Location: UK or NL

If applying for location base in NL, a valid unrestricted right to work for EU  is required at the time of application for this position. 

Position Status: Permanent, Full Time

Salary: starting salary range UK: 37,040 GBP,  NL: 44,320 EUR  - commensurate on professional experience

Please apply with CV and cover letter before January 17th

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 

The Programs function at Mercy Corps supports its mission and works with program impact, innovation, and influence teams. The Program Function is composed of headquarters and regional departments which are guided by Mercy Corps global strategy: Pathway to Possibility (P2P) and works in close partnership with all other departments to deliver the highest quality programming and impactful results. The Programs function aligns closely with the Pathway to Possibility, and works to deliver on increased accountability, alignment, and fair and transparent resource allocation, while acting with its Core Behaviors of collaboration, curiosity, inclusion, and integrity at the forefront. The Programs function is a key steward of Mercy Corps’ strategic commitments and the integration of these commitments into programming, inclusive of: Climate Smart, Locally Led, Evidence Driven, Innovative & Creative, and Safe, Diverse & Inclusive.

The Evidence & Learning Unit sits within the Global Program Support Department and leads Mercy Corps’ efforts to use data, evidence, and analytics to improve programs, scale what works, and influence others. The Unit is composed of teams focused on Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), Research and Learning, Crisis Analysis, and Evidence Use, and works closely with regional, country, and programmatic counterparts and a range of evidence-related partnerships.

Mercy Corps’ Crisis Analysis teams aggregate and analyse data to improve decision making and access in complex crises. The teams support our programming in Syria, Nigeria, Lebanon, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other locations in a network that is undergoing rapid expansion and seeing increasing demand for new team setups and outputs. The teams directly contribute to data-driven decision making by layering information from primary sources, open sources and responders’ programmatic data, where it is analysed by subject matter experts and data scientists. This analysis is grounded in Mercy Corps’ status as an operational NGO, keeping our products constructive and relevant. The Global Crisis Analysis team provides leadership, support and strategic guidance to this capacity through three key mandate areas: (I) Supporting country-level Crisis Analysis capacity (II) Maintenance of centralised resources and a community of practice to support the production of high-quality and impactful analysis products (III) Ensuring sustainable funding models for Crisis Analysis capacities across Mercy Corps.

The Position

The Programme Officer (PO) supports the core three aspects of GCA’s mandate through administrative, communications and knowledge management support. This support also extends to country-level Crisis Analysis teams, including supporting their compliance with Mercy Corps policies and procedures. The PO plays a key role in maintaining and improving analytical standards within the teams, improving the effectiveness and visibility of their products and promoting the growth of a community of practice across teams.

Essential Responsibilities

COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION & KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT:

• Maintains and updates the Global Crisis Analysis team’s internal filing system ensuring it effectively acts as an accessible repository for resources to support accessibility, efficiency, institutional knowledge growth, coordination, and learning.
• Maintains various Crisis Analysis communication platforms including internal communication platforms (Workplace, SharePoint) and online knowledge management tools (Digital Library, The Hub, GAIT), as well as external webpages and social media to ensure visibility, accessibility and usability of analysis outputs.
• Designs and implements an effective and efficient system for the cataloguing of Crisis Analysis products by relevant categories, with required access limitations.
• Coordinates the Crisis Analysis community of practice of 50+ members via MS Teams, regular meetings, webinars, training courses etc., proactively suggesting new means of forging connectivity across the network.
• Working closely with Crisis Analysis teams, designs and produces regular newsletters showcasing Crisis Analysis products for distribution across Mercy Corps and with external partners. Leads the logistical organisation of agencywide webinars on analysis topics, ensuring their smooth running.
• Leads the compilation, review and distribution of quarterly impact reports for Crisis Analysis products
• Works with other members of the ELU, especially POs/APOs, to ensure efficient resource use and effective information sharing across the unit

FUNDRAISING, PROGRAMME AND GRANT ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT

• Maintains awareness of global funding opportunities by ongoing mapping and daily/weekly monitoring of funding sources and maintaining close interaction with Mercy Corps’ various business/resource development teams. Alerts the Global Crisis Analysis team to these potential opportunities and supports pre-positioning to respond with concept notes and proposals.

• Acts as point of responsibility for overall monitoring of grants/programmes for external/donor requirements as well as Mercy Corps’ internal policies and requirements. He/She provides ongoing monitoring of the status of programmes and completes regular check-ins on grant requirements (such as co-financing, budget versus actuals, data aggregation, etc.). They support CA country teams’ adherence to Mercy Corps internal policies and Programme Management minimum standards.

