Position Description
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Position Title: Senior Programme Officer (SPO)
Primary Location: London
Position Status: Regular, full-time
Current Employee:
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GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Senior Programme Officer (SPO) supports strategic, impactful, high-quality programming in the Middle East and
South Asia (MESA) region with a particular focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan. He/she supports Country Directors in
aspects of their country programmes 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. The SPO will also
represent Mercy Corps’ MESA region activities to donors and other stakeholders.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Programme & Grant Administration:
 The SPO is the HQ point of responsibility for overall monitoring on a portfolio of grants/programmes in
Afghanistan and Pakistan for external (donor) requirements as well as Mercy Corps’ internal policies and
requirements. Additional support the Middle East region will be required on an ad hoc basis.
 Provide ongoing monitoring of the status of programmes and complete regular check-ins on grant requirements
(such as co-financing/match, 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 Assistant Programme Officers (APOs), identify and analyse funding opportunities and
share information with field teams.
 Ensure that proposals and concept notes are developed 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.
 Review proposal 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 & 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)
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Position Description
External Representation:
 Represent Middle East and South Asia (MESA) regional interests and programmes with external stakeholders,
donors and partners, 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:
 Participate 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:
 Support 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:
 Support the APO for management of agency systems and adherence to HQ-related Programme Management
minimum standards, etc.
Security:
 Provide relevant security documents to travellers; 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 involves travel to the field, of up to 35% of the time, sometimes on short notice and to areas with
limited access to medical facilities and amenities, to support any of the above and to fill-in during leadership gaps.
 Any other duties as assigned.
Organisational Learning: As part of our commitment to organisational learning and in support of our understanding that
learning organisations 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.
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Position Description
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: None
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Regional Programme Director, Middle East and South Asia.
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Other HQ Programme units and other departments, including Resource Development,
Finance, Leadership and Organisational Effectiveness, Legal, Policy and Advocacy, Mercy Corps Counterparts at MC HQ
offices in Europe; MC donors and partners.
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. Team members 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.
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