MCC Representative for Mozambique Volunteer

Job Synopsis

The MCC Representative oversee all aspects of the MCC Mozambique program. This includes building on annual and strategic program direction/planning, budgeting, developing and supporting national staff and expatriate volunteers, developing and overseeing partnership relationships/grants and the provision of other kinds of technical and PME&R (Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting) support, and maintaining key relationships and networks.

An MCC Rep role may be filled with a married couple sharing the role, with a single person, or with a married candidate whose spouse is not interested in a Rep role, in which case MCC would discuss possible roles for the spouse. MCC will consider a variety of options to support the Rep in their roles and responsibilities, based on the qualified candidates who apply.

Job Details

Salaried Employee -Full Time at 1 FTE

Qualifications

All MCC workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to: a personal Christian faith and discipleship; active participation in a Christian church or Christian community; and nonviolent peacemaking. MCC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to employment equity. MCC values diversity and invites all qualified candidates to apply.

Required for all MCC Representative Positions:
Minimum Education Level: BA/BSc or equivalent
Minimum Experience: International experience and MCC experience preferred

Invitations to serve with MCC are contingent on the successful outcome of criminal background check(s).

1. Relational Skills: Ability to form, foster and maintain positive, working relationships with MCC service workers, MCC staff, local churches and MCC partners, building trust by demonstrating integrity in actions and communications and modeling the values of the organization. Ability to create an environment on the team that is supportive of staff who may experience oppression or sexual violence.
2. Supervisory Skills: Ability to manage/supervise personnel, which includes staff appointments and terminations, performance appraisals, interpreting and enforcing policies, conflict resolutions/problem solving and development of staff (in cooperation with the Human Resources Department).
3. Computer Literacy: Ability to use email programs, navigate the internet, locate resources, use Microsoft Excel and Word. Ability to navigate and use MCC specific databases for the purpose of planning, monitoring, evaluation, and recording.
4. Adaptability: Ability to adapt as needed to work effectively in ambiguous or changing situations and with diverse individuals and groups.
5. Analytical Thinking: Ability to analyze and synthesize information to understand issues, identify options and support sound decision making.
6. Planning and Organizing: Ability to develop, implement, evaluate and adjust plans to reach goals, ensuring the optimal use of resources.
7. Initiative: Ability to be proactive and persistent in efforts, identifying opportunities and needs then taking action for resolution.
8. Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with others to achieve organizational goals, taking actions that respect the needs and contributions of others.
9. Communication: Ability to listen, to model open communication and foster good will among others.
10. Self-awareness: Ability to understand one’s own emotional framework, maintain a non-defensive posture and manage personal reactivity when leadership is challenged.
11. Cross cultural/multi-cultural awareness: Ability to work with issues of equity in a cross-cultural setting.
12. Financial Management: Ability to successfully manage MCC resources within a country program.
13. Program, Monitoring and Evaluation: Ability to understand and implement Program, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Results based management.
14. Previous experience in making well-informed, effective and timely decisions, taking into consideration impact and implications within local and regional context.
15. Demonstrated ability to serve as MCC Representative without bias or conflict of interest, with ability to withstand intense pressure from local constituents.

For this specific assignment:

1. Creativity and Innovation: Ability to generate new approaches and viable solutions.
2. Organizational Awareness: An understanding of the structure and organizational culture of large non-profit organizations, such as MCC, and ability to work successfully within the structure to achieve results.
3. Development of Others: Ability to foster worker development by providing a supportive learning environment.
4. Partnering: Ability to seek and build alliances that further MCC objectives and benefit all people.
5. Conflict Resolution: Ability to bring conflict and dissent between others into the open to arrive at constructive solution while maintaining positive relationships with all parties.
6. Risk Taking: Ability to identify, assess and manage risk while striving to attain objectives.
7. Strategic Thinking: Ability to understand and process complex information and exercise sound judgment, considering the situation, the issues and the key players. Is able to propose course(s) of action that further the objectives, priorities and vision of the program and/or MCC.
8. Team Leadership: Assumes a leadership role in helping others achieve excellent results.
9. Writing Skills: Can communicate ideas and information in writing to ensure that information and messages are understood and have the desired impact.

Key Responsibilities

1. MCC Vision and Mission – Be the carrier/communicator of institutional identity in relationship to: Local partners, church, government, other international NGOs ii. MCC workers: Nurture understanding of and respect for MCC values and witness; reflect upon and communicate the spirituality of the team

2. Oversight of Country Program – Direct and oversee implementation of regional priorities and country-specific strategies

a.Select, build, maintain and strengthen relationships with partners
b. Prepare and administer long-term country strategies
c. Plan, monitor, report and evaluate projects
d. Facilitate, coordinate and respond to disasters, including those that generate unexpected additional resources and require shifts in focus of time/energy and requiring development of immediate and/or short term plans
e. Understand and ensure compliance with local laws vi. Coordinate and strengthen local advisory committees

3. Management of MCC Resources

a. Prepare, monitor and evaluate annual goals and objectives in the context of a multi-year strategic plan
b. Prepare and monitor budgets in accordance with strategic and annual plans and in alignment with Financial Management Policies
c. Develop and monitor financial record-keeping and reporting, taking corrective action where needed
d. Develop and maintain lists of inventories of equipment, including computers, vehicles, etc. along with replacement plans e. Maintain and update registration documents in respective countries
f. Ensure resource stewardship across the country
g. Prepare and monitor project reporting
h. Receive and respond to worker reports
i. Ensure maintenance of personnel records and other documents for MCC Records and Archives
j. Manage Material Resources distribution as needed
k. Provide information about the country situation…. through PlanWin, Annual Plans and Reports, Learning Tours, and written communication.

