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.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps works to achieve real and lasting impact in the world’s toughest humanitarian emergencies. We save lives and help people live with dignity in crises of all kinds. At the same time, we create the conditions to pivot to innovative and transformative recovery quickly and effectively. We work wherever local capacity is overwhelmed, connecting people to the opportunities they need to strengthen their community in recovery. Whether it is a sudden shock or a slowly emerging crisis, whether the threat is natural or man-made, no matter how complex the environment, Mercy Corps is committed to bold, rapid, needs-driven assistance. Mercy Corps supports a response that is market-driven and leverages the capacities of both traditional and non-traditional aid partners—and ultimately gives people the ability to make their own decisions and secure their own lives and livelihoods. 

Mercy Corps fields approximately 4,000 staff in over 40 countries around the world.  Many, if not most of these countries exhibit extraordinary security environments with all trend analysis indicating that these security conditions will persist. At Mercy Corps, our security strategies are based on a risk management approach. We primarily strive for security strategies in which mitigation measures are primarily founded upon community acceptance. We recognize every context is different and when and where necessary, we will integrate protection and deterrent measures towards security. We will adapt to meet the specific requirements of each operating environment; and in some cases, this may require a blended approach which integrates elements of deterrence and protection to ensure we are operating safely. Our goal is to be the leading NGO responding to complex crises and to do this we must be best in class for adaptive risk management and sound security policies and practices.

The Position

The Deputy Director will support the Senior Director Global Security in shaping Mercy Corps’ global security policies and operating approaches as well as manage a team of security advisors to meet that goal. With a strong emergency background and deep understanding of the humanitarian landscape, the Deputy Director will work closely with field and headquarter team members to better assess risks and design strategies for reducing vulnerability and enhancing staff safety. They will inform and work with HQ departments to ensure agency policy and practices best support field realities around security. They will lead our global tracking of security trends to, where possible, enable early warning of emerging threats, support efforts to strengthen our field practice to mitigate and prevent risks turning into incidents, and respond to emerging threats, including leading crisis response management, when required. They will ensure quality security-related support and continuing process improvement.

In FY23, the global security team conducted an organizational security review which led to the formulation of a set of recommendations to improve Mercy Corps’ security management and to reduce risk exposure for staff and for the organization. The Deputy Director is expected to play an essential role in managing several work-streams to implement these recommendations.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The overall responsibility of Deputy Director Global Security is to reduce the risk exposure of Mercy Corps’ staff and programs. 

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

Strategy and Program Management

• They support the Senior Director in developing and implementing Mercy Corps global security strategy and ensuring that departmental work-streams are aligned with the strategy;

• They are responsible for drafting and implementing the Global Security departmental annual work plan;

• The Deputy Director is supporting the Senior Director, in close collaboration with the Program Officer, in monitoring key performance indicators for the global security department;

• In close collaboration with the Senior Director, ensures that the global security budget is managed in line with Mercy Corps internal requirements. This includes supporting the whole annual budget planning process and keeping track of BvAs.

• Direct Support to the Regional program teams and leadership, as well as to SFPs. Involvement in contingency planning, new programming, as well as direct support to operations within individual countries as and when needed. Direct support to Crisis Management and Critical Incident response,

Security Procedures and Operations

• The Deputy Director ensures that global standards of safety and security are established, including a set of global security metrics. This includes security management targets in staffing, budgeting and training.
• They ensure security guidance and guidelines are consistent and aligned with Mercy Corps practices and policies including but not limited to safeguarding; community accountability reporting mechanisms (CARM); engaging with prohibited parties, anti-terrorism financing; and the integrity hotline.
• They will develop and track global metrics for Mercy Corps security management. They will coordinate a multi-directional communications flow for security information. The Deputy Director will encourage and facilitate action reviews after major incidents.
• The Deputy Director will support country programs in conducting security assessments and in the development of security strategies, field security audits, technical support, and training. The Senior Director ensures support is provided on a timely basis, either directly, through Regional Security Advisor(s) or consultants.

Team Management

• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development. Build team skills so they can address upcoming priorities while maintaining the quality of current interventions.
• Identify trends and mentor team members to effectively embrace and work in changing conditions and with updated approaches. 
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary. Support recruitment and orientation of key, field security positions.
• Manage staff and financial resources and prioritize workload in line with the strategic priorities.

Representation and thought leadership

• Strengthen Mercy Corps’ profile and representation on global security through expert interaction with internal stakeholders, partner agencies, donors, and other relevant networks and groups.
• Promote intra- and inter-agency coordination in security; encourage Mercy Corps field-level coordination in the NGO community; seek opportunities for formal and informal cooperation; develop a network of relationships with peers in the humanitarian community (UN, NGO, ICRC, appropriate governmental offices, etc); develop and engage Mercy Corps’ internal network of Security Focal Points.
• Pursue opportunities to engage internal and external stakeholders in creative and, where appropriate, collaborative solutions to collective and agency-specific security challenges.

Other: Any other duties which are not listed but are essential to the safety and security for Mercy Corps staff, property/material, and reputation.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: The Deputy Director directly supervises four (4) Regional Security Advisors.

LINE MANAGEMENT:

Reports Directly To: The Sr. Director Global Security. The primary working partners for the Deputy Director are the Regional Directors and Deputy Regional Directors in addition to Country Director and SFPs.

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

• Advanced level of understanding with the philosophy and mode of operation of NGOs. 
• Undergraduate degree or a Master’s degree in International Relations, Politics, or humanitarian related field
• A minimum of 10 years experience in complex and insecure settings, preferably within a conflict environment. Preferably, in more than one country with large teams of staff.
• Alternatively, extensive experience in the security or management field that reflects 5+ years in team management and working at the senior leadership level is required.
• Experience working or managing a program that required humanitarian access negotiations and strategizing is highly desired. 
• Experience in Crisis and Critical Incident Management is needed.
• Strong understanding of International Humanitarian Law, and how it impacts Humanitarian and Development operations in the field. Candidates should also have a good understanding of counter-terrorism legislation and how it can impact operations. 
• Proven written and analytical skills (sample may be requested).
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and mentoring.
• Willingness to work and travel frequently in often difficult and insecure environments.
• Proven experience remotely managing staff in a matrix management environment.
• Competency in Internet and Microsoft Office systems including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and other database/mapping systems.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another language, French, Spanish or Arabic is an asset.
• Formal training qualifications (HEAT, K&R, Personal Security, First Aid etc) is an asset.

Success Factors

The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional leadership and strategic management skills and be a superior communicator. They will have strong analytical skills, including capabilities to envision goal setting and design principles. The successful Deputy Director must be a self-starter who demonstrates exceptional ability in leading organizational initiatives and understanding Mercy Corps’ highest-level strategic plans and objectives.

The individual must have high proficiency for working in varied cultural, political, and religious environments, and must be able to travel and work successfully in austere environments and maintain poise in stressful situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position is located in UK,  NL, or Kenya. The position requires travel at least 30% time to the field where living conditions may be exceptionally rugged or be in volatile environments where security protocols will need to be followed. Team members must be ready to deploy to field environments on short notice in response to any emergency or crisis. When in the field the team member must be able to work in remote settings and possibly over weekends and/or evenings as required by the schedule.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

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

Team Engagement and Effectiveness 

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work. We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

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.

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]).