TEAM LEAD, Livelihood Improvement for Women and Youth (LI-WAY)

About Mercy Corps

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.

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. With the launch of Mercy Corps Global Strategy, Pathway to Possibility, the country office is poised to operationalize its three-year strategy with a vision to enhance the resilience of climate- and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. In Ethiopia, our strategy focuses in the four outcome areas: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently, we operate in six regional states Afar, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and South Ethiopia. Working with a diverse base of donors that includes United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations, Mercy Corps Ethiopia empowers people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good.

Position Title: TEAM LEAD, Livelihood Improvement for Women and Youth (LI-WAY)

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Open Position: 1

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps is one of four partners in a five-year program, entitled Livelihoods Improvement for Women and Youth in Addis Ababa (LI-WAY), led by SNV Netherlands Development Organization and funded by the Swedish International Development Organization (Sida). LI-WAY utilizes a making Markets work for the Poor (M4P) approach to contribute to sustainable poverty reduction and social stability for 200,000 women and youth in Addis Ababa. The consortium additionally comprises Technoserve and Save the Children. The program aims to improve market functions, improve support-service effectiveness, and improve the business environment. MC is leading the Labor Market Sector and all activities related to Labor market information focusing on Exchange infrastructure, Trust and risk, Childcare Service. LI-WAY started implementation in June 2017.

General Position Summary

The Team Lead for Labor Market System is responsible for overall management and implementation of MCs thematic areas of Labor Market sector and overall market systems development in the priority sectors, including any upcoming additional funds (and corresponding staffs) in line with the program approach and priorities. The Team Lead will ensure harmonization between this work and that of other partners within the overall approach and direction of the LI-WAY program, and the strategy of Mercy Corps Ethiopia. He/she is responsible for providing strategic and technical guidance, providing guidance on program planning and implementation using Market Systems Development Approach, ensuring effective implementation of all activities and being proactive to address challenges, monitor and analyze the program environment and progress, applicable monitoring and evaluation and risk management tools and advice on timely adjustments using adaptive management strategies and corrective measures as necessary.

The TEAM LEAD is responsible for the strategic planning and overall management of the program and reports to the Director of Inclusive Economic Growth.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy and Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.
• Lead regular sector and program strategy review process in collaboration with senior management of the consortium partners as well as with internal/ external technical consultants.

Coordination and Collaboration

• Builds strategic partnership with stakeholders and partners to advocate, promote and advance organizational issues, priorities, interests and competencies for a successful program and program delivery.
• Coordinate and collaborate with clients, partners, and stakeholders to link and harmonize approaches and to promote common interests and achievement of results.
• Provide direction and guidance to Li-WAY program team(s)/responsible parties on Market systems development approach, innovative labor market and related solutions, targeting women and youth job seekers.
• Advise the Country Offices on new proposal development which have components Labor Market, Skills development Market, Micro, Small, Medium and Large Enterprise systems,
• Enhance and maintain donor relationship and ensure timely reporting on the agreed deliverables

Program Management

• Establish the work plan, activities, targets, budget, standards for measuring progress and results and determine the processes, tools, and methodologies to be used to ensure effective and efficient program implementation and operations.
• Oversee partnership formation and co-creation processes for each pipeline intervention including MOUs & contracts and ongoing program management and administration of team
• Ensure gender integration and mainstreaming are incorporated into mission level strategic and annual planning efforts.
• Closely work with the MEL team to integrate gender in the program M&E system.
• Monitor progress and identify risks for timely action and early resolution.
• Advise Mercy Corps senior management and senior national government officials on the direction, strategies and technical issues of the program and lead discussion on innovative solutions.
• Responsible for the full compliance with Mercy Corps rules and regulations and policies on financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and follow-up on audit recommendations.
• Responsible for timely donor and government reporting and any other additional reporting required.
• Responsible for financial management of the program and financial reporting.
• Actively support knowledge building, sharing, and applying in the program.
• Closely engage with wide range of public and private actors like businesses or financial service providers (Digital service providers, start-up Businesses, Labor associations, Training institutions, Addis Ababa City Mayor offices and relevant city level bureaus ) in establishing partnership and managing relationship on regular basis

Leadership and Team management

• Ability to plan own work, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines.
• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Work closely with team members and partners, to support capacity-building and gender integration into the programs.
• Very good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations.
• Very strong leadership capacities to guide a multicultural team in difficult circumstances.
• Lead the identification of program issues, challenges and risks, appropriate recommendations and implement them.
• Mentor and coach team members as they perform their duties.

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.

Supervisory Responsibility

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: I) Director of Inclusive Economic Growth (Line Manager)

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Li-WAY Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, LIWAY program manager/s, Li-WAY core technical team, MC Regional Finance coordinator, MC HQ program officer/s, Mercy Corps senior leadership team members

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 programs.

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.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA degree in Business, Business Administration, Economics, finance and development, agricultural economics, Business Management or related social science fields.
• At least 8 years of work experience, preferably in MSD programs, especially output and input services, urban/Rural labor market, business development services, technical skills training, agricultural/non- agricultural value chains, inclusive financial services, product & strategy development.
• Managerial and supervisory experience and demonstrated partnership management skills are preferred.
• Previous work experience in the private sector, including financial sector, and international development organization is an advantage.
• Understanding of Markets Systems Development Approach (MSD) approach is needed.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to Mercy Corps project sites and field locations, including traveling to insecure environments, is required.

Success Factors

A successful TEAM LEAD will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles, follow procedures, communicate timely and responsibly with donors and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, work within a complex security and political situation and to follow strict security protocols. A willingness to relocate for short-term as necessary within coverage regions, based on programmatic needs, work independently and as part of a team are essential Computer literate especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Skills like Safety Management, Problem Solving, Dealing with Complexity, Analyzing Information

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), and it requires up to 40% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.

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 worlds 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.