4. Select, supervise, and motivate MCC workers: International Service Workers, International Staff and National staff

a. Negotiate suitable assignments and write assignment descriptions
b. Select highly qualified international staff and national staff using predetermined criteria based on job content and organizational values
c. Provide orientation for new workers, including language study
d. Create an environment where all individuals are comfortable openly addressing concerns/opinions
e. Ensure spiritual, emotional and professional support for workers
f. Monitor relationships between workers and partners with whom they work
g. Implement MCC Human Resource policies and assist in policy interpretation for workers
h. Conduct timely performance appraisals and End-of-Term reports for service workers and international staff
i. Ensure workers’ compliance with MCC values and witness
j. Develop and/or monitor compensation, benefits and policies for national staff

5. Teambuilding: build and maintain MCC personnel team

a. Clarify team expectations regularly
b. Monitor team relationships
c. Lead team in decision making
d. Demonstrates skill in resolving difficult situations, drawing on a variety of resources

6. Hospitality: arrange for hospitality as needed

a. MCC program and support staff, as well as MCC constituents from North America
b. Others who are travelling in the country and who are interested in the work of MCC

7. Represent the Country to MCC and Constituents

a. Cultivate and maintain awareness of the political, economic, social, cultural, and historical contexts of the country/region
b. Provide information about the situation, needs and resources of the country/region to the Associate /Area Directors and others within MCC and to MCC constituency

8. Relate to the local church

a. Maintain good relationships with local Anabaptist churches by: minimally visiting churches and church leaders, attending their annual meetings, and including their representatives on advisory committees
b. Regular attend a local congregation

Challenges

Extreme Heat;Political instability;Security issues;Occasional overnights;Local church not supportive to LGBTQ+ persons

Start Date

01 Jul, 2025

Term Length

4-5 years

Salary Details

. Compensation for international roles is calculated based on prior experience and anticipated living expenses of the household in the location of service.

Benefits

In addition to a monthly compensation amount based on the sum of relevant allowances, MCC Rep would receive the following benefits;

Travel expenses to and from assignment,
Housing,
Transportation related to work,
Education for children benefit,
Retirement Plan,
Life Insurance and Death Benefits,
Student Loan reimbursement benefit,
and End-of-term benefits

Location Description

Mozambique is twice the size of California, stretched along the Indian Ocean. Beira, where the MCC country office is located, is in Sofala Province, on the low-lying Indian Ocean coast, in the center of Mozambique. It has a hot, tropical climate, with lots of rainfall, mostly November-March. Seafood and fresh fruits and vegetables are available, varying with the season. With some 582,090 people in 2017, the last official census, it is the second-largest city in Mozambique, but the vast majority of people are unemployed and poverty is widespread. Basic supplies are available locally, and there are several modern supermarkets; but specialty items sometimes need to be brought from elsewhere. The government medical system provides care, though in a poor country all services are stretched and the level of care is very minimal. Higher levels of care are available at private clinics that are somewhat costly.

Schooling for children up through 9th grade is available in small private English or Portuguese schools (which use curricula from either Mozambique or Portugal). Government schools are seriously overcrowded and poorly resourced, though the government is working hard to improve the system. Some churches have services in Portuguese, many in local languages, and there is an English-language international fellowship.

People travel by car, on mini-bus routes, a few larger inter-city buses, bicycle, or taxi. Traffic is lazily disorderly, and as Beira is flat, bicycle transport is easy. Airline flights connect Beira to major Mozambican cities and to Johannesburg. One must use good “street smarts” as in any place in the world, but violent crime rates are low in Mozambique compared to neighboring countries.

Mozambique is still grappling with a military insurgency in parts of the gas- rich northern province of Cabo- Delgado. The insurgency has been considerably weakened in the last few years though it continues to pose a threat to the local population in the province of Cabo- Delgado.

MCC has the benefit of a long relationship with the Christian Council of Mozambique (since the 1970s) and with other partners. There is a growing Brethren-in-Christ Church.

The Portuguese language is essential for work and relationships in the country. Initial language study may take up to three months, depending on one’s prior language knowledge. Language training will be provided by MCC.

The MCC Mozambique program currently has 7 projects, 7 partners, and 5 personnel.

An essential part of this position is relationship management with the government. Registration and personal work permit applications take meetings and/or documentation from all government departments MCC programming falls under. Attention to protocol and changing government requirements is essential.

Tagged as: Mennonite Central Committee, Mozambique