Closing date: 20 Nov 2009 -- (CLOSED)
Location: Liberia - Monrovia
(216835-927)
Note: this position is contingent on funding.
PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps began operations in Liberia in 2002 at the end of the civil war, by bolstering civic organizations and empowering communities to take part in the nation's improving social, economic and political environment in all 15 counties. With Mercy Corps' help, local community-based organizations have helped Liberian communities to build schools and community buildings, to revive agricultural production, to increase public access to information and to inspire people's determination for development and self-reliance. The agency also currently implements three community-driven livelihood-based programs to enhance the social and economic capacities of rural farming households and communities, and improve their food security. Mercy Corps’ donors in Liberia since the program’s inception include USDA, European Commission, USAID, World Bank, various UN organizations, and private foundations.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Senior Technical Advisor for Hygiene, Communication and Behavior Change will oversee the implementation of the Hygiene Behavior Change program component under a multi-year multi-million dollar program that also supports access to water and sanitation hardware/products in targeted counties and the development of an enabling environment at the national, county and district levels. Under the direction of the Chief of Party, the Senior Technical Advisor will provide leadership and day-to-day oversight to staff and local partners working on the hygiene component in seven counties.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Program Implementation: Manage and coordinate activities of staff, local partners and internal or external consultants to ensure adherence to workplans and budget allocations for hygiene activities. Oversee the implementation of the Hygiene Behavior Change program component, in particular: a) setting up hand-washing stations in public buildings; b) developing training tools and communications to address key hygiene behaviors and barriers, using a variety of dissemination tools (e.g. radio, schools, etc.); and c) managing the social marketing of products and behavior in coordination with UNICEF, PSI and other development partners. This position will also advise on institutional strengthening, sector reform and community participation. Other program implementation responsibilities include: conducting frequent field visits to project sites, identifying technical assistance needs to meet objectives and working with Chief of Party to meet those needs effectively and efficiently with program resources. Coordinate with other component managers to identify and leverage synergies between program components.
Monitoring & Evaluation (MEProvide data on activities and impacts of hygiene program component on a regular basis to the ME
Staff Management, Professional Development and Team building: Supervise the hygiene component staff. Using the performance planning and management system, establish clear performance expectations and provide regular constructive feedback. Promote accountability by conducting staff annual performance reviews with direct supervisees.
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Organizational Learning
As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
Direct supervision of: Hygiene Behavior Change staff
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Chief of Party
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: other component managers
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
At least 5 years of experience in the water and sanitation, health, hygiene, and safe water promotion. Work experience in sub-Saharan Africa is preferred.
Experience in designing and overseeing innovative behavior change communication approaches highly desirable.
Experience working with host governments and their agents, INGOs and national NGOs and familiarity with international development operations.
Experience in integrating community participation, gender and vulnerability dimensions and community-based capacity building is desirable.
Good organizational and project management (including ME
SUCCESS FACTORS:
The successful candidate will have a well-developed ability to conceptualize, plan and implement program activities creatively, as well as the ability to analyze data, scale up and utilize lessons learned for the continuous improvement of program implementation.
Candidate should possess patience, enthusiasm and strong interpersonal skills, particularly at the community level.
Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.
LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
This position is based in Monrovia and will require a minimum of 30-40% travel to project sites.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. 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.
Mercy Corps is an AA/EOE
Reference Code: RW_7XBFFV-18
