Temporary - Sr. Advisor, Youth Employment - Technical Resources and Quality Team (6 months)
Description
Location: Remote within the US, UK, or Kenya preferred, open to any location where Mercy Corps is registered
Valid unrestricted work authorization in the country in which you will be based is required at the time of application for this position. We may be open to considering candidates based in other locations, depending on work authorization and our registration status.
Position Status: Full Time, Temporary (6 months)
Starting Salary Range: The salary range for this role is $76,000 - $85,000 for US-based candidates. The starting salary for UK-based candidates is 53,360 GBP. The salary range will be based on local benchmark for candidates outside of the US and UK, and will be provided upon request.
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a global team of humanitarians and development professionals working together to create a future of possibility, where everyone can prosper. In more than 40+ countries around the world, over 5,400+ team members work side by side with people living through poverty, disaster, violent conflict, and the acute impacts of climate change. We’re committed to creating global change through local impact — 84% of our team members are from the countries where they work.
We bring a comprehensive approach to every challenge, addressing problems from multiple angles. And we go beyond emergency aid, partnering with local governments, forward-thinking corporations, social entrepreneurs, and people living in fragile communities to develop bold solutions that make lasting change possible.
About the Team
The Technical Resources and Quality (TRaQ) team has nine technical and cross-cutting thematic teams, Climate and Water Security, Economic Opportunity, Food Security, Peace and Governance, Global Resilience, Social Inclusion, Cash, Infrastructure, Training and Program Standards. This position will be part of the Youth Employment team, which sits within the Economic Opportunities team. The Youth Employment team has established goals and strategies that will guide the Senior Advisor’s work
The TRaQ Team is an integral part of the Program Department that supports country-led work to deliver impact, leads agency thinking in key technical and program management areas, and ensures quality programing while maintaining agency visibility with key audiences. TRaQ’s goal is to equip our global programs with the most effective technical solutions and quality program management tools to tackle the world’s toughest challenges, while simultaneously building our global reputation and technical resources.
The broader Programs Department is composed of headquarters and regional departments which are guided by Mercy Corps global strategy: Pathway to Possibility. It is composed of regional and country teams which implement our programs, as well as headquarter teams which provide support to programs, to deliver the highest quality programming and impactful results. The Programs Department is a key steward of Mercy Corps’ strategic commitments - Climate Smart, Locally Led, Evidence Driven, Innovative and Creative, and Safe, Diverse and Inclusive – and the integration of these commitments into programming. Our Core Behaviors of collaboration, curiosity, inclusion, and integrity are at the forefront of all our work.
The Position
The Youth Employment team supports programming that facilitates more work, better work, or better access to work for young people, women and other marginalized people. This enables individuals, businesses and markets to become more resilient to conflict and climate related shocks and stresses. The Youth Employment team focuses on three major workstreams – market system development for employment (MSD4E), jobtech, and green jobs.
The Senior Advisor has both an internal and external facing role. Internally, the Senior Advisor provides technical support to Mercy Corps program working on employment. Support includes designing and developing programs, assessing and enhancing program quality including through providing technical advisory support directly to programs, writing proposals for donors, providing training, supporting learning, and supporting program, country and region teams with their strategies as these relate to Youth Employment. Externally, the Senior Advisor’s role involves maintaining current knowledge on industry best practices, disseminating information, evidence and learning to external partners, representing Mercy Corps at key events, and building a network of key relationships with external partners. The Senior Advisor will also build the capacity of their peers and the organization during their role.
This role will have particular responsibility for supporting and growing our MSD4E work. This involves working closely with the Director of Youth Employment, with our internal ‘portfolio’ of programs using the MSD4E approach, and with the external MSD4E community of practice to establish best practices in MSD4E based on learning from programs, evidence from research, and technical rigor drawn from long-established MSD principles. The Senior Advisor will play a key role in growing both the quantity and the quality of programs within Mercy Corps applying an MSD4E approach.
Part of the Senior Advisor’s responsibilities will be to work closely with our ‘Markets’ TraQ team, responsible for Mercy Corps’ MSD work across all sectors. This is particularly relevant as it relates to guidance, tools and knowledge management - where the Senior Advisor develops new or innovative guidance and approaches for MSD4E, part of the role will be to connect these to the wider body of MSD guidance within Mercy Corps, including developing adapted versions for MSD programs in other sectors to use where appropriate.
Essential Responsibilities
PROGRAM DESIGN AND PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT
- Write and review grant proposals and concept notes for donors including foundations, corporations, and government agencies, with a focus on harnessing Mercy Corps’ key technical approaches - especially MSD4E - within the design of new programs.
- Research, analyze, and assess data to determine program needs, priorities, and Mercy Corps’ advantages for funding; maintain knowledge of development strategies by governmental, academic, and non-profit groups.
- Collaborate with program, country, regional, and TRaQ teams on prepositioning and strategy development, and designing multi-sectoral programs that meet the outcomes and commitments in Mercy Corps’ 10-year strategy.
PROGRAM QUALITY
- Provide technical support to Mercy Corps’ teams globally, including those in complex crisis environments; support effective interventions – particularly in MSD4E programs - through integrated approaches and systems thinking.
- Support teams to maintain standards of program delivery through application of agency approaches – particularly MSD4E (as well as jobtech and green jobs) - and to maintain compliance with relevant regulations and requirements.
