Description

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Program / Department / Team

Crisis Analysis at Mercy Corps seeks to leverage data and analysis to support context-appropriate, conflict-sensitive, and forward-thinking responses to complex crises. Crisis Analysis provides insights into the contextual backdrop to our programming as well as timely, dynamic and granular data and analysis that static needs and risk assessments alone cannot. By considering the root causes and systemic drivers of fragility in a holistic manner, Crisis Analysis can support the crafting of truly transformative solutions that Mercy Corps’ foundational resilience approach calls for. Through Crisis Analysis, we have carved out a niche among evidence and information providers in the humanitarian and development space, owing to the granularity, reactivity and holistic approach of our products, which focus on some of the most hard-to-reach, data-poor and complex contexts requiring assistance. This is underpinned by our status as an operational INGO, which ensures that our analysis products are practicable and relevant for humanitarian actors.

Typical products and services range from informal briefings to stakeholders to periodical reports, websites and dashboards, contributions to risk assessments, in-depth assessment of the political economy of a defined geography, deep-dives on specific thematics, ranging in themes from conflict and climate to market systems to governance.

The Position

Working under the guidance of the Interim Senior Director for Crisis Analytics (SDCA), the Crisis Analysis Manager will focus their expertise in three broad areas of engagement: active support to established, and set-up of new, field analysis teams; development and implementation of improved editorial, duty of care, and quality standards for research and analysis; and oversight of analysis content generation at global/regional level.

At the direction of the SDCA, the Crisis Analysis Manager will be expected to regularly provide direct support to Mercy Corps programs. This role is an accomplished manager who is comfortable supporting, starting and leading analysis teams in varied contexts at short notice. This may be in support of a new humanitarian emergency response, or in times of transition (in the context or the team) for existing CA teams. To this end, the Crisis Analysis Manager can expect to spend the majority of their time providing strategic advice to Country Directors/Directors of Programmes, and working collaboratively with country teams to produce effective analysis.  The Crisis Analysis Manager will work with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. Principal among these are: country-level analysis teams; Regional Directors; Country Directors; Global Security; Programme teams; TRaQ; Policy and Advocacy.

In supporting established and new analysis capabilities, under the guidance of the SDCA, the Crisis Analysis Manager will have full responsibility for start-up activities, beginning with gathering and interpreting information needs from the country management team and, where applicable, donor(s). Based on this, the Crisis Analysis Manager will develop and put in place management structures, policies, and recruit staff members. The Crisis Analysis Manager will retain management/oversight until team leaders are fully onboarded, then transition to providing ongoing governance and quality assurance – all in consultation and coordination with country and regional teams.

In developing robust but responsive editorial, quality and duty of care standards and policies, the Crisis Analysis Manager will be expected to work with a wide range of internal stakeholders across the global organization, as well as draw on external resources. S/he will also lead on operationalizing the policies and standards arising from this process at field level.

In addition, the Crisis Analysis Manager may be required to act as a focal point for developing, writing and promulgating analysis products addressing global or regional issues. This high-level analysis will seek to synergize and promote cross organizational insights, and provide a resource for relevant country management teams as well as supporting Global Mercy Corps initiatives. In undertaking this work, s/he would be expected to work with members of Mercy Corps HQ support teams

Essential Responsibilities

STRATEGY AND VISION

• Contribute to Mercy Corps’ Pathway to Possibility.

• Support the SDCA in the articulation of a vision and strategy for Crisis Analysis globally and in the key geographies where analysis functions/teams, tools and technology platforms are deployed.

• Ensure the implementation of the Global Crisis Analysis vision and strategy through established and new field analysis teams.

• Follow closely current events and major trends in the humanitarian/crisis response community, with a particular focus on emerging trends in analysis and cutting edge approaches. Align these priorities with existing field-based analysis where possible to keep outputs current and relevant.

• Strategically position Mercy Corps as a go-to organization on crisis analysis through regular contribution of analyses and reports.

• Develop and maintain an awareness of Mercy Corps’ culture and values as well as humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law.

• Support the appropriate integration of Crisis Analysis into Regional and Country Strategies.

INFLUENCE AND REPRESENTATION

• Produce and share with internal and external stakeholders sharp, timely and influential analysis on global or regional matters.

• Develop and nurture internal and external relationships and networks to ensure optimum communication of analyses and reports.

• As directed, attend relevant global fora, conferences, seminars to share and promote Mercy Corps products and approach to Crisis Analysis .

