Director of Programs

Organization: Mercy Corps

Deadline: 10 September 2025

Job Description

About Mercy Corps

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.

Position Title: Director of Programs

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Open Position: 1

Safeguarding Risk Level: 3

This opportunity is open, and qualified nationals are strongly encouraged to apply

The Position

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004, working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with the government, the private sector, and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. Our vision is to enhance the resilience of climate and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises.

Our strategy focuses on the four outcome areas of 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use.

Currently, we operate in the regional states of Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, Tigray and Addis Ababa city administration working with a diverse base of donors that includes the US Government, United Nations (UN), European Union, Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA), Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN), UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Hilton Foundation, and other foundations.

The Director of Programs (DoP) provides strategic and operational leadership for one of Mercy Corps’ largest and most complex portfolios, overseeing over 21 awards funded by bilateral and multilateral donors, private foundations, and corporate partners, with programming spanning humanitarian response, market-driven development, peacebuilding, and climate resilience.

The DoP works closely with the Program Performance and Quality (PaQ) team to ensure programs are of high quality, demonstrate evidence, as well as strong communications, influence, accountability, and overall quality assurance. S/he will work in partnership with the S/he provides leadership and mentorship to the program team, is responsible for staff development, and acts as the Country Director during his/her absence.

The successful candidate will be a team player who is an adaptive thought-partner and leader with a focus on delivery of quality and impactful programming. S/he will be committed to gender and social diversity, and will serve as a role model for Mercy Corps’ project managers, but also support staff, partners, and other stakeholders.

Essential Responsibilities

STRATEGY, VISION & LEADERSHIP

• In partnership with the Country Director and Senior Management Team (SMT), ensure the development of the country-wide strategic plan that reflects the portfolio of programs, including development of annual Fiscal Year Plans and sector strategies.
• Ensure program portfolio champions Mercy Corps’ Pathway to Possibilities (P2P) approach and leverage the agency expertise around markets in crisis.
• In partnership with the PaQ team, ensure cross portfolio and program communication and learning.
• In partnership with SMT, organize and facilitate country-level platforms for exchange, including senior management meetings and other methods of engagement.
• Ensure integration and linkages across portfolios of work, programs and field offices.
• In partnership with the Country Director and the New Initiatives and Partnership Manager, lead new business development initiatives including managing and coordinating proposal development efforts, donor engagement and communications.
• Ensure new business opportunities are in line with Mercy Corps Ethiopia’s strategic vision and deliver impact, fulfill donor requirements and address the local needs of communities.
• Continue to look for new and innovative opportunities and ensure ongoing development of an idea/innovation pipeline to push forward innovations.

QUALITY PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT & IMPLEMENTATION

• Ensure programs are implemented in ways that are responsive to the communities, in line with Mercy Corps’ principles, values and strategic planning, and follow Mercy Corps’ compliance procedures.
• In partnership with the PaQ team, ensure that programs are managed and meet the minimum standards for program management at Mercy Corps (PM@MC).
• Ensure teams have access to essential technical expertise and support with an emphasis on market systems, economic and micro enterprise development technical support.
• Ensure all program leads are using program management tools to ensure programming is on-time, on-scope and on-budget and using effective operational systems, including finance, logistics, security, and administration.
• Ensure programs are coordinated and create opportunities for strategic discussion from the field teams to management and vice versa on implementation issues.
• Oversight of the development of high-quality donor reports for all programs under supervision prior to submission to the donor.
• Ensure transparent use of financial resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
• Provide overall strategic leadership to the Program team, ensuring the team fully understands and can operationalize both program agreements and the overall P2P country strategy.
• Ensure all teams understand and can operationalize Mercy Corps’ community-led, market-driven approach, and that gender equality is mainstreamed into all program strategies, programs, and projects.
• Supervise and mentor Program Managers/direct reports to ensure that both programs and projects follow sound planning, implementation, monitoring, learning and adaptation processes; have high performing teams; receive appropriate technical input and support, utilize good performance management processes; focus on quality, accountability, and results; deploy cutting-edge technical approaches; and, that good participatory methods and stakeholder engagement approaches are used.
• Ensure the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) team and all program teams understand, appreciate and utilize our project design, monitoring, learning, accountability, and documentation tools and systems.
• Ensure that projects and programs receive necessary technical support by: identifying, organizing, and when appropriate delivering training, cross-learning exchanges, and information sharing; encouraging and supporting self-directed learning.
• Ensure regular field monitoring visits and provide feedback in ways that improve both project and program level progress, impact, influence, and innovation.
• Lead programming meetings on a quarterly basis to ensure team learning and cross-collaboration.
• Work with Operations, Finance, People and Culture teams and to make sure that adequate operational support is in place for project success.
• Promote learning and knowledge management through documentation and knowledge sharing around best practices and lessons learned.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

