Alumni Talent Pool: Program Leadership and Emergency Response Lead Roles

Mercy Corps

21h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Alumni Talent Pool is open exclusively to former Mercy Corps team members who were employed within the past 4 years and completed at least 1 year of service. Mercy Corps has created an Alumni Talent Pool to support emergency response, transitions and complex program start-up, by fast-tracking Mercy Corps alumni into temporary Senior Program and Emergency Response roles. The initiative focuses on matching qualified team members with urgent country-based needs, for short-term placements (3 months on average). This is an opportunity for senior program leaders that offers more professional and personal flexibility and access to diverse experiences. Mercy Corps alumni who were employed within the last four years qualified to fill Senior Program Roles (Multi-Country Manager, Country Director, Deputy Country Director, Program Director, Program Manager, Emergency Response Lead, or Start-up Team Lead) will be eligible to join the Alumni Talent Pool. Once selected into the Pool, members will have access to short-term opportunities in countries where Mercy Corps operates. Responsibilities and supervisory structures will vary depending on the type of assignment.

Requirements

BA/S or equivalent in a relevant field required.
At least 5 years of field experience in international relief and development programs.
Prior experience with Mercy Corps within the last four years, as an employee and/or consultant (Should have worked with Mercy Corps for at least one year).
Experience leading teams, managing performance of supervisees, and coaching/ mentoring staff.
Professional level proficiency in at least one of Mercy Corps’ working languages (English, French, Spanish, Arabic).
For Country Director roles: At least 5 years of senior-level leadership, capacity building and field management experience.
For Country Director roles: Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGO, NGO partners and other stakeholders in complex environments.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in multiple languages is strongly preferred.
Applications from French and/or Arabic speakers are particularly interested.

Responsibilities

Strategic leadership across multiple countries, ensuring oversight of program design, quality, implementation and compliance for key country programs.
Oversee multiple Country Managers, ensuring accountability, decision making, and targeted support for priority areas.
Foster high-performing teams through strong remote leadership, clear guidance and modeling of effective behaviors.
Drive business development and strategic partnerships, working closely with Country Managers to align donor engagement with country priorities.
Promote program quality by ensuring programs are based on assessment of emergency needs, sound design principles, robust technical quality and utilize Mercy Corps and donor required M&E systems.
Represent Mercy Corps at the highest levels with donors, partners, and stakeholders.
Responsible for managing programming, operations and security with supervisory responsibility over the country-based team.
Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve program and agency objectives.
Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
Build and maintain operational systems that ensure proper administrative support for programs, as well as segregation of duties between finance and operations.
Represent Mercy Corps programs with government, donors, partners and media.
Manage all aspects of a rapid, high quality emergency response, including oversight of resources, operations, safety and security, and programming.
Navigate humanitarian coordination systems and effectively represent Mercy Corps to government, donors and partners.
Hire and supervise a senior management team and other response team members while modeling inclusive leadership.
Oversee program quality and effectiveness by ensuring programs are based on assessment of emergency needs, sound design principles, robust technical quality and utilize Mercy Corps and donor required M&E systems.
Oversee program quality and impact by ensuring programs are based on sound design principles and utilize Mercy Corps and donor required M&E systems.
Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Program Management policy and beneficiary accountability standards.
Provide support to program teams at key moments including program start-up, kick-off meetings, inception meeting check-ins, quality audits and spot checks, and end of program transition meetings.
Ensure technical excellence by connecting technical resources and support to in-country programming.
Develop and maintain effective processes to produce high quality donor deliverables and reports.
Lead program implementation to ensure quality, timeliness, and compliance with Mercy Corps and donor standards.
Supervise program teams, manage budgets and operations, and coordinate with technical and support departments.
Represent Mercy Corps with partners and stakeholders.
Monitor progress toward outcomes, and adapt implementation based on learning and context.
Promote safeguarding, accountability, and program management excellence.
Lead cross-functional collaboration to devise a project start-up strategy and plan for the inception phase of the project and/or new country program (first 3-6 months).
Ensure tools and tracking mechanisms are in place to accurately assess and communicate progress against the start-up work plan, resources (budget and personnel), and issues during start-up.
Work closely with the HR/Admin team on recruitment, orientation, and training new staff on MC policies and procedures.
Foster a culture of compliance and accountability among the team with regards to Mercy Corps, donor and government laws, policies, rules and regulations; socialize Program Management Minimum Standards and best practices.
Prepare a post-startup work plan to guide transition to regular program implementation.
Works to ensure Mercy Corps’ Safeguarding Standards are integrated and upheld in all areas of HR work.
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.