PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps Nepal, as the prime organization, is implementing a five year program – “Promoting Agriculture, Health and Alternative Livelihood” (PAHAL) program, funded by USAID. PAHAL seeks to strengthen livelihoods, improve nutritional status and increase the capacity of vulnerable households to mitigate, adapt to and recover from shocks and stresses in communities with deep poverty and high rates of malnutrition in critical zones of the Mid-Western and Far-Western Regions of Nepal. The goal of the PAHAL program is: Vulnerable populations in the middle and high hills of Far Western and Mid-Western Nepal are food secure. The target area of the program covers 14 districts in the Mid-West and Far-West regions of Nepal. The Mid-West region comprises of 7 districts; Surkhet, Dailekh, Pyuthan, Rolpa, Rukum, Salyan and Jajarkot while the Far-West region comprises of Dadeldhura, Doti, Accham, Baitadi, Bajhang, Bajura and Darchula districts.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP) will work directly with the Chief of Party (CoP) to help provide the overall leadership, management and strategic vision to the implementation of a five-year, multi-million dollar USAID/Food for Peace and USAID Nepal-funded Development Food Assistance Program (DFAP), tentatively titled by USAID as the "Community Resilience Program," actively working in 14 districts across the Far- and Mid-West development regions of Nepal. The DCoP will provide the CoP advice, context, support and backstopping to ensure the program best helps meet the real, dynamic and complex needs of the people in the program implementation area. S/he will directly manage program and technical staff and resources related to the program to ensure that the program meets its targets and deliverables on-time, on scope, and within budget. . S/he will be expected to drive an innovative, integrated technical approach to program implementation that focuses on long-term change and sustained impact. The DCoP will also serve as the government liaison.  S/he will be responsible for supervising program staff and ensuring accountability to Mercy Corps' policies and donor rules and regulations. S/he will be the primary program representative to relevant government entities and local stakeholders, while assisting the CoP in representing the program and Mercy Corps with partners, other implementers and external stakeholders.

As gender and social inclusion (GESI), governance and M&E are cross-cutting and core components of the PAHAL program, the DcoP is required to own these components and ensure GESI sensitivity and integration, governance practices and M&E systems are integrated into his/her work area.

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Chief of Party

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Resilience Director, Chief of Party, M&E Manager, Finance & Compliance Manager, Sub-Award & Compliance Manager, Operations Manager, HR Team, Program Component Managers and, Mercy Corps Global Technical Support Unit (TSU) team members

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Chief of Party PAHAL, Position Description; National Staff Policy Handbook; Code of conduct and Mercy Corps policy and procedures. 

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in international development, management, economic development or other relevant field.
  
• At least 15 years of relevant professional experience with positions of progressively greater responsibilities.
  
• At least 10 years of experience in a senior management role on USAID or similarly funded large development project with experience in program management related to multi-sectorial program activities strongly required.
  
• Previous overseas experience on USAID or similarly funded large development projects
  
• Strong knowledge of integrated programs and resilience concepts. Resilience programming experience preferred.
  
• Technical capacity in at least two, and ideally more, of PAHAL's target sectors i.e. resilience, food security, alternative livelihoods, agriculture, nutrition, maternal & child health, water, sanitation and hygiene, adaptation to climate change and disaster risk reduction required.
  
• Demonstrated experience working with country-level ministries and government officials, Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Federal Affairs and Local Development and/or Home Affairs experience is preferred.
  
• Experience coordinating with private sector actors to leverage investment and increase scale of activities.
  
• Excellent spoken and written English and Nepali language skills and ability to interact effectively with international and national staff.
  
• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.
  
• Self-initiator and ability to work independently on several tasks with minimal supervision
  
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to multi-task and process information into action as to not delay program activities
  
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
  
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment
  
• Willingness to travel domestically across PAHAL districts as needed.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful Deputy Chief of Party will combine exceptional management skills and experience in building and maintaining donor and partner relationships. S/he will have an ability to think creatively about improving food security, community development and resilience. The DCoP will have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail as well as strategic vision are essential. 

The most successful Mercy Corps team 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. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of 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.