Description

INTERNSHIP TITLE: Learning and Leadership Development Intern

INTERN WORKSITE LOCATION: Portland, OR or US Remote

DATES OF INTERNSHIP: June – September 2023 (with the possibility of extension)

HOURS PER WEEK: 40 hours/week (Full-time)

INTERNS SUPERVISOR & CONTACT INFORMATION: Program Officer – Learning and Leadership Development, Director – Learning and Leadership Development

Work closely with:

• Senior Director – Talent Management , Leadership and Learning
• Senior Advisor – Learning and Leadership Development
• Director – Learning and Leadership Development
• Senior Coordinator – Talent Management, Learning & Leadership

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THE INTERNSHIP: Full time: $2600/month

Mercy Corps responsibilities

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

• 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:

• Maintaining their personal computer which will be used for the internship
• Accommodation, travel, and living expenses
• All other costs associated with this internship

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The Learning and Leadership Development Intern will support our global learning and leadership development efforts with a particular focus on preparing a program application and review system. To do this, the intern will partner with the IT team and a consultant to design and implement a portal system to receive and process applications to our Leadership Development programs. The intern will work with the Program Officer and Director to recruit an application review committee and onboard them to the review system. The intern will prepare communications to raise awareness of the leadership program application process, deadlines, and expectations.

In addition to this deliverable, the Intern will lead annual program evaluations for the Next Generation Leadership Program and the Women in Leadership Program. The intern will collaborate with the Leadership Development team to plan the evaluations and reach out to stakeholders for feedback. The Intern will gather program impact data and integrate it with qualitative and quantitative feedback to develop evaluation reports for each program.

The Intern will support the planning and administration of program alum support activities and engagements. Lastly, the intern will support communications efforts to ensure the current leadership offerings are well represented internally in fact sheets, intranet, our weekly internal digest, and other channels.

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 Talent Management/Learning and Leadership 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 skills in evaluation and learning, exposure to leadership development projects, internal communications, as well as project management. They will gain exposure to a global non-profit organization and work with a culturally diverse team and stakeholders. They will learn to communicate clearly and concisely across cultures, languages, and timezones. They will build a solid understanding of key elements of leadership programs as well as contributing factors to successful implementation. Through the evaluation reports they will also have exposure to different reporting and communication tools. The intern will gain experience in working with and translating program and strategy documentation into tangible multi-media content under brand specific guidelines Finally, the intern may complete informational interviews with other Mercy Corps staff members working in his/her area(s) of interest, in order to increase his/her knowledge of Mercy Corps’ work in these areas.

DELIVERABLES

• Support the development of a Leadership Program Application and Review System
• Assist in leading the evaluation of the Next Generation Leadership Program and the Women in Leadership Program
• Support alums engagement activities and programming
• Support the tracking of leadership program alums
• Design and develop internal and external communications
• Support other Learning & Leadership Development activities

IDEAL CANDIDATE SHOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:

• University degree in progress or recently completed (within 1 year)
• Excellent English writing skills required
  • French written and verbal proficiency a plus
• Demonstrated attention to detail, 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 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 a plus
• Experience event planning and coordination
• Experience managing and developing online content 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 elearning 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.