Describe Overview of Job Missio GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY

Position Description

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Position Title: Senior Programme Officer (SPO)
Primary Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Position Status:Temporary for up to one year (maternity cover)

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[Describe overview of job missioGENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Programme Officer (SPO) supports strategic, impactful, high-quality programming in the South and East Asia region. S/he supports Country Directors in aspects of their country programme and grant administration, plays a key role in connecting the field to HQ resources and represents the country/regional interests internally with various HQ teams as well as with external stakeholders. The SPO provides the secondary check and supports the field (ultimate point of responsibility) in adhering to internal and external policies and regulations and is responsible for managing overall desk support to the region. S/he mentors and oversees the Assistant Programme Officer (APO).

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program & Grant Administration:

The SPO is the HQ point of responsibility for overall monitoring on a portfolio of European-funded grants/programmes in South and East Asiafor both external (donor) requirements as well as Mercy Corps’ internal policies and requirements.

Provide ongoing monitoring of the status of European-funded programmes and complete regular check-ins on grant requirements (such as co-financing, BVA, data aggregation, etc) and oversee the submission of project revisions or budget realignments to donors.

Support country team’s adherence to Mercy Corps internal policies and Programme Management minimum standards as well as adherence to Mercy Corps’ Complex Programmes management standards.

Ensure timely sign off and submission of both narrative and financial reports and follow up with donors as necessary

Proposal Development:

In coordination with the APOs, identify and analyse funding opportunities and share information with field teams

Ensure that proposals and concept notes are development in accordance with defined internal processes
Lead HQ coordination for proposals (unless designated otherwise), monitor the timeline, status of proposal and communicate to the relevant parties as appropriate.
Provide input to ensure that lessons learnt in previous programmes are incorporated into new programme design
Reviewproposal drafts for coherence, compliance with donor requirements and manage submission to the donor.
Post-submission, act as the focal point during the negotiation stage with donors
May be appointed a different role in the design process, such as lead writer, and travel to field if needed.

Partnership Development & Management:

Coordinate partnership negotiation and development, ensuring necessary teams are engaged, to help further programme, country and regional interests, ensuring agreements are in place as necessary (e.g. Teaming Agreements)

External Representation:

Represent regional interests and programmes with external stakeholders, in concert with the field teams.
Actively participate in relevant coordination forums, networks and donor events

Strategy, Planning & Learning:

Support country teams with strategy development and planning and travel to the field to support facilitation of the process as requested.
As necessary, conduct training and facilitate learning across country portfolios and regions and shares lessons learned and knowledge of agency resources/tools/best practices and donor rules and regulations,etc.

Recruitment:

Participates in the interview process, providing contextual information on Mercy Corps’ programmes and realities of the position, and selection for key positions as identified with the recruiting team.
For senior management field positions, participate in Mercy Corps’ LEAP process and supports the process as needed.
Assist in the recruitment of consultants as required

Internal Communication:

Oversee the APO with internal communications and ensure knowledge management systems are up to date and accurate to support communication with other teams.
Play a greater and more direct role in internal communication management during periods of disaster response.

Knowledge Management:

Oversee the APO for management of agency systems and adherence to HQ-related Programme Management minimum standards, etc.

Security:

Provide relevant security documents to travelers; provide security orientations/briefings for travel preparation.
Communicate country/regional security posture to staff/new hires as needed and support country teams, in coordination with the RPD and GSA, as issues arise.

Orientation:

For new-hires visiting HQ, provide briefings on context, country strategy and programmes prior to their departure as initial step in the onboarding process.
As requested, support supervisors with onboarding of new expatriate team members.

Other:

The SPO role requires travel to the field to support any of the above and to fill-in during leadership gaps.
Any other duties as assigned.

Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries:

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.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:Oversee the APO

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Regional Programme Director –South and East Asia

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: OtherHQ Programme units and other departments, including Fundraising, Finance, Leadership and Organisational Effectiveness, Legal, Policy and Advocacy, Mercy Corps Counterparts at MC HQ offices in the US; MC donors and partners.