• Work with the advocacy, research, learning, communications and social media teams to promote Mercy Corps crisis analysis products in order to increase the organization’s profile, humanitarian voice and competitiveness, and to advance specific advocacy and influence goals.

• As directed, represent Mercy Corps to donors to promote and fund analysis work as well as global institutions for strategic partnerships where Mercy Corps analysis is valued and influential.

CRISIS ANALYSIS LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

• Establish and run new Crisis Analysis teams in conflict- and disaster-affected contexts, taking a formal position within the relevant country’s management structure, and taking responsibility for strategy, recruitment, establishment of Standard Operating Procedures, management structures, analytical outputs, etc.

• In times of transition, either due to changes in personnel or the context, take leadership of existing Crisis Analysis teams as above.

• Contribute to wider ELU discussions and initiatives, as required, promoting awareness of Crisis Analysis work across the ELU, as well as proactively identifying synergies and opportunities for cross-team collaboration for program impact.

• Serve as a key link for Crisis Analysis with TRaQ, Policy and Advocacy, Communications and other global teams. Maintain oversight over outputs, governance, recruitment and management of nominated Crisis Analysis teams as directed by SDCA

• Support the maintenance of governance structures for Crisis Analysis efforts and teams in any given geography.

• Assist country programs and regions with Crisis Analysis capabilities in planning annual goals, defining areas of expertise, and developing funding and advocacy plans including an effective communication mechanism for learning and coordination to achieve optimal impact.

• Ensure effective, transparent use of resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies/procedures.

• Work and/or liaise with wider Evidence and Learning Unit team members and other relevant Mercy Corps teams in case of new emergencies that may require Crisis Analysis support or projects requiring cross-team collaboration

• During field deployments, proactively work with country and regional leadership to develop a “Humanitarian Voice” that draws from the relevant crisis analysis. This could include development of brief statements to describe the humanitarian situation, evolving dynamics against relevant elements of context to tie to policy points and communications.

LEARNING AND IMPACT

• Support the Crisis Analysis team to develop and measure indicators and impact of Crisis Analysis activities on our programs, wider response efforts as well as Mercy Corps influence objectives. Identify improvements based on feedback from key stakeholders and promote adaptations as needed in crisis analysis approaches.

• Maintain a Mercy Corps’ community of crisis analysis practitioners and initiatives. • Publications of learnings: As needed, write case studies, learning documents, short articles, and blogs, for both internal and external audiences.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Interim Senior Director, Global Crisis Analysis

Works Directly With: Global Crisis Analysis Manager, Global Crisis Analysis Programme Ofiicer, Vice-President for Evidence and Learning Unit and the wider ELU, Country Leadership, Regional Directors, Advocacy, Research, Learning and Communications Teams, and other team members as needed.

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

• MA/S or equivalent in international development, political or social science management or other relevant field.

• Eight to 10 years’ experience in context analysis or other political-economic analyses.

• Substantive prior experience with an international organization engaged in fragile, crisis-affected countries, preferred.

• Experience of managing multidisciplinary teams.

• Program management experience in an international context.

• Exceptional writing, analytical and conceptualization skills. Strong verbal and written communications skills.

• Data science / GIS experience highly desirable

• Demonstrated understanding of the critical humanitarian/development and peace/conflict issues especially in fragile environments.

• Proven negotiation, communication, organization, and prioritization skills and experience.

• Strong representation and relationship-building skills.

• Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.

• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to Mercy Corps project sites and field locations, including traveling to insecure environments, is required.

Success Factors

The successful candidate must be a self-starter who brings flexibility, creativity, and enthusiasm to every project s/he undertakes. The candidate must have proven experience with program start up, implementation and learning of a few different types of projects. S/he is an excellent writer and communicator, has a proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results. Multi tasking with proven ability to manage competing priorities, follow procedures, and meet tight deadlines is required. The Crisis Analysis Manager must take an active role in building and maintaining relationships as well as demonstrating the drive and initiative to contribute to team efforts. It is essential the candidate is able to work closely with a diverse team of individuals in varied cultural, political, and religious environments doing intense and dynamic work. S/he will be able to influence and advocate with limited authority and work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders. S/he is proactive in seeking engagement and feedback.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The preferred position location is in Edinburgh, London or The Hague and requires regular travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard.

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

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.  

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work. 

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 elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.