NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE POSITION
Under the guidance of the Regional Director in Nairobi, the Program Development Coordinator will be responsible for all aspects of program development and quality assurance of programming in Somalia and Kenya. The main purpose of the position is to coordinate proposals, mobilize resources and ensure timely and quality reporting, as well as to build systems that facilitate and automate the processes behind program development and quality assurance. 70% of time for this position will be dedicated to mobilization of resources and 30% will be dedicated to quality assurance and reporting.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Program & Proposal Development and Representation:
Pursue new and routine resource mobilization opportunities for Mercy-USA
Anticipate and assist in concept identification and development, and mobilize and lead proposal development teams
Stay updated on donor priorities and calls for proposals, and advise the Regional Director on potential fund development opportunities
Review and reconcile budgets, outputs and proposal narratives prior to submission
Work closely with Finance, Logistics and Procurement and M&E departments in developing specific grant budgets and M&E plans
Research and monitor donor strategies and regulatory information, and advice on emerging trends that could affect the programs.
Establish and strengthen networks and build collaborative relationships with NGOs and donors
Represent Mercy-USA at relevant external stakeholder meetings and take initiative to set up bilateral meetings with potential partners
Program Quality & Donor Compliance
Contribute to continuously improving internal grant management systems
Maintain an updated database on the status of grant writing and provide regular status update reports to Regional Director
Maintain program files and ensure copies of concept notes, proposals, contracts and reports are correctly filed
Develop and maintain overview of all grants, donor requirements, rules and regulations, and internal and external deadlines
Ensure that all program and support department staff are aware of requirements and conditions of grant agreements, including by providing a help-desk on donor related rules and regulations and delivering trainings
Document, analyze, and share lessons learned from proposal writing, reporting and donor compliance processes
Continuously apply learning, innovations and best practices from project evaluations, field visit reports and project reports (both internal and external, including other NGO and donors) to new proposals
Ensure key controls are in place for effective management of funding portfolio and donor compliance
Reporting
Ensure timely preparation, review and provision of detailed and quality reports on program progress to donors
Ensure success stories are systematically shared by the communications department and incorporated into donor reports
Support monitoring and assist program teams with implementation or donor compliance challenges
Facilitate information sharing and reporting with internal and external audiences
JOB SPECIFICATION
QUALIFICATIONS
ESSENTIAL
DESIRED
Academic
Master’s Degree in Development studies or related field in Social sciences (or, in lieu of a Master’s Degree: Undergraduate degree with minimum 5 years program development work experience)
Professional qualification will be an added advantage
Experience
At least 3 years of program development experience in a similar position for a humanitarian or development organization
Prior fundraising and proposal writing experience with international organizations and experience with humanitarian and development donor requirements (including Somalia donors, such as USAID/OFDA, DFID, UNICEF, WFP, Global Fund, SHF, UNFPA, EAC)
Knowledge of the operational context and socio-political dynamics of Somalia and/or Kenya
Prior humanitarian or development experience in East Africa
Work related skills
Strong coordination and interpersonal skills
Strong analytical skills (data and financial)
Native or full professional proficiency (written, oral and comprehension) in English, and experience in technical proposal writing and reporting
Excellent computer skills (including Outlook, Word, Excel)
Proven experience in networking with donors and partners to mobilize resources
Demonstrated ability to mobilize and coordinate proposal writing teams to meet tight deadlines
Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with partners
Excellent planning and organization skills, self-motivated and able to work under minimal supervision
Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and manage multiple tasks
Personal attributes
Accountability – takes responsibility for action and manages constructive criticisms
Continuous Learning – promotes continuous learning for self and others
Communication – listens and communicates clearly and adapts to the audience
Creativity and Initiative – actively seeks new ways of improving programs
Leadership and Negotiation – develops effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders
Confidentiality—upholds confidentiality for sensitive information
Reliability—be there for colleagues when they need support
Professionalism—respect for others, sensitive to diversity and communicate to others respectfully
Performance Management – identify ways and implement actions to improve performance of self and others
Planning and Organizing – plans work, anticipates risks, and sets goals within area of responsibility
Teamwork – contributes to a collegial team environment; incorporates gender related needs, perspectives, concerns and promotes equal gender participation.
Resource Mobilization – works with internal and external stakeholders to meet resource needs of Mercy-USA
Multi-tasking—ability to mediate in high-pressure scenarios with competing interests
