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.
The Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps has been implementing multi-sectoral life-saving humanitarian programming across several Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Northeast Nigeria, particularly in Borno State, reaching vulnerable host communities and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Programming spans Nutrition, WASH, Food Security, Cash Assistance, Protection, and early recovery interventions delivered in complex and high-risk environments. In anticipation of humanitarian funding requiring immediate mobilization and scale-up, Mercy Corps seeks an experienced Emergency Response Team Leader to support rapid program start-up and ensure high-quality, accountable, and timely life-saving interventions.
General Position Summary
The Emergency Response Start-up Manager will provide leadership and coordination for humanitarian program implementation in Borno & Yobe States. The position holder will ensure rapid start-up of activities, establishment of operational systems, and effective coordination across program, operations, finance, and MEL teams.
The role will focus on:
Ensuring immediate operational readiness and structured work planning
Establishing program management tools including detail work plan, procurement plan and budget tracking tools
Strengthening coordination, accountability, and quality during rapid scale-up
Supporting field-level leadership to deliver high-impact life-saving programming
The position reports directly to the Humanitarian Programs Director and works closely with sector leads, operations, finance, and MEL teams.
Essential Responsibilities
STRATEGY & START-UP MANAGEMENT
Lead rapid start-up of humanitarian interventions in line with donor requirements and Mercy Corps standards.
Develop and operationalize detailed implementation workplans, sector timelines, and start-up checklists.
Establish practical program management tools including budget trackers, activity trackers, and field monitoring dashboards.
Ensure clear role delineation and coordination mechanisms across program and support teams.
Support early identification of implementation risks and mitigation strategies.
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION & QUALITY
Oversee field implementation to ensure activities are delivered on time, on target, and on budget.
Ensure adherence to Mercy Corps technical standards, Sphere standards, protection mainstreaming, and Do No Harm principles.
Support program managers in troubleshooting operational bottlenecks and maintaining implementation momentum.
Ensure strong coordination between program, supply chain, finance, and MEL teams to enable smooth delivery.
Promote adaptive management by ensuring field feedback and monitoring data inform real-time adjustments.
FINANCE, BUDGET & COMPLIANCE OVERSIGHT
Establish and monitor budget tracking tools to ensure timely burn rates and prevent under and overspending.
Conduct regular BvA reviews with program and finance teams during the start-up phase.
Ensure compliance with donor regulations and Mercy Corps financial procedures.
Support accurate and timely reporting aligned with donor expectations.
COORDINATION & REPRESENTATION
Represent Mercy Corps in coordination forums as delegated by the Humanitarian Programs Director.
Strengthen relationships with local authorities, partners, and coordination bodies.
Ensure alignment with OCHA coordination structures and humanitarian architecture in Borno State.
TEAM LEADERSHIP & CAPACITY SUPPORT
Provide mentoring and structured support to sector leads and program managers.
Promote accountability, collaboration, and high performance across the emergency team.
Support recruitment, onboarding, and orientation of surge staff where necessary.
Foster a culture of teamwork, urgency, and professionalism during rapid response operations.
SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES
Actively learns 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.
ACCOUNTABILITY TO PARTICIPANTS
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to program participants, community partners, and other stakeholders, and to international humanitarian standards guiding relief and development work. The Emergency Response Team Leader will ensure that community accountability mechanisms are functional and integrated from program inception.
Supervisory Responsibility
Program Managers (WASH Program Manager, Nutrition Program Manager)
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Humanitarian Program Director
Works Directly With: Senior Programs Manager, Sector Program managers, Finance Department, Human Resources Department, Operations Department, and PaQ Director
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 required; master’s degree in humanitarian studies, international development, or related field preferred.
Minimum 7–10 years of humanitarian programming experience, including leadership in emergency response contexts.
Demonstrated experience in rapid program start-up and large-scale humanitarian implementation.
Strong knowledge of donor compliance requirements (e.g., OCHA, BHA, ECHO, etc.).
Proven ability to establish program management systems including workplans, budget trackers, and monitoring tools.
Experience working in insecure and conflict-affected environments required.
Strong leadership, coordination, and problem-solving skills.
Fluent written and spoken English required.
Success Factors
The successful candidate will be a decisive and adaptive humanitarian leader with strong operational discipline. S/he will combine strategic thinking with practical execution, ensuring that systems are established early and implementation progresses efficiently. The role requires strong coordination skills, financial oversight awareness, and the ability to drive urgency without compromising quality or accountability.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
This is an unaccompanied position based in Maiduguri, Borno State. The position holder will reside in shared staff housing in accordance with Mercy Corps policies. Living conditions are basic but functional, with access to essential amenities, health services (including medical evacuation options), internet, and mobile connectivity.
Maiduguri is a high-risk operational environment. Travel to operational areas is required and is conducted primarily via UNHAS scheduled flights in line with security protocols. All movements are closely coordinated and monitored by the country security team, and strict adherence to security procedures is mandatory.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours and are expected to conduct themselves professionally, respecting local laws, customs, and Mercy Corps policies always. Mercy Corps is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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
Team Engagement and Effectiveness
Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.
We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.
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 e-learning 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]).
