Mercy Corps Market Development Officer-One Vacancy based in Gulu Jobs in Uganda

Mercy Corps Market Development Officer-One Vacancy based in Gulu Jobs in Uganda

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.

Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006 and works to catalyze change makers within the Ugandan private sector, civil society and government to create economically dynamic, healthy and secure communities.

Our works focus on building resilience and enable economic growth, improve opportunities to attain better health and nutrition, and improved governance and conflict management.

We implement programs in the districts of Pader, Kitgum, Gulu, Omoro, Agago, and Lamwo in Acholi, West Nile, and entire Karamoja, as well as Eastern Uganda with funding from USAID, USDA, Walmart Foundation, SDC, DFID, Master Card Foundation as well as other private donations.

Mercy Corps’ programs in Acholi sub region currently focus on market development, agriculture, financial services, and women’s empowerment.

Program / Department Summary

Working in consortia with GOAL, VSO and Restless Development, the Driving Youth-led New Agribusiness and Microenterprise (DYNAMIC) program will strengthen systems and facilitate creation of sustainable economic opportunities for disadvantaged youth.

DYNAMIC’s goal is to increase the number of young people who are in secure employment or self-employment and to promote agricultural market systems for youth. DYNAMIC will reach 125,000 out-of-school youth aged 15–24 in nine districts of northern Uganda over five years.

Through a market facilitation approach, youth already engaged in on-farm activities will move from subsistence to more productive and profitable farming.

DYNAMIC will increase the employability of youth by facilitating access to demand driven technical skills, knowledge and market information.

In parallel, DYNAMIC will link agribusinesses and microenterprises to market opportunities and diverse stakeholders, and ensure they can utilize financial services.

General Position Summary

Mercy Corps is looking for a qualified Ugandan to fill the position of Market Development Officer (MDO). Reporting to the Program Manager, the MDO is a technical position with responsibilities including implementing all aspects of the market systems development component of the district and lower level DYNAMIC program.

S/he will be required to apply a wide variety of market development tools and approaches in order to catalyze innovative services and facilitate linkages between market actors in the assigned program areas.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

Gather and analyze relevant market information for the purpose of accurate and confident decision-making in determining program strategy and selection of potential partners.

Participate in assessments in the target geographic areas to assess current situation, economic opportunities and resources, needs and potential programs as well as challenges.

Identify value-addition opportunities that strengthen economic opportunities, especially for young women and rural youth, in the livestock and agriculture sectors as identified by local and national government as well as independent market studies and needs assessments.

Support in setting direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.

Program Management

Introduce program to relevant stakeholders including local business owners, local representatives and community members.

In coordination with technical specialists and local partners, plan, implement and monitor market development activities.

Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.

Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.

Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.

Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

Work closely with supervisor to capture data for measuring output and impact of the program; and to ensure accurate and timely flow of information from the field. Recognize opportunities for innovative action

and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.

Prepare and submit timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that will be indicative of program progress during implementation. Respond to queries if and when necessary.

Maintain proper filing system.

Team Management

Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.

Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

Finance & Compliance Management

Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.

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, local governments and other stakeholders.

Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

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.

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 toward 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.

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.

Supervisory Responsibility: None
Accountability:
Reports Directly to: Program Manager-DYNAMIC Kitgum/Lamwo.

Works Directly with: Market Development Officers, Youth Engagement Officer, MEL Officer, Field Finance Officer and Operation and Logistic officer

Ethics and Integrity
All Mercy Corps staff members are expected to behave ethically and demonstrate highest integrity in their professional and personal life.

Mercy Corps has zero tolerance to any form of fraud, corruption, abuse, harassment or exploitation. Any breach of our policies or misconduct will lead to disciplinary action or may lead to termination.

Knowledge and Experience:

Bachelor’s Degree in business, agribusiness, economics or other relevant field is preferred.

Good understanding of business and knowledge of private sector, with a minimum of 3 years’ practical experience in the private sector or related industry.

Knowledge of the agricultural sectors highly desirable.

Excellent (English) verbal and written communication skills.

Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.

Good negotiation skills and high tolerance for uncertainty

Demonstrated flexibility, creativity and enthusiasm as well as a willingness to learn and to be continually adaptive within a dynamic and often self-directed working environment mandatory.

Willingness to spend much time in the field and work closely with program target groups.

Ability and or willingness to ride motorcycle is an added advantage.

Success Factors:
The successful candidate will be one with a coherent sense of strategy to prioritize and guide activities, context sensitive and open to criticism and constantly step back from details to look for bigger picture.

He or she is persistent; able to deal with rejection/failure (trial and error) and motivated and enthusiastic

How to apply:
Submit your application through email to ug-mcjobs@mercycorps.org addressed to the Human Resource Director, Mercy Corps Uganda. Include a cover letter clearly stating your salary requirements, CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates.

Deadline for Submission: Close of business on Wednesday, 08th April, 2019. Subject of email should include the position you are applying for.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer; qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.