Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

General Position Summary

The Team Lead will have overall responsibility for quality implementation of the Enter Energy Ethiopia project. This includes the refinement and scale up of the Enter Energy model in other refugee and host community contexts in Ethiopia. This is an exciting opportunity to manage innovative energy & MSD programming, and a unique opportunity to become a leading expert in applying sustainable energy access approaches to refugee contexts. Energy access in refugee settings is largely new in Ethiopia, so the Enter Energy Team Lead will be responsible for building the capacity of the team, building, and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders, navigating the regulatory framework related to integrated energy solutions, developing a detailed program plan, and leading the implementation of interventions. The Team Lead will be responsible for ensuring robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and managing a learning agenda through collaborations with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team. Mercy Corps is seeking an experienced and entrepreneurial leader with experience of managing energy access and market-based programming.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy and vision

• Work closely with the Country Director and senior program team members to implement the Enter Energy vision and strategy for applying sustainable energy access approaches to refugee and host community contexts.
• The learnings collected throughout the process will be duly systematized to inform adaptation of the proposed model to other contexts and countries and to develop other new initiatives
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcome

Program management

• In coordination with Mercy Corps’ Technical Support Unit (TSU) and country leadership team and program team members, lead the management, administration and closeout of program. Ensure implementation is on time, target and budget.
• Lead assessments and analysis across all target locations (including needs, markets and conflict), drawing on external technical expertise as needed.
• Lead the process of developing partnership frameworks to support program implementation, partner agreements and ensure partner capacity building.
• Work with partners (including Government of Ethiopia and Somali region authorities, UN, private sector actors, community representatives) in a flexible and creative to achieve the best possible results for all segments of the targeted communities. Ensure close relationships with key government partners, at all levels.
• Coordinate, manage and motivate program teams across all implementation locations, ensuring they have clear objectives / individual work plans as part of performance management, and receive meaningful feedback on their performance.
• Mentor program team members (program and M&E) reporting directly to this position, ensuring their ability to manage across programs in each of the target geographies.
• Ensure that the program is managed adaptively, through periodic reflection exercises and use of MEL data.
• Submit high quality reports to donor and stakeholders.
• Work with the program teams to ensure close relationships with key government partners, at all levels.
• Monitor work and targets closely to ensure that programs are able to provide maximum benefit to our beneficiaries within program timeframes.
• Work closely with team and partners ensuring we adhere to humanitarian principles, Mercy Corps’ gender policies, Do No Harm principles and beneficiary accountability standards.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.

Proposal development

• Cultivate and nurture donor relationships and strategic partnerships that positively impact Mercy Corps ability to influence program strategies and proposal design, as well as strategic partnerships that result in stronger and impactful program development efforts.
• Help to identify new funding opportunities for energy access programs in refugee and host community contexts.
• Support the design of new proposals working on sustainable energy access in refugee and host-community contexts, including participating in design workshops.
• Support writing/review of concept notes and proposals.
• Work closely with field teams to influence their engagement and support of program pre-positioning, development and implementation.

Team Building and Management

• Lead and manage recruitment and training of all team members working in the portfolio.
• Oversee the documentation and filing systems for all programs in the portfolio and ensure that information is organized according to the reporting and auditing needs. Ensure required levels of confidentiality.
• Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its work.
• Develop the capacity of the program team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

Finance and Operations Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps’ regulations related to programming and operations.
• With support of the Operations Manager, ensure adequate operational systems are in place to provide for programs implementation.
• Ensure proper logistics, administration, human resources and transport needs of the programs are conducted within Mercy Corps policy.
• Manage program budgets as the primary budget holder.
• Exercise sound judgment to ensure projects’ expenses are reasonable, allocable and prudent. Ensure all projects’ funds are spent in accordance with donor rules and regulations. Work with Director of Programs to forecast expenditure surpluses and deficits to enable adjustments.
• Strictly follow Mercy Corps’ Fraud and Prevention guidelines.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Ensure that program teams are continually gathering and digesting operating environment data and activity reports, and that teams are holding frequent activity review sessions to continually re-examine the relevance and impact of their programming.
• Coordinate and share information with the Team Lead to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are being achieved. Advise on suggested improvements, as required.
• Ensure program teams have community complaint and feedback mechanisms in place and that complaints and feedback being received are responded to within a timely manner.

Policy, Advocacy, Representation

• Represent Mercy Corps at related events and contribute to thought leadership on
• Humanitarian Energy Solutions in Ethiopia and globally.
• Identify and nurture strategic partnerships with other organizations and institutions working on energy solutions for refugees.

GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

Be a thought partner in the recruitment of diverse team and promoting inclusive and safe work environment including supporting early career team members to fulfil their professional goals)

Lead by example to promote gender equal and inclusive workplace culture in a day-to-day interaction with team members, partners and program participants

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Contribute to creating a secure environment for team members.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to theInteragency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Job Requirements

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required. M.S., M.Sc., or equivalent in a field related to energy and international development.
• Proven experience in applying market-based approaches to access to energy, including collaborating with private sector national and international actors to achieve sustainable and scalable solutions for hard-to-reach communities
• At least 3 years’ experience of working on energy access programming, including:
  • Undertaking energy assessments and writing reports
  • Participating in the design of sustainable energy access programs and supporting proposal development, also in close collaboration with private sector actors
  • Providing training on sustainable energy access for team members on theory and practice
  • Supporting development of robust results measurement systems, measuring impact on participants and system change
  • Demonstrating strong theoretical and applied knowledge of the field of expertise.
• Practical field experience working in refugee contexts or fragile contexts is necessary.
• Demonstrated success building, managing and leading a team of professionals in a fast-paced challenging environment with high standards for success.
• Strong writing, communication, organization, prioritization and negotiating skills.
• Excellent and proven coordination and representation experience is needed, especially in building and maintaining strong/productive relations with implementing and strategic partner agencies and government agencies.
• Excellent MEL, data analytics and quantitative skills are strongly preferred.
• Strong financial management experience required.
• Strong project management experience required.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to Mercy Corps project sites and field locations, including traveling to insecure environments, is required.
• Fluency in English is required.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will possess excellent leadership skills, with the ability to maintain a broad perspective. They will undertake innovative and creative approaches, be agile in the conceptualization of new program ideas, and will be well versed in strategic thinking and planning – including openness to test new ways to work with private sector actors. The ideal candidate will have a strong curiosity for understanding and working effectively within the complex cultural, political, security and social environment of Ethiopia. They will be an excellent communicator, multi-tasker, and able to work in ambiguous situations. They will be a tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures. The successful candidate will be focused on team building and capacity building of national staff team-members; be a strategic thinker, have strong skills in design monitoring and evaluation of development programs and maintain a sense of humor.