Consortium Director

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Position Title: Consortium Director
Location: Kyiv
Country: Ukraine
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 to address humanitarian crises and promote development, Mercy Corps operates in over 40 countries worldwide. The organization focuses on enhancing resilience, which means enabling people and systems to protect and improve well-being in the face of shocks and stresses. Mercy Corps has been active in Ukraine since the escalation of the war in 2022, providing support to over 950,000 conflict-affected individuals through various programs, including cash assistance, food and hygiene kits, and psychosocial-support" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">psychosocial support. The organization emphasizes collaboration with civil society organizations to ensure that humanitarian actions are matched with capacity strengthening and a commitment to localization.

Job Overview:
The Consortium Director will provide overall leadership, management, and strategic direction for the three-year FCDO-funded Building Livelihoods and Opportunities for Optimised Markets (BLOOM) programme in Ukraine. This role involves managing the successful delivery of all outputs under the programme, representing the programme with FCDO, government ministries, and partners, and overseeing the programme design and delivery team. The Consortium Director will lead a Programme Management Unit and report to a Steering Committee, ensuring the overall technical quality of the programme and coordinating efforts among various partners. The position is critical for identifying issues and risks related to activity implementation and suggesting appropriate adjustments to ensure the programme's success.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Consortium Director's essential responsibilities include leading the development of a vision and strategy for the programme, overseeing programme startup and management, providing strategic guidance and quality assurance for all programme activities, and ensuring compliance with donor expectations. The Director will monitor implementation progress, manage risks, and ensure that the programme is responsive to community needs. Additionally, the Director will create a work environment of mutual respect, promote accountability, and oversee the recruitment and professional development of staff. The role also involves representing the consortium to various stakeholders, ensuring compliance with security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security procedures, and leading risk management efforts for the programme.

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 with five additional years of relevant international development experience may be considered. A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in international development and humanitarian activities is required, with a preference for experience in market systems, livelihoods, agriculture, and resilience programming. At least five years must be in senior programme management, including direct supervision of staff. Experience with FCDO programmes is strongly preferred, along with a proven ability to build the capacity of staff and partner organizations.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master's degree in a relevant field such as social sciences, international relations, or development studies. Candidates with a Bachelor's degree may substitute this requirement with five additional years of relevant experience in international development. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of the programme and effectively leading the team.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in the successful implementation of international development and humanitarian activities. This experience should include a focus on market systems, livelihoods, agriculture, and resilience programming, with at least five years in senior programme management roles. Candidates should have experience working in fragile contexts, with a preference for those who have worked in Ukraine, and must demonstrate an understanding of gender, age, and other socio-cultural factors relevant to the local context.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential given the international nature of the organization and its stakeholders. Additional languages relevant to the local context may be beneficial but are not explicitly stated as requirements.

Additional Notes:
The programme is expected to start in April, pending contract negotiations with FCDO. The successful candidate will be expected to start as soon as possible, although a Start-Up Lead has been identified to fill the gap until the Consortium Director can take up the role. The position is likely to be full-time and may involve supervisory responsibilities over several direct reports, including the Track 1 and Track 2 Leads, the Monitoring and Results Measurement Manager, and a coordinator" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Grants Coordinator.