- Increase program capacity within Mercy Corps through developing and circulating tools such as training and workshops, manuals and guidance, case studies, webinars, and monitoring and evaluation tools; Collaborate with the Youth Employment team to set and execute strategies addressing agency-wide program quality needs, particularly in our MSD4E workstream.
- Grow the quality and quantity of programs using MSD4E by proactively engaging with Mercy Corps country, region and program teams, and by communicating effectively, regularly and frequently within Mercy Corps about MSD4E
- Work with the youth employment team to identify potential collaboration points between the MSD4E and Jobtech initiatives, including incorporating Jobtech into MSD4E programmes, as well as to encourage programmes in the Jobtech portfolio to take an MSD4E approach. Incorporate a green jobs angle where appropriate, in line with Mercy Corps’ green jobs approach.
LEARNING AND IMPACT
- Provide in-country and remote training for Mercy Corps staff, partners, and programs, including leading MSD4E training
- Run and continue to grow the MSD4E community of practice across Mercy Corps to strengthen program quality, facilitate cross-learning, and build a community of technical experts.
- Develop guidance, tools and resources that scale technical support – primarily on MSD4E - to a wider group of programs, and that provide a reference for program teams
- Collaborate with the Markets TRaQ team to adapt MSD4E guidance and tools to be relevant to Mercy Corps’ wider portfolio of MSD programs, and to connect MSD4E resources to MSD resources and toolkits.
INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION
- Represent Mercy Corps at academic events, conferences, media forums, and other events, to cultivate relationships and establish Mercy Corps’ voice as a thought leader in youth employment, particularly MSD4E
- Contribute to thought leadership in MSD4E
- Identify and nurture strategic partnerships with other organizations and institutions; present concepts and ideas to donors, partners, and peer organizations that influence them to drive innovation and positive change.
- In collaboration with the research and learning team, support program teams to develop and disseminate learning briefs, case studies, blogs and other communication pieces on MSD4E (and, where relevant, our other strategic approaches)
- Stay up-to-date with the latest developments in MSD4E, including through connecting with the global MSD4E interagency community of practice
PERSONAL LEADERSHIP
Demonstrate exceptional leadership by consistently delivering expectations and maintaining composure, even in challenging situations.
- Embrace a growth mindset, actively seek diverse perspectives, and welcome feedback to drive continuous improvement.
- Maintain the highest ethical standards, treating all individuals with respect and dignity.
- Demonstrate professionalism in all aspects of life, ensuring that your conduct reflects positively on Mercy Corps and does not compromise its mission or work.
- Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.
SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES
- Actively learns about 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
Supervisory Responsibility
None
Accountability
- Reports Directly To: Senior Director Economic Opportunities
- Works Directly With: Youth Employment TRaQ team, Director of Markets, Markets TraQ team, all other TRaQ teams, Global, Regional and Program teams, external partners
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
- 5 to 7 years of experience required providing increasingly proficient technical support in Market Systems Development that includes:
- Grant writing, research, and proposal development.
- Leading all aspects of large and complex proposals and managing integrated grant writing teams.
- Delivering capacity building (training, coaching, and/or other related processes) for program teams.
- Producing and publishing influential articles and blogs (please include links to samples on your CV)
- A proven ability to combine strong theoretical and applied knowledge of MSD using integrated (sectoral and MSD) approaches and applying systems thinking.
- Experience in or knowledge of youth employment programming and labor markets strongly preferred.
- Practical field experience required, which demonstrates an ability to successfully adapt support to real-world complexities, typically over the course of 2 years, This could include:
- A temporary duration field assignment, longer-term field assignment, or living in a field location to work in a country or field office.
- An emergency response assignment or other crisis response work
- Managing and implementing successful programs.
- Bachelor’s degree required. M.A. or equivalent in a relevant field and/or relevant technical certifications preferred.
- Familiarity with major donors such as USAID, FCDO, Sida, other European bilateral donors, the EC and relevant foundations and corporations.
- Fluency in English, including exceptional written English language skills, is required; fluency in another language preferred (French, Spanish or Arabic strongly preferred).
Success Factors
The Senior Advisor will have significant experience adjusting technical theories to real world complexities; program management/implementation experience is a strong plus. The person must have exceptionally strong relationship skills – including an ability to build strong partnerships with program teams working in challenging contexts, both demonstrating empathy and being willing and able to challenge. The individual should have the proven ability to influence donors, partners, and peer organizations toward innovative programs and best practices. The Senior Advisor must take a lead role in building and maintaining external relationships as well as demonstrating the drive and initiative to contribute to internal team efforts, including responding to program support requests and providing technical support on program design. The Senior Advisor will have a proven ability to take initiative, work proactively, lead workstreams, and deliver reliably.
At Mercy Corps, we value team members who embrace curiosity, act with integrity, and foster an environment of inclusion and collaboration. Our successful team members work effectively in evolving and dynamic environments, prioritize clear communication, and build collaborative relationships across departments. They interact with all global team members with an inclusive approach and excel at multitasking, meeting deadlines, and processing information to support our changing program activities.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position can be based in any country where Mercy Corps has an office. Timezones that overlap significantly with countries in Africa and the Middle East are preferred, though other locations will be considered. The typical travel load is approximately 25%, but this varies from quarter-to-quarter and the role requires up to 40% travel to support country programs. This may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. The role is envisioned to be remote, but if the candidate is based within commuting distance of a Mercy Corps office and prefers hybrid or onsite working arrangements, this can be negotiated.
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 and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
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.