Manager of support for suppliers of agricultural services in Mercy Corps

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

 The Program Summary

Mercy Corps’ Ukraine crisis response seeks to meet the humanitarian needs of vulnerable Ukrainians and other conflict-affected people in Ukraine. Ukraine’s vital agricultural sector has been heavily impacted by the ongoing war, including for the predominant smallholder producers, leaving producers to salvage harvests, find new markets for their products, and plan for future growing seasons amidst uncertainty and incomplete information.

Since November 2023, with support from HGBF, Mercy Corps has been implementing “Ukraine Agricultural Support Program” (UASP), which aims to recover and protect livelihoods, increase economic stability and self-sufficiency, and facilitate early recovery for household level subsistence farmers and small farming businesses in targeted areas in Ukraine. Support includes grants to farmers designed to support them in adapting their agribusinesses to the new reality they face. Therefore, Mercy Corps helps to increase economic stability and self-sufficiency, and facilitate early recovery for smallholder subsistence farmers, small and medium sized farming enterprises in 13 oblasts of Ukraine, out of which 8 in eastern, northern and southern oblasts (Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Mykolaiv and Kherson) will be a priority area.

 The Position

Under direct supervision of Project Director, Agriculture Service Providers Manager will be responsible for overseeing and smooth implementation of the Support to Agricultural Service Providers component under UASP. This role involves specific oversight of initiatives aimed at strengthening the agricultural service sector in Ukraine, especially considering the ongoing challenges posed by the war, as well as addressing farmers legal and financial consultancy needs. The Manager will play a critical role in ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of support to various agricultural service providers, thereby enhancing the overall agricultural productivity and sustainability. This position will closely liaise with Mercy Corps Procurement department to ensure timely delivery of the requested equipment by agriculture service provider entities. The Manager will work closely with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine and other stakeholders to ensure alignment with the state strategy and achieve the program's objectives. He/She should at the same time promote Mercy Corps values through various entry points in the project and preserve staff moral and enthusiasm for the project work.

 Essential Responsibilities

 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.

 Technical Support and Program Management:

• Lead the implementation of the Support to Agricultural Service Providers component.
• Develop and oversee a competitive process for soliciting and evaluating applications from agricultural service providers.
• Ensure timely and accurate procurement of requested equipment and materials for selected service providers.
• In close collaboration with the Mercy Corps MEL team, ensure the monitoring and evaluation of the impact of provided support on the agricultural sector.
• Work closely with agricultural service providers, such as soil testing institutes, food safety laboratories, veterinary service providers, agricultural universities, crop protection institutions, irrigation associations, etc.
• Oversee the allocation of resource and in close collaboration with Mercy Corps Procurement department ensure that resources are utilized effectively and transparently in line with Mercy Corps’ procurement procedures.
• Maintain accurate records of all program-related activities and when needed prepare regular reports under Support to Agricultural Service Providers component.
• Collaborate with the local partner organisation to integrate needs-based legal and financial consultancy services into the program.
• Oversee the provision of expert individual consultations, ensuring farmers receive high-quality legal and financial advice.
• Support elaboration of Mercy Corps vision and engagement strategy on sustainable provision of farmers consulting/extension services that will be aligned with the vision by Ukrainian government and other key stakeholders.

 Team Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Manage a specific team working on the Support to Agricultural Service Providers component.
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and performance evaluations to team members.
• Foster a collaborative and productive work environment.
• Establish and maintain relationships with government entities, non-profit organizations, and other key stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain close collaboration with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine to ensure alignment with national agricultural strategies.
• Explore opportunities for systemic and sustainable provision of extension services for farmers.
• With the guidance from Partnership Advisor identify potential partnerships with additional local NGOs and stakeholders to expand the reach of consultancy services in future programming.
• Maintain good working relations within Mercy Corps and other organizations in the area of responsibility.
• Adhere to all MC policies and procedures as outlined in MC policies and procedure manuals.
• Conduct themselves both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Perform other tasks as requested by the project management.

 Supervisory Responsibility

Line Manages: Senior Agriculture Officer

 Accountability

Reports Directly To: Project Director

Works Directly With: Resilience Program Lead, Sr. Agriculture Advisor, Senior Agriculture Manager, Procurement team, Finance, Operations, PAQ team.

 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

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, or a related field.
• At least 8 years of overall working experience, at least 3 years of work experience within an international humanitarian/development organization
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in agricultural development, project management, or a related field.
• Proven experience managing teams and implementing complex programs. Proven practical knowledge of the project cycle management.
• Strong understanding of the agricultural sector, particularly in the context of Ukraine.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, non-profit organizations, and agricultural service providers.
• Experience of working in agriculture extension/service provision sector is desirable.
• Excellent communication, presentation and reporting skills.
• Full working proficiency in both oral and written English, Ukrainian and Russian (equally important).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs.
• Familiarity with the procurement processes is an advantage.
• Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in humanitarian response preferred.

 Success Factors

To be successful in this role we expect you to have: a deep understanding of the agricultural sector's needs and the specific challenges faced by agriculture service providers in Ukraine. Demonstrated experience in managing agricultural development interventions. Proven leadership skills, with a track record of managing teams and collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including government entities and non-profit organizations. Strong project management capabilities, ensuring the efficient allocation of resources and the achievement of program objectives.

 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.

 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

 We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

 Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

 We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are availableto all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination based on race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

 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 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.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).

Please note, this position is subject to donor funding.

Тільки попередньо відібрані кандидати будуть запрошені на співбесіду.

Ласкаво запрошуємо осіб з інвалідністю та ветеранів відгукнутись на цю посаду.

Mercy Corps створило робоче місце для працевлаштування осіб з інвалідністю та ветеранів, та належні умови праці для цієї вакансії, але це thisvacancy .