Location: Portland, OR or Washington, DC

Position Status: Full Time, Regular

Minimum Starting Salary: $53,000 commensurate with experience**

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

The Strategy Realization Unit (SRU) ensures that Mercy Corps has the strategies and vision that will enable it to be a world-class, cutting-edge humanitarian and development organization creating transformational change in the world

The Strategy Realization Unit’s goal is to drive forward the agency’s 10-year strategy - Pathway to Possibility - providing a unifying vision while also enabling teams to be adaptive to their context and responsive in their programming. The underlying intention of the new strategy is to create clarity and focus to enhance decision-making at all levels and locations of the organization.

The Strategy Realization Unit is accountable to Mercy Corps leadership, starting at the Executive Team-level, and works closely with leadership across the organization, including Regional Directors, Country Directors, HQ Function Leads, etc.

General Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Director for Strategy Realization, the Program Officer contributes to the roll-out and realization of Mercy Corps’ new 10-year strategy by providing high-quality project management, planning, and communications support to country, regional, and HQ teams. They are a key member of the Strategy Realization Unit and will support SRU efforts to shape, define, and deliver on the new global strategy.

They play a critical role in managing and disseminating information and communications on behalf of the SRU, as well as continually improving processes and ways of working to facilitate the efficient operation of the SRU. Finally, they provide critical project management support to select strategic projects, contributing to participatory and consultative processes designed to identify effective solutions, foster ownership, and create buy-in for the new strategy.

They are an effective communicator both verbally and in writing - as well as an active listener, able to understand different perspectives. They are open to receiving and providing feedback, able work independently and as part of a team, and proactively take initiative.

Essential Responsibilities

COMMUNICATIONS

Internal Communications

Support the development and implementation of the SRU communications strategy related to the Pathway to Possibility
Draft internal communications – including Globe articles and Workplace posts – to share key strategy updates and messages with the global team on a regular basis
Develop a format for a quarterly SRU newsletter; coordinate with VP, Directors, and team members to synthesize content appropriate for a wide range of internal stakeholders.
Maintain and regularly update existing communications platforms (e.g., Strategy Hub pages) and explore new platforms to increase reach and relevance of SRU communications
Support the other members of the SRU with critical comms initiatives (live streams, leadership group meetings, Executive Team meetings) as requested by the Director for Strategy Realization

Resources and Materials

Serve as primary source of contact/ focal point for country, regional, and HQ teams’ requests for strategy-related materials, resources, or information; channel or elevate these requests to other SRU team members as needed
Support the development of a standard set of products to be used to orient new audiences (new hires, board members, donors, others) to the Pathway to Possibility and ensure that these kept up to date
Support the Localization core group and Advisor to develop case studies, presentations, tools, or materials to advance agency localization workstreams
Draft and /or edit compelling, polished, professional of high-quality cases studies, reports, training materials, presentations, etc.
Support the overall improvement of knowledge management and data/ information use within the SRU and across departments to promote and foster learning around strategy-related impact and results

PLANNING, REPORTING, AND MEASUREMENT

Country and Regional Strategies

Support country and regional planning processes, including progress reporting, updating strategic priorities, and implementation planning
Contribute actively to SRU efforts to continually refine and improve planning and reporting processes and governance mechanism
Conduct ‘real time’ tracking of submissions, status/ progress, and follow up on action points related to strategies, planning, etc.

Measurement and Reporting

Support the SRU to track progress towards strategic objectives and provide timely support to departmental priorities
Help conduct/ implement surveys, questionnaires, and other feedback mechanisms; analyze and synthesize data and draft summary reports of findings
Support SRU and others in developing materials, resources, or tools to deliver specific aspects of the Pathway to Possibility
Facilitate learning across country portfolios and regions and share lessons learned, knowledge of promising practices related to strategic planning and/ or strategy realization

INTERNAL COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS

With External Stakeholders

In collaboration with the SRU Program Assistant, lead procurement, contracting, and payment processes for external contractors/ consultants
Help manage procurement contracts and payments for external contractors / consultants; work with the Director to help ensure their work is on time, on scope, and on budget

Within the SRU

Provide critical support to Director/s to schedule, facilitate, and capture notes at focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and other meetings; synthesize and present information and takeaways in digestible format
In collaboration with the APO, maintain Google Drive and OneDrive files, ensuring material is uploaded and organized in a timely manner and accessible to all department members
Support the with cross-team coordination as needed, particularly in organizing or documenting meetings and following up on action points as requested
Help schedule interview processes and panels as requested

With Other Teams

Provide tailored support to task forces, working groups, meetings and workshops led by the SRU
Help schedule or coordinate cross-departmental working groups or initiatives as requested
Provide scheduling and coordination support to the Localization Learning Sessions as requested
Help develop onboarding sessions, trainings, refreshers, and other presentations as needed on strategy processes requiring refreshers for country, regional and HQ staff

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 Qualifications and Transferable Skills

BA/S or equivalent in a relevant field; MA/ MS or equivalent preferred
2+ years’ international NGO program experience in the field or HQ role
Ability to work with G-suite and Microsoft 365 programs required; interest to work with other, new technical platforms a strong plus
Highly organized with strong time management skills; ability to meet deadlines even under pressure
Strong analytical and visualization skills and ability to synthesize data into concise digestible formats
Strong presentation skills, excellent writing skills, and ability to pay close attention to detail while also seeing the big picture
Ability to multi-task and work in a fast paced, multi-cultural environment; comfort with ambiguity and complexity preferred
Proven excellence in interpersonal skills and a high level of personal initiative; abilty to work independently as well as on a team
English fluency is required; proficiency in Arabic, Spanish, or French preferred

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director, Strategy Realization

Works Directly With: SRU team members, Localization Core group, Internal Communications team

Coordinates With: Multiple and diverse stakeholders from different geographies and levels of the agency including members of the Performance and Quality Unit, Technical Support Unit, International Program Teams, country leadership, Executive Team members and regional leadership

Success Factors

The successful Program Officer must be a highly organized, multi-tasker who is able to manage competing priorities. They should be able not lose sight of the larger picture- even while remaining focused on details. They are an expert problem-solver who brings patience, initiative, and flexibility into all they do. Vital skills include communication (both written and verbal), as well as building and maintaining effective internal and external relationships. They will be a skilled writer and synthesizer of diverse and complex information, helping teams generate new insights into their work, the needs of their countries and the region, and how program impact can be scaled. The Officer must demonstrate the ability to understand and follow agency procedures, meet deadlines, and work both independently and as part of a diverse global team. A robust sense of humor is greatly appreciated.

Living Conditions

The position is based in Portland, Oregon or other locations with a Mercy Corps office. It may involve some travel to support country programs or regional teams, which may include some visits to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.

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.

As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based employees. Any offers of employment or continued employment are dependent on the successful completion of the screens which include, but are not limited to our Background Check and Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme processes,

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.

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

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 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.