Area Coordinators -Border Security Programme

Role Overview

The Border Security Programme Area Coordinator brings partner activities together across an assigned area in Kenya, turning programme priorities into coordinated workplans and keeping delivery on schedule and within budget. Reporting to the Kenya Country Lead, the Coordinator works closely with programme teams, local partners and government counterparts to address implementation challenges, strengthen collaboration and ensure activities contribute to shared programme outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate partner activities across the area, checking that work is appropriately sequenced, complementary and consistent with the wider programme plan.
• Work with the Kenya Country Lead and outcome leads to prepare and revise quarterly area workplans; convene regular coordination meetings with partners.
• Monitor progress against agreed plans, identify delays, gaps and duplication, recommend practical responses, and share area updates and lessons at quarterly programme meetings.
• Maintain the area risk register, reviewing it at least quarterly and raising significant concerns promptly.
• Serve as the everyday coordination link among consortium partners, local implementing partners and programme outcome leads; verify partner activities and track delivery against milestones.
• Advise programme leadership on milestone payments or corrective measures when partner performance requires follow-up, and identify ways to connect activities across partners and outcomes.
• Build working relationships with county and national government offices, provide regular programme updates, support joint field visits and enable government participation in planning and activities.
• Represent Mercy Corps and the programme in local coordination forums in consultation with programme leadership; coordinate operational support with finance, procurement, logistics, HR and administration teams.
• Work with the security focal point to plan activities using appropriate security analysis, and support the MEL team to collect and use area data for programme adaptation and learning.
• Apply safeguarding practices, promote respectful treatment of participants and colleagues, and encourage team members to raise concerns through established reporting channels.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in programme management, development studies, migration, security sector or police reform, border or security management, or a related field.
• At least five years of relevant experience delivering or coordinating multisector programmes, including work involving security, governance or policing, strategic planning and programme implementation.
• Experience coordinating complex programmes and multiple activities, building links between workstreams, and using adaptive management and participatory approaches in programme design, delivery and evaluation.
• Strong coordination, management and decision-making abilities, with sound project planning, organisation, attention to detail and capacity to anticipate programme and operational needs.
• Working knowledge of finance, procurement, administration and logistics systems, including experience with remote management.
• Experience engaging sub-national government, international NGOs, national NGOs and local stakeholders; a clear commitment to strengthening local capacity and involving stakeholders in project design and delivery.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse national and international colleagues and partners.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strong spoken and written English and Swahili are required. Knowledge of the relevant local language for the assigned area is required; an additional relevant local language is an advantage.

What We Offer / Why Join

This position offers the opportunity to bring government, community and programme partners into closer alignment, while supporting accountable, locally informed delivery of border security activities. The role has no direct supervisory responsibilities.