Mercy Corps is hiring a
Location: Jerusalem, Palestine
Position Status: Full-time, Regular
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.
The Program / Department / Team
Since 1986, Mercy Corps has helped Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza access critical services and become more economically self-sufficient focusing its interventions on the resilience of communities in crisis, economic opportunities, development opportunities for youth, and cash programming. With multiple funding from USG, European donors and private funds, Mercy Corps has been able to work together with communities across Palestine, including West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza to respond to these needs. The war that erupted on October 7, 2023, has sharply exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the region. Mercy Corps is actively working to respond to the crisis in Gaza and preparing to significantly ramp up much needed lifesaving aid as soon as we are able to do so. At the same time, youth skills development and economic opportunity programs are expanding across the West Bank areas.
The Country Director leads and manages a team of field professionals to ensure Mercy Corps is implementing high quality, impactful programming with the necessary management and support structures to sustain response programs at scale. The role also includes ensuring appropriate systems and support mechanisms are in place to track, analyze and report on results as well as setting the strategic direction of the overall response.
STRATEGY AND VISION
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
TEAM MANAGEMENT
FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT
INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION
SECURITY
The Senior Management Team members
Reports Directly To: Regional Director MENA/Europe
Works Directly With: Sr Director Emergency Response and Global Security Director, program support Europe and Global, plus relevant departments at HQ including International and Corporate Finance, General Counsel, Human Resources and Recruitment, Global Procurement and Logistics, Fundraising, Ethics, Communications and Advocacy, as well as the regional senior leadership team
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.
TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES
The successful Country Director will skillfully represent programmatic priorities of the agency to donors and regional partners while providing effective leadership to the Mercy Corps program team during active conflict and through the transitional response environment. They will be capable of multitasking, rapid decision-making, have initiative, drive, and a lot of energy, as well as high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity building. They will be committed to long- term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, support inclusion, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority. Ability to adapt leadership style and decision-making to fit the needs of the situation, and work effectively with multiple stakeholders at senior and executive levels
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Jerusalem with individual housing provided via the agency with good living conditions and good level of health services available. The position requires frequent travel to project sites in the West Bank, in Gaza and elsewhere in the Middle East. While in Gaza, the individual will stay in a Mercy Corps Guest House and movement is restricted. Strict adherence to Mercy Corps security policies and procedures will be required as will respect for local cultural norms and traditions
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
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.
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.
Country DirectorPalestineMercy CorpsProgram ManagementTeam ManagementFinanceComplianceInfluenceRepresentationSecuritySupervisory ResponsibilityAccountabilityQualificationsTechnical CompetenciesFunctional CompetenciesSuccess FactorsLiving ConditionsOngoing LearningDiversityEquityInclusionEqual Employment OpportunitySafeguardingEthics