Description

INTERNSHIP TITLE: Emerging Leaders Program Intern

INTERN WORKSITE LOCATION: Portland, Oregon (hybrid remote/ in-person)

DATES OF INTERNSHIP: January 2024 – June 2024 (with the possibility of extension)

HOURS PER WEEK: 30 hours per week (Full-Time)

INTERNS SUPERVISOR & CONTACT INFORMATION: Program Officer – Emerging Leaders Program

Work closely with: The Global Learning and Leadership Development team as well as external Learning Partners.

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THE INTERNSHIP: $2600/month

Mercy Corps responsibilities

For the duration of this internship assignment the intern will receive:

● Training and supervisory support

● Access to Mercy Corps online tools

● All other tools, materials and communication requirements for this project

Intern responsibilities

Intern will remain responsible for all costs associated with:

● Laptop for working remotely

● Accommodation, transportation and living expenses

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) Intern will support our global learning and leadership development initiatives, with a special focus on the Emerging Leaders Program. ELP is a hybrid online and in-person leadership program that aims to empower talented emerging leaders within Mercy Corps, enabling them to step into and thrive in more senior leadership roles. The intern’s contributions will play a pivotal role in shaping the success of the program, fostering growth, and empowering leaders within our organization. The intern’s support will encompass three key areas:

1. Learning Activities Support: The intern will actively assist with the learning activities during live sessions, group coaching, and community-building activities for 36 learners. Responsibilities include producing Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings and ensuring seamless follow-up on assignments.

2. Communications Effort: The intern will contribute to internal communications, ensuring effective representation of the program offerings through fact sheets, intranet updates, weekly internal digests, and other channels. Additionally, the intern will prepare communications about deadlines and program completion expectations. The intern will also support program alum engagement activities and initiatives.

3. Monitoring and Evaluation Support: The intern will provide essential assistance in monitoring and evaluating the program’s success. This will involve developing, launching, and analyzing surveys, conducting interviews, and generating reports. These reports will incorporate program impact data, qualitative insights, and quantitative feedback. Key recommendations arising from these evaluations will be used to enhance future programs.

More about our team and organization:

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.

The People Team ensures that Mercy Corps has the people, strategies and learning opportunities that will enable it to be a world-class, cutting edge, humanitarian organization, creating transformational change in the world. We do this through the recruitment, retention, and development of the best global talent. Our aim is to drive strategic thinking and planning at all levels of the organization; create a robust body of research to guide us internally and externally and steward the organizational culture. To achieve this, we align conversations on learning; keep the organization focused on what has the greatest impact; leverage our comparative advantages in the crowded and competitive international relief and development landscape; and assure we are constantly learning from our work and the external environment.

The aim of the People Development Team is to enable our people and global organization to lead effectively, think strategically, engage collaboratively, and learn continuously.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

The intern will gain valuable skills in evaluation and learning, as well as in-depth exposure to leadership development concepts, internal communications, and project management. Working within a global non-profit organization, they will collaborate with a culturally diverse team and stakeholders and will hone the skill of clear and concise communication across diverse cultures, languages, and time zones. The intern will build a strong understanding of the fundamental elements of leadership programs and the contributing factors to their successful implementation. Additionally, they will gain insights into various reporting and communication tools through evaluation reports. As part of their development, the intern may conduct informational interviews with other Mercy Corps staff members in areas of their interest, deepening their knowledge of Mercy Corps’ work in those specific areas.

DELIVERABLES:

• Assist in maintaining the Emerging Leaders Program work plan in partnership with the training leads.
• Support communication efforts to ensure effective representation of the program across Mercy Corps through fact sheets, intranet updates, weekly internal digest, and other channels.
• Assist the production of live virtual training sessions and diligently complete participation trackers and session follow-up lists.
• Support Program Officer with regular communications with cohort members, session facilitators, and People Development team partners, as needed.
• Support the development of surveys for comprehensive leadership program evaluations and assist the Program Officer in evaluating program effectiveness and identifying areas for improvement.
• Provide support for alumni engagement activities and programming, ensuring ongoing connections and support for program graduates.
• Ensure flexibility in working hours to accommodate the global audience of participants and stakeholders.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• University degree in progress or recently completed (within 1 year) in relevant discipline (Required)
• Excellent English writing skills required.
• Demonstrated attention to details, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.
• Commitment to working with vulnerable groups in need, regardless of race, religion, or gender.
• Excellent communication skills are required.
• Experience producing live sessions on Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
• Analysis and evaluation skills preferred.
• Experience working and communicating across cultures preferred, with a demonstrated sensitivity to a diversity of peoples and cultures.
• Highly developed computer skills and strong familiarity with Microsoft Office are mandatory.
• Experience with Photoshop, Canva, or other design software is a plus.
• Experience with event planning and coordination.
• Experience managing and developing online content is a plus.

Mercy Corps interns represent the agency both during and outside of work hours and 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.

Mercy Corps Diversity Statement

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 Statement

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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As part of our commitment to keeping our community safe and providing a safe working environment, Mercy Corps has a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for US interns based in Mercy Corps US HQ offices. Interns must be fully vaccinated per CDC requirement or have an approved exception, either (1) sincerely held religious convictions, or (2) a disability that prevents them from receiving a COVID-19 vaccination and comply with regular testing, within 10 business days of starting. Failure to comply may impact your internship.

Mercy Corps Headquarters: 45 SW Ankeny Street, Portland, Oregon 97204

Mercy Corps: https://www.mercycorps.org/

In your statement, you are encouraged to discuss any relevant experience, and demonstrate your interest. Your application will be reviewed by the Mercy Corps team and shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly for interviews.