occupied Palestinian territory: Gaza Sky Geeks Program Operations Manager

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.

Program / Department Summary

Gaza Sky Geeks (GSG) is Gaza's leading co-working space, tech education hub, and startup accelerator, run by Mercy Corps, a nonprofit international relief and development organization with programs in the occupied Palestinian territories since the 1980s. Mercy Corps founded GSG in partnership with Google.org in 2011.

We bring together online freelancers, outsourcers, and startup founders together under one roof to share ideas, best practices, code, and build brighter futures through the power of the internet. Gaza Sky Geeks' overarching goal is to build an internationally competitive technology ecosystem in Gaza through online freelancing, outsourcing, and startups, allowing young Gazans to realize their own potential while tapping into the global economy.

Today, GSG provides training for Gazan youth in international business practices and mitigates their travel restrictions by teaching them how to sell online products and services to international markets. GSG provides a safe and vibrant 600 square meter co-working space in downtown Gaza city for coders, freelancers and other online entrepreneurs to work. It conducts workshops and outreach to educate Gazans about technology and entrepreneurship, incubates a dozen startup teams per year by providing intensive training and mentorship, and is now facilitating seed investments from regional funds into Gaza's most promising online companies.

In FY2018, GSG will be expanding its Gazan operations, both in size and scope, as well into other areas within Palestine. This is being conducted with a view to building a scalable model which can be replicated across MC and into other regions.

General Position Summary

The GSG Program Operations Manager is responsible for delivering improved program implementation as well as assisting with strategic planning and initiatives. The remit of the role includes supporting the GSG program operations as well as the operations and financial management of GSG's emerging outsourcing agency.

The GSG PMO will work closely with the GSG Director and MC Palestine management, as well as support staff (including finance, procurement, logistics, administration and program) across GSG and non-GSG Mercy Corps departments to ensure the day-to-day activities are implemented according to schedule, budget, and required quality.

Essential Job Responsibilities

KEY OBJECTIVES AND RESULTS

• Improve GSG program systems, policies and procedures so that they are more efficient, transparent, compliant and integrated with MC support functions as well as, ultimately, being scalable/replicable
• Establish tracking and forecasting of GSG's various accounts to provide real time visibility of program funds, spending and revenue accounts
• Design and implement a SAAS or custom built solution to help GSG manage spending and revenue activities
• Assess and modify communication and documentation flow between GSG program team and MC support staff to improve program implementation
• Establish internal financial and operations systems for GSG commercial outsourcing agency to operate professionally, efficiently, and ready to scale for future expansion
• Evaluate and establish consolidated, automated, streamlined tracking of program outcomes in conjunction with GSG program staff and relevant non-GSG Mercy Corps MEL staff

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Improve management of all operations related to the GSG according to the work plans, project and implementation strategy documents. Troubleshoot, as needed, to prevent disruptions in daily program activities.
• In close collaboration with the GSG management, build the GSG team's operational, professional, and communication capabilities to ensure more seamless and error free interactions on program team
• Coordinate and share information with GSG management to ensure overall projects targets and donor obligations are being achieved.
• Design and conduct training in any areas related to the program activities for staff, GSG community members and beneficiaries.
• In collaboration with the support staff, ensure proper financial management, procurement, administration, human resources and logistics needs of the program are carried out efficiently and with the maximum benefit to the program.
• Work with the GSG management to forecast expenditure surpluses and deficits to enable adjustments to be made to the program in a timely fashion.
• As security permits, spend the maximum amount of time possible at the field sites monitoring GSG program implementation.
• Ensure that all work follows the highest quality standards and best practices.
• Ensure that programming activities align with strategic plans.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

REPRESENTATION

• Ensure establishment and maintenance of relationships with GSG and broader local community, tech and financial eco-system players
• Mobilize communities to participate in the design, implementation and maintenance of projects as well as design viable strategies which are both respectful with the local culture and sensitive towards the female population but that are effective in engaging women in the activities of the program.
• Stay informed on Palestine and MENA-wide cross-cutting issues relevant to GSG programs
• Maintain open relationships with Mercy Corps broader Technology, Finance and MERGE teams as relevant for GSG programming.

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 TRAINING

• 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.

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports Directly To:

GSG Program Delivery Director, dotted line relationships to Support Teams Director and GSG Program Director

Works Directly With: Program board, Country Director, Finance & Support Teams Director, Impact, Reporting & Fundraising Manager, Operations, Logistics, Procurement & Finance Staff, Sky Geeks Program Staff, HQ Program Team, Technical Support Unit and Partner Organizations

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor degree or equivalent in Finance, Social Science or related field. Master's preferred.
• 5+ years of experience focused in financial and project management as well as process improvement.
• Administrative capacity and planning skills to collaborate with a large team of national staff of multiple sectors.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in written.
• Extensive travel to program areas is required.
• Excellent command of English required.
• This post requires a high computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.
• Sincere commitment to engaging with the local tech-ecosystem, financial inclusion and general community.
• Internationally recognized qualification in finance (such as CA / CPA).

Success Factors

• Propensity towards creative and insightful programming / problem solving
• Innovative, decisive and inclusive leadership
• Excellent communication and team-building skills
• Diplomatic, flexible and facilitative organization / management
• Ability to use initiative and work with limited supervision
• Proven experience managing and building capacity of diverse teams (expatriate and national)
• Cultural knowledge, sensitivity and respect

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The position will be based in the Jerusalem, and frequent travel will be required to project sites in Gaza, the West Bank. Strict adherence to Mercy Corps security policies and procedures will be required as will respect for local cultural norms and traditions.

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. Staff 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.

PI100554937

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