Regional Field Coordinator

Job Description

BACKGROUND:
Mercy Corps is an international, non‐governmental humanitarian relief and development agency that exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. Mercy Corps works in more than 40 countries, and has been present in Nepal since 2005. In Nepal, Mercy Corps works to build the absorptive, adaptive, and transformative potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across the country. Through a systems‐based approach to market development, financial services access, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and youth engagement, Mercy Corps builds resilience among target communities.

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps Nepal as the prime organization has been implementing a five year program  ‐  “Promoting Agriculture, Health and Alternative Livelihood” (PAHAL) 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 Regional Field Coordinator will be a key position in the multi‐million dollar, 5‐year USAID/Food for Peace and USAID/Nepal‐funded Development Food Assistance Program (DFAP) funded, Promoting Agriculture, Health and Alternative Livelihood” (PAHAL) Program actively working in 14 districts across the Far‐  and Mid‐West development regions of Nepal.    As part of the region‐based program team, the Regional Field Coordinator will work directly with the Chief of Party (COP), Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), Resilience Program Coordinator and with the support of the Kathmandu‐based Technical Support Unit (TSU) on the implementation.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Regional Field Coordinator will be directly responsible for providing overall coordination, representation, facilitation and oversight of all district offices in the region. S/He will ensure close coordination and smooth working of the region‐based TSU team members from Mercy Corps and its international and local partners, so that work plans are appropriately sequenced and consolidated to achieve maximum efficiency, logistical arrangements are in place, and team members follow established Mercy Corps procedures and policies. S/He will coordinate with technical support unit in backstopping to both partners and program team members in the implementation and monitoring of their activities. In the process, s/he will be required to work closely with the DCOP and Kathmandu‐based TSU to plan resources and their mobilization for field interventions both in terms of project staff and financial resources. S/He will lead in the planning and coordination of all field level activities in consultation with the PAHAL Senior management.

The Regional Field Coordinator will also be responsible for providing technical inputs in communication materials and assist in the overall coordination and facilitation of program implementation. The Regional Field Coordinator, with assistance from the program team, will map all appropriate coordination mechanisms for the districts in target districts (government, donor, related programs, etc.) either attending or ensuring appropriate technical person(s) represents the program and/or Mercy Corps at regional level. The Regional Field Coordinator is also the government‐ and donor‐facing representative of the program and Mercy Corps in the program implementation area and, as such, is expected to establish and maintain cordial, professional and productive relationships with all appropriate and relevant government, donor, LNGO/INGO, civil society and private sector stakeholders as needed. As Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) is cross‐cutting and core component for the PAHAL program; all personnel are required to own this and ensure GESI sensitivity and integration to their respective areas of responsibilities.  

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Program Operations

• Lead and Coordinate with District Coordinators/ Component Managers/Resilience Program Coordinator and Program Team for all field activities in the region.
• Liaise with and represent PAHAL at the region, to the district and local government officials, civil society/community leaders, political parties and other key stakeholders.  
• Represent PAHAL Program and Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field, in close coordination with the Resilience Program Coordinator and Country Director.  
• Ensure close coordination and information sharing with consortium partners, sub‐grantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.  
• Establish and maintain professional and productive relationships with communities and local government.  

POSITION DESCRIPTION

• Serve as key focal point for problem solving at regional and district levels as required and seek support from Resilience Program Coordinator as required.
• Work closely with representatives of Consortium and Local partners at the regional and district level.
• Receive regular updates of program activities from the District Coordinators and ensure activities are on schedule and following contingency plans‐ as outlined by the PAHAL Senior Management Team.
• Advice Resilience Program Coordinator on the government policies and procedures, taxation and on  interaction with the district level government agencies;
• Coordinate with the Resilience Program Coordinator and respond to any help or support required from the District Coordinator in implementation of the program
• Establish good coordination with government and non‐government stakeholders to prevent duplication of actions.  
• Coordinate and facilitate district/regional level events related to studies/assessments, workshops, training and orientation programs and formal/informal interactions with program beneficiaries, partners and stakeholders.
• Facilitate monitoring of field level project activities to be on time, target and budget, and propose recommendations for improvements.
• Utilize personal knowledge, connections and skills to build sustainable and productive relationships with and between diverse key stakeholders from the public, private and civic sectors.
• Coordinate closely with Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning focal points to generate and collect required information and data in the process of measuring results.  
• Follow reporting requirements and report to the supervisor through appropriate means as required.
• Participate in team events as and when required.
• Facilitate the achievement by the TSUs and partner team members of performance‐based targets and outcomes and lead efforts to design effective, proactive, and iterative M&E systems following the program’s logical framework and results chain measurement.
• Work with TSU and program staff to help document achievements/impact of innovative program components of the program.  
• Ensure that M&E and all team members’ together focus on assisting the program to generate practical information that can be used for ongoing program analysis and decision‐making while also capturing results at the impact level.

Others

• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner so as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its mission.
• Ensure proper integration of GESI aspects into sector specific program planning and implementation working closely with GESI officers.  
• Any other tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING:

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of ourunderstanding 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 towards 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.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

All program and operations staff and the District Coordinators under the regional office  

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:  Resilience Program Coordinator  
 

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Resilience Program Coordinator, PAHAL Senior Management, TMG members, Local NGO, M&E Officer and local stakeholders.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:  

• Master’s degree in General Administration, Business/Development Studies, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, or related discipline.  
• At least 5 years of working experience in project implementation or management in any two of thematic areas: Disaster Risk Reduction/ Climate Change Adaption sector, Financial Services, Technical Education and Vocational Training.
• Experience in office management and coordination of project or program activities will be an advantage.
• Work experience in the Far‐ or Mid‐Western region and with multi‐disciplinary team is an advantage.  
• Demonstrated ability to work in complex environments under tight deadlines. Previous experience is highly preferred.  
• Experience working with multi‐disciplinary technical specialists.   
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple activities.   
• Strong organizational and logistical skills with demonstrated experience in strategic planning and ability to work independently are required.  
• Good writing and computer skills, including preliminary research and information gathering from the internet, MS Word, Excel and Power Point preparation is required.  
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Nepali required. Knowledge of local language is an advantage.  
• Negotiation, networking, coordination and representation skills with key local actors.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Previous experience working on USAID funded programs and or familiarity with USAID rules and
• regulations, strongly preferred.

SUCCESS FACTORS:
The successful Regional Field Coordinator will combine exceptional management skills and experience in building and maintaining government, community and partner relationships. S/he will have an ability to think creatively about improving food security, community development and resilience. The Coordinator will have proven experience with diverse teams and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. S/he must be sensitive to political and cultural nuance and able to consistently apply excellent judgment to a variety of demanding and fast‐changing situations. Multi‐tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail as well as strategic vision are essential. 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. 

Apply Instructions

Interested candidates are requested to submit cover letter and Mercy Corps Application Form available at http://nepal.mercycorps.org by COB November 13, 2016 to the address below:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further selection process. Telephone enquiries will not be entertained.
Attn: Human Resources Department
[Please mention the title of the Position and location on the subject line of the e‐mail while applying]
Email to: np‐jobs@mercycorps.org

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