• In collaboration with the New Business Department, drive a resource development strategy to ensure the portfolio remains funded and aligned with P2P strategy, while pro-actively identifying new business opportunities and translate these into concepts.
• Maintain a business development tracking system that captures priorities of key in-country donors in collaboration with the New Business department.

TEAM MANAGEMENT & COMMITMENT TO TEAM DEVELOPMENT

• Directly supervise relevant Area Managers, Program Managers, Directors, and/or Deputy Directors, both national and expatriate staff.
• Ensure program team members have Individual Operating Plans (IOPs) and are reviewed and provided with feedback on a formal and regular basis.
• Participate in the recruitment, selection, orientation and training of key program staff, and other staff as requested by the Country Director.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via performance reviews.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Supervise and regularly coordinate with project staff and support departments to ensure smooth planning, preparation, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of program activities.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to team members.

FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

• Collaborate with program, finance and operations staff to ensure systems are in compliance with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Support Program Managers to appropriately manage their budgets through regular budget vs actual reviews and follow up action items.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, private sector partners, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Ensure that all programs produce professional quality reports and communications materials; that publishable results are disseminated strategically and effectively; and that Mercy Corps is a ‘thought leader’ in its strategic technical areas.
• Ensure effective, consistent and timely communication with donors and project partners.
• Maintain excellent relationships with donors, the host country government and local leaders, partner agencies, and other key stakeholders.
• Document and disseminate lessons learned and best practices to internal and external stakeholders, including at international conferences and similar forums.
• In partnership with the PAQ Team, the New Initiatives Department and the Country Director develop an influence plan and strategy.
• Ensure visibility of Ethiopia programs, both internally and externally.

SECURITY

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory Responsibility

Program Directors and Senior/Program Managers, based in or working on the various programs and other new areas as they come online.

Reports Directly To

Country Director

Works Directly With

Senior Management Team including PaQ Team, Finance Director, COPs, Senior Operations Manager, Human Resource Manager, Program Managers, Project Coordinators, Program staff, Program Staff, donors, peer INGO agencies, government line ministries, the Mercy Corps HQ Desk and support units.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• MA/S or equivalent in management, international development or other relevant field; some economic development studies required.
• 10 years’ experience administering donor grants for a variety of sectoral areas; specific experience in market systems and economic development and micro enterprise development.
• 10 years demonstrated ability to build staff capacity in cross-cultural settings as well as excellent team-building and interpersonal skills.
• 10 years of field experience, in positions of increasing responsibility.
• Verifiable record of developing successful proposals for new projects and programs from conception to submission.
• 10years’ experience with donor requirements of USG, SIDA, DFID, corporations, private donors and/or foundations.
• History of working effectively and respectfully with host country government, INGO and NGO partners.

Success Factors

The successful DoP will combine strong leadership and management skills while building diverse programs and managing donor and partner relationships. S/he will have an ability to think creatively about improving the quality and impact of programs. The DoP will have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. S/he will be able to bring diverse views and programs together for a common vision. Prioritizing, problem solving and the capacity to balance attention to detail and maintaining strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

 

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

Addis Ababa provides a secure living environment that is suitable for families. It offers a number of individual housing options with good utilities. This is an accompanied family post. The DoP is expected to conduct regular field trips, spending up to 50% of his/her time in the field.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Team Engagement and Effectiveness 

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, programs 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 the Interagency 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.