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. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long-term impact.

Mercy Corps has operated in Sudan since 2004, and currently has a country office in Port Sudan and field offices in South Darfur, Central Darfur, South Kordofan, North Kordofan, Kassala, River Nile, Northern and Gedaref states. Mercy Corps’ current areas of programming include food security and livelihoods, WASH, health, nutrition, resilience, and market systems development.

The Chief of Party (COP) will provide overall leadership, management, and strategic vision to the implementation of the Transforming Agrifood and Nutrition through Multisectoral Inclusive Approaches (TANMIA)program, to ensure that the program meets its targets and deliverables on-time and within budget. The COP will supervise program staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps’ policies and donor rules and regulations. They will be the primary program representative to donors, relevant government entities, partners, other implementers and stakeholders.

• Oversee program start-up, management and administration. Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.

• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.

• Confirm program participantsare effectively targeted according to transparent criteria.

• Develop partnership frameworks, partner agreements/Memorandum of Understandings, and oversee partner capacity building.

• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate. Certify all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

• Ensure program strategies and activities represent global good practice in relevant technical areas.

• Supervise and/or review the work of program consultants.

• Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, administration, and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.

• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.

• Provide effective management for the program management team and consortium team members, ensuring that all staff and consortium members are clear on roles and responsibilities, expectations, communications flows and workplans.

• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.

• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

• Actively hire, orient and lead team members as necessary, ensuring effective onboarding mechanisms are in place across the team. Actively support succession planning.

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps’ regulations.

• Create and maintain systems to ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with program, donor and Mercy Corps’ needs.

• Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events, in close coordination with the Country Director.

• Coordinate activities with consortium partners, subgrantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.

• Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.

• Ensure that programs are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

• MA/S or equivalent in social science, management, international development, or other relevant field.

• A minimum of 7 years of relevant international development or humanitarian experience, with positions of progressively greater responsibilities.

• At least five years in a senior management role is required with experience managing integrated, multi-sectoral programs of a similar size and scope. Previous experience as a Chief of Party for projects with similar magnitude and complexity is highly desired.

• Demonstrated technical expertise in market systems development, agriculture, food and nutrition security, and resilience.

• Prior experience with the implementation of USAID awards, leading a consortium, and familiarity with donor regulations, procedures and compliance issues.

• Strong skills and a track record in strategic visioning, leadership, and inspiring teams.

• Effective personnel management, coordination, and decision-making skills, with proven ability to be accountable for all components of the program.

• Competent in building networks, strongproblem-solving skills, and ability to influence with effective listening, persuasion, negotiation and other techniques.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.

• Experience working in sub-Saharan Africa is required, with preference for experience in Sudan or the region.

• Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.

• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

The position is based in Port Sudan, Sudan and is an unaccompanied post. The role requires up to 35% travel to support the program, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.

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

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 world’s 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.

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.

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.