a must.
Willingness to spend much time in the field and work closely with program target groups.
Success Factors
The successful Deputy Team Leader candidate will demonstrate the capacity to lead a multi-dimensional effort in a complex and fluid security environment. S/he will employ excellent programme risk management, finance, value for money, monitoring, engagement, and learning capacity and skills.