• Supports proposals when required, including information management, coordination, content support, reviews, managing submission. The PO reviews the final draft for coherence and donor requirements and manages submission.

ANALYSIS AND PRODUCT SUPPORT

• Plays a key role in the development of centralised resources for analysis production including methodologies, scopes of work, budgets and product templates. Ensures coherent storage and accessibility on Mercy Corps platforms to ensure use and uptake, monitors use and iterates knowledge management approach as needed.

• In accordance with experience and need, provides surge support to GCA team and country-level CA teams as requested, including conducting research, managing data, contributing analysis and preparing products for publication. In accordance with experience and need, provides surge support for country teams going through leadership transitions or during the set-up of a new team.

RECRUITMENT SUPPORT: 

• Support recruitment processes through provision and centralisation of required documentation, coordinating written tests and scoring, scheduling interviews and joining recruitment panels as requested. Ensures necessary documentation has been submitted to relevant departments for new hires/consultants/interns/etc.

• Leads GCA onboarding process for new Crisis Analysis team members. Uses centralised resources to develop accessible onboarding package and schedules introduction calls with GCA.

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

• Manages consultant contracts and invoices for Global Crisis Analysis, proactively monitoring and alerting GCA team for required renewal
• Manages administrative aspects of recruitment, procurement and other processes.
• Files documents shared by GCA team members and other CA teams to ensure seamless knowledge management
• Creates and maintains SOPs for GCA’s data management to ensure data sharing and storage practices are aligned with Mercy Corps policies and GDPR. Supports the Crisis Analysis network in improving data protection and information security in their work.
• Maintains tracking tools for the Crisis Analysis network team members and GCA consultants ensuring these are up-to-date and correspond with Outlook mailing lists
• Maintains and further develop the design of the GCA workplan to ensure it is up-to-date and fit for purpose
• Provides clear and concise notes of discussions and action points in weekly GCA team meetings. Schedule meetings on behalf of GCA team members and attend to take notes when requested.
• Manages the Crisis Analysis mailbox and forward items to relevant team members when action needed
• Responsible for the project management and successful completion of initiatives that increase the efficiency and quality of the Global Crisis Analysis team.

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

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director, Global Crisis Analysis

Works Directly With: Senior Director, Crisis Analysis Manager, Analyst (Global Crisis Analysis team); Teams Leads/Directors (Country-level Crisis Analysis teams)

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 Qualifications & Transferable Skills

• Educated to bachelor’s level, or equivalent experience.
• More than two years of experience in international relief and development and/or conflict/security/development/public policy research/analysis production; demonstrated knowledge of relevant sectoral and/or operational areas and/or more than two years of experience managing the development, implementation, administration and compliance of grants or undertaking general programme management
• Highly proficient in Microsoft apps and systems, experience using newsletter tools and creating visually appealing materials highly desirable.
• Experience in conflict, economic and/or humanitarian analysis preferred.
• French/Spanish/Arabic language skills desirable.
• Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in humanitarian response desirable.

Success Factors

• Proactive self-starter, able to work on own initiative and deliver on assigned tasks on time and on brief with minimal direction
• Ensures larger strategic objective of the team guide execution of tasks and are apparent in final deliverables
• A problem solver, adept in dealing with sometimes complex challenges and able to identify and propose creative solutions independently
• Enthusiasm to learn about Mercy Corps’ wider programming and Crisis Analysis specifically and the role it plays in supporting humanitarian response and development
• Ability and willingness to quickly learn internal processes and systems to ensure efficiencies
• Excellent planning and organisation skills, willing to guide team members to best practices
• A skilled, patient and persuasive communicator, able to develop strong relationships with staff and partners
• Able to harness the expertise, experience and ideas of colleagues and effectively use this to improve their own work and support that of others.
• Strong research and analytical skills. A skilled writer and synthesiser of diverse and complex information.
• A demonstrable passion for, and a clear empathy with, the organisation's aims and values.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally as required.
• Previous Mercy Corps experience is an asset.
• A good sense of humour.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in the UK or Netherlands and may require international travel, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.

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. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).

As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.

Our screening process is designed to be transparent and completed in partnership with new Team Members. You will have the opportunity to disclose any prior convictions at the conclusion of the recruitment process before the check is initiated. We ask that you do not disclose any prior convictions in your application materials or during the recruitment process.