Location: Washington, DC or US Remote or any other Mercy Corps location

Valid unrestricted work authorization in the country in which you will be based (United States) is required at the time of application for this position.

Position Status: Full-time (1.0 FTE), Regular, Exempt
Salary Level: The salary range for this position is $64,000 - $70,000 USD commensurate on experience

About Mercy Corps

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.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps’ Technical Support Unit (TSU) is a key part of the Program Department. TSU subject-matter experts help set agency strategy and provide consultation – from assessment and design through project implementation and results measurement – to field offices worldwide, in some of the world’s toughest places. TSU team members lead research, foster organizational learning, represent Mercy Corps to external audiences, and develop partnerships. The TSU is also integral to global business development and revenue.

The Gender Advisor is a member of the TSU and is a key position for the Gender and Youth Activity (GAYA) Associate Award (AA) under the Implementer Led Design, Evidence, Analysis, and Learning (IDEAL) program. This AA is an $8.8 million dollar program over 5 years designed to provide strategic capacity strengthening and learning in gender and youth to implementing partners of USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) programs and other food security stakeholders. The GAYA award is currently in its second year of implementation.

General Position Summary

The Gender Advisor will manage specific activities under the Gender and Youth Activity and provide technical input into all GAYA workstreams. GAYA works to improve the quality and impact of food security activities by addressing the barriers and challenges implementing partners face when integrating gender and youth within their activities GAYA’s activities are firmly based in the principles of collaboration, amplification, action-orientation, and inclusion while at the same time following a Human Centered Design (HCD) process where appropriate. In coordination with the Program Director and BHA’s Gender, Age and Social Inclusion team, the Gender Advisor manages activities related to gender integration including gender analyses, gender mainstreaming in non-gender focused activities, small grants program improvement awards, and the Gender, Youth, Food Security, and Resilience Fellowship, while ensuring integration with youth-focused activities and initiatives. The Advisor is an experienced and qualified gender technical expert with strong online and in-person presentation and facilitation skills and a key personnel role for the AA.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Program quality - Gender and Youth Consultations, Technical Input, and analysis

Participate as an active, integrated member of the team providing gender technical support to this AA, IDEAL, BHA, and implementing partners operating in humanitarian response, early recovery, risk reduction and resilience contexts.
Lead gender technical input into annual Gender and Youth Consultations for Resilience Food Security Activities (RFSAs) during the Refine & Implement (R&I) process and culmination workshop.
Build capacity of implementing partners to better integrate gender and age issues, with a special focus on young people, into the RFSA scopes of work and protocol for gender analyses, adapted for rapid onset crisis and protracted crises contexts.
In coordination with the Program Director, identify gaps and implement plans aimed at addressing need and demand-driven gaps through capacity building workshops, consultations, guidance documents, tools and other resources.
In consultation with implementing partners, develop strong guidance and disseminate plans using proven learning methods to ensure adoption and utilization of analyses, findings, and learnings, and inform revised Theories of Change, approaches, and activities.
Support plans for addressing other priority and demand-driven capacity building needs such as data collection, management and analysis, methods and sampling, using analysis results for improved program design and implementation, etc.
Take leadership in identifying, addressing and adapting to program quality needs and gaps as they arise. Collaborate with the Program Director to problem solve.

Innovations & Learning -Small Grant & Gender, Youth, Food Security and Resilience Fellowship Pilot

Provides oversight and gender technical management support to Small Grants program improvement awards to leverage innovation and learning.
Lead project manager for Gender, Youth, Food Security, and Resilience Fellowship pilot program, serves as primary focal point for consultancies, oversees work plan, and ensures timely delivery of key milestones and targets for the Fellowship
Support in the implementation of a thorough dissemination plan for how information, findings and learning from the small grants and Gender, Youth, Food Security, and Resilience Fellowship pilot are shared to the broader food and nutrition security community.
Take on additional innovations and learning workstreams as they arrive and support additional GAYA members in their workstreams.

