Deputy Consortium Director

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Position Title: Deputy Consortium Director
Location: Kabul
Country: Afghanistan
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization founded on the belief that a better world is possible. Established in 1986, Mercy Corps operates in more than 40 countries worldwide, collaborating to implement bold solutions that help communities overcome adversity and build resilience. The organization focuses on enhancing resilience, which involves strengthening the capacities of individuals, markets, and institutions to handle shocks and stresses, thereby improving overall well-being. Mercy Corps Afghanistan has been instrumental in supporting communities to recover from crises and build resilience against future shocks, particularly for marginalized populations. Their objectives include providing immediate nutrition" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food and nutrition assistance, enhancing crisis preparedness, and promoting sustainable change through community-led initiatives.

Job Overview:
The Deputy Consortium Director will play a crucial role in the technical and operational management of the PREVALE programme, a five-year initiative aimed at promoting resilient and equitable recovery of agriculture and livelihoods in Afghan communities. This position is vital for ensuring the successful delivery of all programme outputs and will involve close coordination with partner implementation focal points. The Deputy Consortium Director will represent the Consortium Director in their absence and will manage various functions within the Programme Management Unit (PMU). The role requires a strong focus on operational management, strategic planning, and fostering collaboration among team members and partners to achieve programme objectives effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Deputy Consortium Director will be responsible for several key areas, including:

• Strategy and Vision: Supporting the Consortium Director in developing a vision and strategy for the programme, fostering innovative actions, ensuring quality control, and creating integrated strategic work-plans.
• Programme Management: Leading the operational management of programme activities, overseeing start-up and administration, ensuring timely implementation, and integrating community approaches and gender sensitivity into all activities.
• Team Management: Managing the PMU’s focal points, assisting team members in improving performance, promoting accountability, and developing the capacity of the team.
• Representation: Representing Mercy Corps at various events and coordinating activities with partners and stakeholders.
• security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security: Ensuring programmes are designed with a clear understanding of context and security, and ensuring compliance with security procedures. The Deputy Consortium Director will also be expected to conduct frequent field visits to monitor programme activities and impacts.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as social sciences, international relations, or development studies. Alternatively, a Bachelor’s degree combined with five additional years of relevant international development experience is acceptable. A minimum of six years of progressively responsible experience in international development and humanitarian activities is required, with a preference for experience in market systems, watershed management, or climate-resilient agriculture programming. At least three years of experience in team management roles is essential, along with a demonstrated ability to inspire and foster an adaptive team culture. Experience working on FCDO programmes or with high-profile institutional donors is strongly preferred, as is experience in fragile contexts, particularly in Afghanistan.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in a relevant field such as social sciences, international relations, or development studies is required. However, candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and five additional years of relevant experience may also be considered. The educational background should ideally align with the responsibilities of managing international development programmes and understanding socio-cultural factors in fragile contexts.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of six years of progressively responsible experience in international development and humanitarian activities, with a strong preference for experience in market systems, watershed management, or climate-resilient agriculture programming. Candidates should have at least three years of experience in team management roles, demonstrating the ability to build and foster an adaptive team culture. Experience working on FCDO programmes or with high-profile institutional donors is strongly preferred, along with professional experience in fragile contexts, particularly in Afghanistan.

Languages:
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are mandatory. Proficiency in local languages spoken in Afghanistan would be considered an asset, enhancing the ability to engage with local communities and stakeholders effectively.

Additional Notes:
The position is expected to supervise several direct reports, with the exact number to be determined later. The Deputy Consortium Director will report directly to the PREVALE Consortium Director and will work closely with various teams within Mercy Corps, including the Programme Management Unit, Finance, MEL, and Operations teams. The role involves a significant field presence, with expectations to spend 30-40% of time in the field to monitor programme activities and impacts. The position is full-time and may involve international recruitment.