Mercy Corps works amid disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to unleash the potential of people who can win against impossible odds. Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided $1 billion in assistance to people in 82 nations.
Supported by headquarters offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, the agency’s unified global programs employ 3,500 staff worldwide and reach 9 million people in more than 40 countries.
Over the last five years, more than 90 percent of the agency’s resources have been allocated directly to programs that help people in need.
Mercy Corps is implementing a 3-year program under USAID’s Yes Youth Can (YYC) initiative
This initiative aims to empower Kenyan youth to strengthen their socio-economic and political stakes through youth-led, owned and managed initiatives and institutions.
It covers six provinces in Kenya: Central, Coast, Nairobi, Nyanza, Rift Valley and Western. In all six regions, Mercy Corps runs the Yes Youth Can! National (YYCN) program, working in close collaboration with the YYC Regional partners.
YYCN’s activities include: supporting the National Youth Bunge Association (NYBA); disbursing small grants to Village Youth Bunges for economic or community development; supporting county-level youth SACCOs; and establishing a youth policy Think Tank.
Mercy Corp is seeking to recruit a Program Manager Grants reporting to the Chief of Party.
The position is based in Nairobi with 30-40% travel to project sites throughout the country and is on a one year contract.
General Position Summary
The Program Manager Grants oversees the YYCN grants program and supervises regional teams in Kisumu, Kakamega,
Eldoret, Thika, Mombasa and Nairobi.
The role involves supervision and accountability of the grants program activities in all six regions and collaboration with other YYCN program managers to ensure that their field level activities are coordinated effectively.
The level of oversight will require travelling to field sites, representing the program, and coordinating with project partners and external stakeholders.
The Program Manager also works closely with other senior YYCN staff to set priorities and coordinate activities across the regions supervising six regional managers.
Essential Job Functions
- Manage all aspects of the YYCN small grants program including coordinating roll-out of grant materials across 25 counties and training review committees to assess grant applications
- Re-design processes for youth-led application review, grant agreement signing, disbursement, and monitoring.
- Work with the Finance team and Digital Innovations team to ensure systems comply with all legal and donor requirements and manage back end data respectively promoting data integrity and efficient operations.
- Integrate environmental compliance into small grants, including preparation of environmental approval submissions for donor.
- Ensure that field staff are familiar with grants management procedures.
- Report to the COP and other stakeholders on program’s status.
- Foster a “learning culture” within the small grants program, iteratively incorporating lessons throughout the program’s duration.
- Supervise YYCN field teams in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating YYCN grants management activities in Coast, Central, Nairobi, Nyanza, Rift Valley, and Western.
- Coordinate with other YYCN Program managers to ensure that their field level activities are well coordinated with priorities of the field teams and the regional YYCR programs.
- Promote collaboration between YYCN Regional Managers and YYC regional partners through regular communication, coordination meetings, and joint planning.
- Represent YYCN to a wide range of internal and external project stakeholders at the regional level, including youth, donor and government representatives.
- Respond to sudden programmatic needs at the national or field level.
- Contribute to the strategic direction and planning on all aspects of YYCN through participation in program and partner meetings.
- Provide mentorship and capacity building to field staff (including Regional Managers as well as their direct reports) by identifying skills gaps, organizing trainings, and giving on-the-ground feedback.
- Report regularly to COP on program activities and outputs.
- Conduct himself/herself in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Masters or equivalent in community development, management, or related field.
- At least five years’ experience in managing small grants programs.
- Proven leadership, management, project planning, and organizational skills.
- Experience in managing staff and budgets.
- Experience in youth development programs in Kenya.
- Knowledge of USAID regulations.
- Strong communication, interpersonal, and partnership building skills.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
- Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly excel.
Staff 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.
To Apply:
Interested candidates who meet the requirements of the above position should submit an application including a cover letter, detailed CV listing three professional references, including your current/latest supervisor, and/or expected remuneration by 4.00p.m 27th February, 2013 to Hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org.
Your email should bear the title “Program Manager Grants”.
Applications without this subject heading will be disqualified.
Please do not attach any certificates.
We regret that only short-listed candidates will be contacted
You are invited to read more about MercyCorps in our website www.mercycorps.org.
