Mercy Corps has been present in Uganda since 2006, focusing its interventions on economic and agricultural development, maternal child health and nutrition, governance, conflict management and humanitarian response. With funding from USAID, FCDO, DANIDA, AFD, ADA and private foundations, Mercy Corps has been able to work together with communities in Uganda to drive transformative change in the communities where we work, with a particular focus on addressing the needs of youth, refugees and adolescent girls in last mile and pastoralist communities. In 2023, Mercy Corps reached almost 1 million participants in Uganda through our work to build resilience and enable economic growth, improve access to energy, and strengthen governance and conflict management. Innovation is at the core of Mercy Corps’ work in Uganda, and we look to accelerate innovative solutions to meet the challenges Ugandans face, through a focus on climate change adaptation, access to energy, financial inclusion and economic opportunities for refugees and pastoralist communities.

General Position Summary
The Mercy Corps Uganda Country Director is an innovative and visionary leader responsible for resourcefully managing all programming in Uganda. Looking to build on interventions that have already achieved lasting improvement in the lives of more than 930,000 Ugandans, s/he will continue to build a high-performing portfolio of transformative, multi-sectoral programming that is accountable to both program participants and donors. Placing a high value on innovative solutions to complex development challenges and creative partnerships, s/he pursues funding opportunities and builds partnerships that strategically connect programs into a cohesive country portfolio, guided by a long-term strategy. With an overall portfolio of approximately $19 million, the Country Director has full supervisory responsibility for the country team. This is an exciting opportunity to influence key outcomes and make a lasting difference in the lives of Ugandans.

Essential Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision

Communicate a clear and compelling vision of present and future program goals and strategies to team members and external stakeholders that translates into concrete programs and work plans.
Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and maximize impact.
Lead the annual country planning process and provide strategic updates on notable achievements.
Work collaboratively with headquarters and regional technical support teams to access technical and operational support for program design and implementation.
Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where entrepreneurial thinking and alternative viewpoints are welcome. Remain current with key Mercy Corps’ key approaches, including resilience in fragile contexts, market systems development, cash-based programming, youth employment, systems thinking, etc.
Team Management

Recruit and lead an efficient, capable and high-performing team, with a particular emphasis on developing and promoting national talent.
Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one-on-ones and performance reviews.
Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
Program Operations Management

Apply Mercy Corps’ M&E principles and framework to programs and ensure the country’s overall strategy includes effective, timely reporting systems for all donors.
Ensure effective, transparent use of resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies/procedures.
Oversee budget management of sub-grantees/sub-contractors, if applicable.
Build and maintain operational systems that ensure proper administrative support for programs, as well as segregation of duties between finance and operations.
Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards (PM@MC) based on the organization-wide guide.
Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards, including efficient CARM and safeguarding mechanisms across all programs.