Program Director (Regional) – PROPEL Africa job at Mercy Corps

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 Summary

The PROPEL Africa Project (Pathways to Resilience, Opportunities, Professional Employment and Learning) aims to address the persistent challenge of youth unemployment and underemployment in Liberia, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda. Currently, young people encounter systemic barriers to securing dignified employment, arising from misalignments between skills development and labour market needs, and inadequate access to financial resources. Implemented by JA Africa and Mercy Corps, PROPEL responds to these challenges through a dual approach: equipping underserved youth aged 15–30 with relevant, demand-driven business, employability, and life skills, while simultaneously improving the way the labour market works for young people.

Position Summary

The PROPEL Program Director provides overall vision, strategic leadership, and management for the PROPEL Africa program, ensuring high-quality implementation across Liberia, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Director leads joint governance structures with JA Africa, manages program coherence and results, oversees technical and operational teams, and ensures safe, effective, and impactful delivery. The Director also represents PROPEL with donors, governments, and regional partners, positioning the program for sustainability and scale.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Lead strategic direction and adaptive management of PROPEL in alignment with the dual approach: youth skills development and improved labor market ecosystem functioning.
• Facilitate Program Steering Committee meetings and ensure decision-making is evidence-driven.
• Ensure alignment between country-level strategies and regional program goals.

Program Management & Quality

• Oversee regional and country implementation, work planning, reporting, and compliance with donor and Mercy Corps standards.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Lead the development of detailed implementation plans, flowing from annual strategic work plans, and ensure the delivery of the same.
• Maintain coherence between JA Africa and Mercy Corps roles, ensuring effective coordination.
• Ensure safeguarding, Do No Harm, GESI, and youth engagement principles are embedded.
• Drive adaptive learning approaches through collaboration with MEAL and technical teams.

Representation & Partnership Management

• Serve as primary donor representative for PROPEL; lead reporting and communication.
• Strengthen partnerships with private-sector actors, government bodies, financial institutions, and ecosystem enablers.
• Promote visibility and thought leadership on youth employment across Africa.

Team Leadership & People Management

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Supervise and support regional technical leaders and country teams.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and professional development across partner organizations.
• Ensure strong coordination and information flow between Mercy Corps and JA Africa.

Finance & Compliance Management

• In collaboration with the country's operations and finance departments, ensure proper financial management, procurement, administration, human resources, and logistics (including transport and asset management) needs of the program are conducted within Mercy Corps’ policy and with the maximum benefit to the program.
• Create and maintain systems to ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with programme, donor, and Mercy Corps’ needs.

Security

• Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
• Ensure that PROPEL activities are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

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.

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.

• Lead strategic direction and adaptive management of PROPEL in alignment with the dual approach: youth skills development and improved labor market ecosystem functioning.
• Facilitate Program Steering Committee meetings and ensure decision-making is evidence-driven.
• Ensure alignment between country-level strategies and regional program goals.
• Oversee regional and country implementation, work planning, reporting, and compliance with donor and Mercy Corps standards.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Lead the development of detailed implementation plans, flowing from annual strategic work plans, and ensure the delivery of the same.
• Maintain coherence between JA Africa and Mercy Corps roles, ensuring effective coordination.
• Ensure safeguarding, Do No Harm, GESI, and youth engagement principles are embedded.
• Drive adaptive learning approaches through collaboration with MEAL and technical teams.
• Serve as primary donor representative for PROPEL; lead reporting and communication.
• Strengthen partnerships with private-sector actors, government bodies, financial institutions, and ecosystem enablers.
• Promote visibility and thought leadership on youth employment across Africa.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Supervise and support regional technical leaders and country teams.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and professional development across partner organizations.
• Ensure strong coordination and information flow between Mercy Corps and JA Africa.
• In collaboration with the country's operations and finance departments, ensure proper financial management, procurement, administration, human resources, and logistics (including transport and asset management) needs of the program are conducted within Mercy Corps’ policy and with the maximum benefit to the program.
• Create and maintain systems to ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with programme, donor, and Mercy Corps’ needs.
• Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
• Ensure that PROPEL activities are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.
• Commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
• 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.
• 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.

• Strong understanding of African labor markets and youth employment dynamics.
• Proven donor engagement and representation experience.
• Very strong written and verbal communication skills (proficiency in English).
• The French language is a plus.
• Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.

• Master's degree in international development, economics, business, or a related field.
• 10+ years of leadership experience in complex, multi-country youth employment, market systems, or livelihoods programs.
• Demonstrated experience working through partnership models.