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
Mercy Corps has been operating in Jordan since 2003. In partnership with civil society organizations, the private sector, and the government, Mercy Corps Jordan has reached more than 3.4 million Jordanians and displaced populations in the country. Working throughout the country, Mercy Corps is driven by the mission to contribute to the emergence of a peaceful, resilient and prosperous Jordan which is inclusive of youth and women. We seek to build a future for Jordan in which all people feel secure, believe in the goodness of communities and institutions around them, and are on a sustainable path toward economic self-reliance. Our strategic directions focus on promoting strong communities and governance, peace and social cohesion and environmentally sustainable and inclusive economic growth.The Informal Livelihoods Advancement Activity (Iqlaa) is a five-year USAID-funded program that aims to support Jordan's micro and small enterprises (MSEs) to grow, transform, and become resilient to future shocks. Mercy Corps leads on the implementation of Iqlaa and weaves together technical expertise from a robust set of national, regional, and international partners including Andersen for Legal and Tax Consultancy (Andersen), Dalberg Design (Dalberg), Expectation State, Middle East Investment Initiative (MEII), Migrate-Jordan (Migrate), Q-Perspective, and the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan (AmCham).

The Position
Mercy Corps is seeking a Market Systems Development (MSD) Technical Director to guide the technical design and implementation of the MSD component within the five-year, $75M USAID-funded Informal Livelihoods Advancement Activity (Iqlaa) program – and specifically to guide the technical design, integration and implementation of MSD activities and interventions within the program. The role works closely with the Iqlaa Senior Management Team to promote understanding of MSD within the wider team, demonstrate the value and impact of MSD interventions, and to ensure that all of the Iqlaa interventions (regardless of intervention approach) are coordinated, complementary, and contribute to the program’s strategic objectives.The MSD Technical Director will drive the vision for MSD program implementation and provide a strategic steer to integrate MSD into other interventions that are a part of the Iqlaa design. The MSD Technical Director will serve as a guide and mentor for the MSD program staff, and serve as a resource to the broader team to learn and/or strengthen existing capacities and knowledge, apply the MSD approach to diagnose market systems challenges, and design and deliver quality programming. This includes support to identify strategic areas of focus (sub-sectors or cross-cutting areas such as finance), setting vision for sustainable systemic change, designing and implementing interventions, and monitoring results. Work will be done in close coordination with the COP as well as the DCOP Technical who oversees all program activities.

Essential Responsibilities

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

Provide effective overall leadership in the implementation and management of MSD interventions. This includes closely monitoring the progress of the intervention portfolio, mitigating risks and adapting interventions as needed.
Coordinate closely with the DCOP Technical, and work with the Iqlaa Senior Management Team (SMT) to ensure coordination between Iqlaa’s diverse activities and harmonization across different implementation models.
Take a leading role in the development of relevant components of the annual work plans per the requirements of the donor, in alignment and coordination with the process set out by the Technical DCOP and in collaboration with the program teams and the Program Quality and Learning team, to ensure contribution to the overall strategic objectives of the program and targets through the MSD modality.
Ensure timely and effective iteration and implementation of interventions, and achievement of targets, on time, on scope and on budget for MSD activities.
Support the team to adaptively manage an MSD portfolio of interventions that is appropriately balanced in terms of risk and benefits.
Support the CoP to build awareness on MSD and communicate the progress of MSD interventions to all interested stakeholders.
Take a leading role in the development (or facilitate/enable the preparation of) high-quality reports according to MSD MEL standards in collaboration with the program teams and the Program Quality and Learning team.
Contribute towards the Communications Strategy and Plans, in coordination with the Iqlaa Communications Director.
Collaborate closely with DCOP for Operations to operationalize MSD interventions. This includes (but is not limited to) providing support on partnership planning and modalities, budgeting for interventions, and developing effective partner management systems.
Work closely with the DCOP Technical to involve team members across Iqlaa in MSD activities and interventions to ensure program-wide knowledge transfer.

TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

Provide MSD technical support to all team members, in particular for sector selection and system framing; market systems research and analysis, designing systemic interventions to address the market dysfunctions which disadvantage and exclude micro and small enterprises; finding strategic leverage points for change, building public and private sector partnerships, monitoring interventions, and adapting strategy in response to results, including support scale in relevant interventions.
Work closely with the Market Systems Consulting Firm to lead and manage sub-sector selection research and subsequent market system assessments (MSAs)to maximize impact, build internal capacity and ultimately build a well-evidenced, credible and contextualized portfolio of MSD interventions which contribute to Iqlaa’s strategic objectives.
Ensure design and implementation of MSD programming & interventions align with MSD principles and draw on technical experts from other areas such as youth protection and participation, gender and resilience.
Utilize technical resources to support program needs as required, including coordinating and working closely with members of Mercy Corps’ Technical Support Unit (TSU), in particular the regional MSD Advisor.
Coordinate with the Research, Inclusion (GYSI) and Outreach leads to ensure that all Market Systems Assessments are appropriately framed and applicable to the Jordanian context.
Follow analysis of the Jordanian socio-political and economic context, ensuring that this analysis is recognized and incorporated in programming, particularly with respect to gender and age, as well as to climate and conflict risk.
In collaboration with Iqlaa intervention leads, support the development of concept notes (in consultation with Iqlaa COP and DCOP/Technical).
Provide technical review of work products and deliverables related to MSD, including intervention concept notes, partnership engagement designs, scopes of work and key deliverables. This will include implementing and managing an approval process for any new interventions and partnerships.
Coordinate with support teams (procurement, logistics, security, administration and human resources) to ensure operational systems are adaptive and support MSD implementation effectively.
Work closely with the SMT and other program team members to navigate and strengthen operational systems to support MSD implementation.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

Manage and build the capacity of the MSD implementation team and promote understanding of MSD within the wider team.
Partner with the regional MSD advisor to identify training needs/capacity gaps and provide training for staff on MSD approaches.
Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence while also valuing diversity, debate and disagreement.
Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback via regular performance discussions and strong performance management protocols. Supervise, hire and orient new MSD team members.
Support identification and access to additional professional development opportunities and technical capacity building as appropriate for professional development
Ensure cross-learning with other components of the Iqlaa team and the wider Jordan team.

PROGRAM MONITORING, EVALUATIONS AND LEARNING

Work with the Program Quality and Learning team to develop and implement an internal MEL plan for MSD, with clear designation of roles and responsibilities. Ensure that robust monitoring and evaluation, quality data collection and analysis systems are in place, adhered to and used as a decision-making tool.
Lead a regular (e.g., quarterly, annual) review process, facilitating adaptive management of interventions based on findings from monitoring and research.
Provide strategic input into the development of Iqlaa learning questions and research plans.
Identify scope for case studies and learning documents. Closely support the development of learning documents, including case studies.
As relevant, collaborate closely with the TSU and regional MSD Advisor to provide feedback and share lessons to improve Mercy Corps’ wider MSD program design and implementation.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

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

Supervisory Responsibility
Number of direct reports is to be determined (approx. 3-5).

Accountability
Reports Directly To: Chief of Party
Works Directly With: DCOP Technical, DCOP Operations, Research Director, Component Leads and PQL Director, Regional MSD Advisor, Finance and Operations teams, HQ, and Technical Support Unit.Accountability to Participants and StakeholdersMercy 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

At least 7 years of experience advising or managing MSD programs, at least 3 years in senior advisory or management roles on MSD-related projects in the field.
Deep understanding of MSD methodology, frameworks and their operationalization in the form of strategic formative research
Demonstrated experience operationalizing MSD tactics, including experience navigating NGO procurement and administration systems.
Experience working on large, complex ‘hybrid’ program preferred.
USAID prior experience preferred.
Prior experience in the MENA preferred
Arabic speaking preferred.

Success Factors
A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members and other stakeholders of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. This position requires an ability to think creatively about changing norms that lead to greater opportunities for economic growth at household, community and institutional levels. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem solving, work within a complex and sensitive setting and to follow laws and security protocols. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
This position is based in Amman, Jordan. Jordan is a middle-income country with excellent education, medical, and other facilities in the capital Amman. Jordan is a very safe country with excellent communications, transportation, and housing infrastructure. Although neighboring countries continue to experience political unrest, Jordan has been a stable monarchy for over 30 years and the destination preference for many people from the Middle East to relax or gain access to available services. 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 Mercy Corps’ 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.

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. 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.