Program Manager Market Systems for Employment (MS4E) promoting Resilience (PROPEL program) - Dakar, Senegal

About the Position

Program Manager Market Systems for Employment (MS4E) promoting Resilience (PROPEL program) - Dakar, Senegal

Mercy Corps is seeking a Program Manager Market Systems for Employment (MS4E) to lead the PROPEL program in Dakar, Senegal, focusing on youth employment and market systems development.

Responsibilities

Strategy and Planning

• Lead the development of annual and quarterly work plans aligned with PROPEL’s regional strategy and country context
• Conduct and continuously update Political Economy Analysis (PEA) to understand incentives, power dynamics, and constraints affecting youth employment systems
• Integrate PEA insights into program design, partner selection, and adaptive management processes
• Align program interventions with labor market demand and private sector needs
• Ensure strategic coherence between youth employment pathways, market systems development, and program outcomes

Program Implementation & Private Sector Engagement

• Lead day-to-day implementation of all PROPEL activities in-country, ensuring quality, timeliness, and results delivery. Identify, engage, and manage partnerships with lead firms and private sector actors to co-create employment opportunities
• Facilitate private sector-led models such as apprenticeships, job placements, and business service provision
• Promote co-investment and ownership by private sector partners to ensure sustainability
• Ensure a shift from supply-driven training approaches to demand-driven employment pathways

Youth Segmentation & Inclusion (NEET Focus)

• Apply structured youth segmentation frameworks to categorize target groups based on employability and vulnerability
• Design and implement tailored pathways for NEET youth, including foundational skills, job readiness, and enterprise development
• Prioritize inclusion of women, marginalized groups, and displaced populations where relevant
• Establish systems to track youth progression across employment pathways and outcomes
• Ensure interventions are responsive to barriers faced by NEET youth, including access, mobility, and skills gaps

Partnerships & Ecosystem Development

• Serve as the primary in-country representative of PROPEL in engagement with stakeholders
• Build and manage strategic partnerships with government, private sector, training institutions, and financial actors
• Strengthen ecosystem functions such as skills development systems, market information flows, and access to finance
• Facilitate coordination with implementing partners and align interventions across stakeholders
• Promote collaboration and alignment with national priorities and sector strategies

MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning)

• Oversee implementation of MEAL systems that capture both program outputs and systemic change
• Track changes in private sector behaviour, youth employment outcomes, and effectiveness of intervention models
• Integrate learning loops informed by ongoing analysis, including updates from PEA
• Ensure timely and high-quality reporting to regional teams and donors
• Promote a culture of learning, reflection, and continuous improvement within the country team

Financial & Operational Management

• Oversee all financial and operational aspects of the program at the country level, including budget management, procurement processes, and the administration of grants and sub-awards
• Ensure full compliance with donor requirements and Mercy Corps policies while promoting efficiency, accountability, and value for money in the use of resources

Risk Management

• Proactively identify and manage risks associated with program implementation, drawing on key stakeholder views/Political Economy Analysis to anticipate market distortion
• Develop and implement appropriate mitigation strategies to safeguard program integrity and ensure that interventions remain inclusive, transparent, and aligned with intended outcomes

General Office Management

• Provide overall leadership and management of the office, ensuring a well-run working environment that supports staff productivity and wellbeing
• Oversee staff presence, and adherence to office policies, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and engagement across teams
• Direct day-to-day office operations, including ensuring systems and resources are in place for smooth functioning
• Serve as the senior point of accountability for office compliance with organisational policies and local regulations
• Approve payments for Senegal-based projects in line with delegated financial authority and internal control procedures (AAM)
• Liaise with senior leadership and country/regional teams to align office operations with broader organisational priorities and represent the office in relevant internal and external forums

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Actively integrate safeguarding principles into all aspects of program delivery, ensuring that the dignity, safety, and well-being of participants and staff are prioritized
• Promote a culture of openness, accountability, and adherence to Mercy Corps values, while encouraging the use of established reporting mechanisms for any concerns

Requirements

• Master’s degree in economics, Development Studies, Business Administration, or a related field
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive experience in market systems development (MSD), youth employment, or livelihoods programming
• Demonstrated experience engaging and partnering with the private sector to design and implement market-driven interventions
• Strong experience managing multi-partner, donor-funded programs, including implementation oversight and reporting
• Solid understanding of labor market systems and youth employment dynamics, particularly barriers affecting NEET populations
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams and coordinating diverse stakeholders
• Fluent in French and English, knowledge of local language is a plus

We Offer

• Competitive salary starting at Francs CFA 1M540K, valorized based on professional experience
• Full-time position with an estimated duration up to 3 years contingent on funding
• Travel: up to 70% in-country
• Professional development: 5% of time dedicated to learning activities

About the Company

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.

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Location: Dakar, Senegal

Position Status and duration: Full-time, estimated duration up to 3 years contingent on funding

Salary: Francs CFA 1M540K - valorized based on professional experience

Travel: up to 70% in-country

Language: Required fluency in French and English

Eligibility: Open to nationals of Senegal and residents with independent right to work in Senegal

Closing date: Submit your application and CV in English by the end of July 20, 2026

Risk Level: Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.

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