Technical Lead – Market Systems Development
Job description
The TL MSD will oversee the delivery of MSD interventions/approach in all aspects of the THRIVE programme including planning, coordinating, organizing, quality and delivery and monitoring and results measurement and learning in the Greater Upper Nile. She/he will provide MSD technical leadership on the strategic development, development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), support the design and implementation of high-quality MSD interventions (Program Quality), through capacity-building for teams, supporting market assessments and designing interventions and building relationships with key market actors from the private sector and government. The TL MSD will also participate in putting in place a robust Monitoring and Results Measurement (MRM) and Learning for the THRIVE programme (Learning and impact). The TL MSD will also represent the THRIVE’s’ MSD work externally, through participating in relevant coordination and learning events. H/she is a member of the THRIVE programme Management Unit, who will support in defining and achieving the programme strategy. The TL MSD will ensure accountability of the MSD approach/interventions to the programme participants, donors, stakeholders including government authorities and consortium lead/members. She/he will contribute to ensuring that programming is on-time, on-scope, and on-budget. The role requires extensive travel in the field and the region.
About the role
- Provide effective overall leadership in the planning, coordination, delivery of the program with management of the MSD program
- Ensure timely and effective design and implementation of interventions, and achievement of targets, on time, on scope and on budget.
- Support the programme team to adaptively manage a portfolio of interventions that is appropriately balanced in terms of risk and benefits.
- Ensures the program meets Program Management @ Mercy Corps (PM@MC) minimum standards.
- Build, manage and maintain relationship with the consortium lead and members, donor, including leading periodic communications on status of program activities and collaborating with the consortium Lead to facilitate adaptive management.
- Prepare high-quality monthly, quarterly, annual and final project reports in collaboration with the program teams and the MEL team.
- Ensure backstopping for all team members, in particular for sector selection and system framing; market systems research and analysis; , designing systemic interventions to address the root causes of market dysfunctions which disadvantage and exclude women and young people; finding strategic leverage points for co-investment and building public and private sector partnerships, monitoring interventions, and adapting strategy in response to results.
- As the MSD technical Lead, ensure design and implementation of MSD component for the THRIVE consortium partners meets the standards of MSD approach, drawing on appropriate and diverse technical resources to support programme needs as required.
- Ensure operational systems enable a diversely-skilled programme team to implement the programme effectively – including standard operating procedures on engaging and contracting with the private and public sector actors, enabling intervention or concept design, and guidance for adaptive management.
- Follow analysis of the socio-political and economic context, ensuring that this analysis is recognized and incorporated in programming, particularly with respect to gender and age, as well as to climate and conflict risk.
- Lead the development of the THRIVE programme strategy, particularly on MSD components
Team management
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Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
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Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback via regular performance discussions and strong performance management protocols.
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Train and mentor staff in MSD approaches to ensure successful program implementation, and support them to access additional professional development and technical capacity building as required
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Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
Budget Mangement
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Ensures the programme meets targets on budget. This responsibility includes collaborative work planning that keeps all team members accountable, ensuring accurate budget forecasting and analysis of monthly budget vs. actual reports, and proper procurement planning in collaboration with the Operations team.
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Support in the development of financial management tools and the monitoring of budgets.
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Cross-check detailed transactions and review budget versus actual (BVA) spending reports to determine status of program burn rates.
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Work with the Country Finance Manager to ensure spend-down plans and cash projections are developed and monitored.
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Lead program input on any budget revisions or programmatic input for financial reports.
- Work with the MEL team to ensure the finalization of the programme-specific MEL plan and any relevant procedures with clear designation of roles and responsibilities between the Program and MEL teams.
- Ensure that robust monitoring and evaluation, quality data collection and analysis systems are in place, adhered to and used as a decision-making tool, in coordination with the MEL team.
- Ensure appropriate attention to program learning and integration of lessons learned.
About you
- Masters’ degree or equivalent in Economics, International Development, International Relations, Business Management, Agriculture Economics or another relevant field highly preferred.
- 5-7 years of field experience in MSD programming with a focus on markets required. At least 3 years of experience in a programme management/leadership role. Experience working in consortium setting.
- Experience directly building partnerships with the private sector to increase women and youth employment opportunities.
- Experience in multi-stakeholder engagement, building value propositions in both peri-urban and rural programming.
- Strong strategic thinker with demonstrated capacity to translate concepts into action, with proven ability to be accountable for all components of the program.
- Strong project and people management skills.
- Experience in financial inclusion, tech-based employment, women & youth employment, and gender transformative MSD programming is preferred.
- Competent in building networks, strong problem-solving skills, and ability to influence with effective listening, persuasion, negotiation, and other techniques.
- Persuasive written and oral communication in English, including report writing.