Learning and Impact

Work with the Program Director and other team members to track and monitor progress in all workstreams (gender and youth consultations during the RFSA R&I year, small grants, and fellowship pilot program). Review indicators on a regular basis.
Participate in regular After Action Review and reflection sessions and adapt interventions and work plans accordingly.
Develop a deep understanding of the shared incentives and values that will entice partners to connect and work to integrate gender and youth, both internally and within food and nutrition security programs in different contexts.

Organizational Learning

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically
to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Program Director/Senior Gender and Youth Advisor

Works Directly With: Youth Advisor, Technical Officer - Research & Learning**,** Program Coordinator, BHA Gender, Age, Social Inclusion team, IDEAL Team, other members of the Technical Support Unit; and technical focal points of IDEAL’s members, Implementing Partners

Knowledge and Experience

Bachelor’s degree required. M.A, M.S., M.Sc., or equivalent in social sciences, research, or related field preferred.
Demonstrated leadership in gender and social inclusion in humanitarian response and international development
Strong presentation and facilitation skills both online and in-person for designing and leading presentations at Gender and Youth Consultation during RFSA Refine and Implement (R&I) process as well as strong small group facilitation for a variety of topics and events.
At least 8 years of experience providing increasingly proficient technical support in gender and social inclusion and relevant fields of expertise that includes:
Demonstrating strong theoretical and applied knowledge.
Using integrated approaches and applying systems thinking.
BHA proposal design and program development expertise, including Theory of Change.
Experience building strong working relationships with government and peer agencies.
At least 3 years of practical program implementation experience including:
A combination of successful temporary duration field assignments (under two weeks), longer-term field assignments (two or more weeks), and/or living in a field location for an extended period to work in a country or field office.
A number of emergency response assignments or other crisis response work that demonstrates the ability to successfully adapt support and assistance methodologies to real-world complexities.
Managing and implementing successful programs in the field.
Delivering Capacity Building curriculum or other processes for field teams.
Proven leadership, self-motivation, and interpersonal skills.
Working on matrixed teams and in non-hierarchical settings.
Working with teams of diverse backgrounds.
Building indirect teams, through mentoring and engagement, such as through communities of practice.
Willingness and ability to travel frequently to project sites and field locations, including traveling to insecure environments, is required.
Ability to project manage workstreams; establish work plans, set priorities, assign roles and responsibilities and ensure deadlines are met.
Familiarity with major donors such as USAID and BHA requirements.
Fluency in English is required; fluency in a foreign language preferred.

Success Factors

The successful Gender Advisor will combine technical skills in gender and social inclusion with sharp presentation and facilitation skills along with knowledge of food and nutrition security. Must be flexible, creative, curious and enthusiastic about improving food security and resilience outcomes for the most vulnerable segments of populations, with a commitment to unpacking different vulnerabilities and embracing diversity and intersectionality of gender and youth issues. A self-starter who works well in a non-hierarchical environment, and who is able to prioritize competing priorities, learn quickly, take initiative and be accountable for results will be necessary for this position. S/he will be dedicated to the principle of doing no harm to the beneficiaries, knowledgeable on how gender dynamics relate to food security, open to working with all actors across the spectrum, and balance sectoral goals depending on needs and context. The Advisor Will be confident in providing support and advice, while understanding that communities themselves can often identify the best strategies for success. S/he will demonstrate a strong understanding of how to work effectively in varying cultural, political and religious environments.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position will be located in a HQ office. The position requires travel at least 20% 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, over weekends and/or evenings as required by the schedule, and in settings with limited infrastructure, food options, and living conditions.

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

**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 theInteragency 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 a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based 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.

****Covid-19 Vaccine Policy for US-Based Employees

**Mercy Corps has determined that, in an effort to protect the health, safety, and well-being of all Mercy Corps employees working in the United States, all U.S.-based employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, regardless of prior COVID-19 infection status.

This policy is necessary to ensure not only the safety of our workforce, but the ongoing functionality of the organization. This policy will be revised as needed to comply with federal, state, and local requirements, and to respond to changing guidance from public health authorities.

For new employees this requirement goes into effect within 10 business days of employment. Team members that travel are expected to comply with host-country requirements, including vaccinations. Failure to comply may impact your employment. Proof of vaccination or exemption must be provided.