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 / Department / Team

The PaQ (Program Performance and Quality) Unit, which sits within the Global Programs Department, supports effective, efficient and equitable program performance through a culture of quality management, to achieve greater impact for those that matter most — our program participants. The PaQ unit oversees several business processes including monitoring, evaluation and learning; program management standards; program data management; infrastructure quality assurance; field operations support; strategic change management; and facilitating the complex program process. The Program Standards Team acts as a Program Management Office which fulfils the following broad functions:

• Centre of Excellence: We provide specialist program management leadership and support and have particular specialisms in CARM, Cash, Goods, GESI and Program Analytics
• Policy, Standards, Guidelines and Learning & Development: We define Program Management and cross cutting standards, create guidance, and provide professional development opportunities to Mercy Corps and Partner staff. We focus on continuous improvement and adaptive management throughout our work
• A Functional Home for the Program Manager and CARM specialists: Program Managers can access functional support, advice and guidance from the team.

The Position

The Program Management GESI Integration Advisor will lead on our work to integrate Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) into the DNA of how we manage and deliver our programs. This role works closely with the GESI TSU team to ensure integration of GESI-related Technical Support and good practice into the agency’s approach to program management, provides direct support to country teams, owns the GESI minimum standards and associated analytics and embeds GESI within PaQ’s learning and development products and services. In addition, this role will support the agency-wide roll-out of PaQ-led and GESI TSU initiatives where needed. As this role will focus on integrating gender equality and social inclusion into our program management approaches, it will maintain close coordination with the Technical Support Unit’s GESI Team acting as a conduit for program performance and technical excellence.

Essential Responsibilities

GLOBAL GESI MINIMUM STANDARDS ROLL OUT AND SUPPORT

• Lead on the adoption and institutionalization of the GESI Minimum Standards by embedding and building ownership across Country, Regional and Global teams
• Support the process of global quality assurance of GESI standards reporting and engage with the analytics of standards and performance data
• Contribute to the roll out, familiarization, adoption and maintenance of an agency wide standards reporting mechanism, with particular focus on the reporting of the GESI standards
• Contribute to the revision process of the GESI Standards and wider Program Management Policy as needed
• Ensure that the program standards team, program managers and directors are oriented, trained and prepared to implement the GESI Standards and understand where and who they can go to for support.

GESI PROGRAM MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE, TOOLS AND RESOURCES

• Develop and disseminate GESI guidance, tools, and templates needed for country teams to meet and exceed the GESI minimum standards contained in the Program Management Policy
• Create user oriented GESI guidance, tools and resources specific to program management and GESI integration across the lifecycle in close collaboration with the GESI TSU and GDI Teams
• Work with other functions to ensure consistency and integration of approaches, including the HLR, MEL, GESI and GDI teams.
• Support other departments and other technical functions (Goods Distribution, CARM, Finance, Logistics, etc) to, where applicable, mainstream GESI considerations, standards and sensitivities into processes and policies.
• Support the strengthening of country office and partner staff capabilities around GESI in program cycle management in close collaboration with the GESI team.

DIRECT SUPPORT TO COUNTRY PORTFOLIOS

• In collaboration with the GESI TSU Team, identify high-priority countries or programs that need increased GESI standards technical support, both remote and in-country; engage with regional and country teams for their insights into prioritization
• Apply our Process Improvement methodology throughout country level GESI support, using it as the framework to identify, diagnose and resolve GESI Integration issues
• Utilize data from Mercy Corps’ systems and processes, specifically the global standards reporting mechanism, Tola Data and audit findings, to support in the diagnosis and resolution of GESI related program management issues
• Provide technical support on GESI integration through the program lifecycle, specifically on GESI Minimum standards

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

• Support the development and alignment of tailored training packages for country offices around strengthening GESI integration
• In collaboration with the GESI TSU Team, create and curate Program Management GESI Competencies
• Contribute to the improvement of Program Standards onboarding resources, as well as onboarding support for key positions specific to GESI
• Lead on the facilitation of GESI Integration communities of practice

DRIVE SPECIFIC STANDARDS AND PAQ UNIT PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES

Support the PaQ Unit and Program Standards team to integrate GESI into our internal as well as external work.

Supervisory Responsibility
None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Senior Advisor – Program Management Process Improvement
Works Directly With: Program Managers, Country SMT, Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI)
Technical Support Unit, Program Standards Team, MEL Team and other Program Performance and Quality Teams, Regional Teams

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 Qualification & Transferable Skills

• BA in relevant field required; MA/MS/MBA or equivalent preferred
• 4+ years of relevant experience in international relief and development, particularly within country teams
• 3+ years of direct Gender Equality and Social Inclusion experience
• Demonstrated understanding of key GESI skills, particularly around Gender Assessments, SADD, and Indicator Development
• Previous experience of creating/contributing to and facilitating GESI professional development products
• Experience with monitoring, evaluation and other learning efforts
• Demonstrated ability to understand and work with project teams, and ability to understand how to develop project deliverables
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
• Proficiency with MS Office software required (Word, Excel, Powerpoint), and Google suite (Google drive, docs, sheets)
• Project Management Certification in Project DPro or equivalent

Success Factors

The individual needs to be a skilled communicator, able to develop and utilize strong relationships with term members and departments internally, as well as with external bodies. They will have a positive and dynamic working style that enables them to work independently across a number of multi-pronged teams. They must have a dedicated commitment to pushing forward diversity, equity, and inclusion and be comfortable advocating this to people at all levels. They must be able to work in a fast-paced cross-cultural environment that often has complex challenges. They must demonstrate a positive attitude, patience, flexibility, and taking initiative to solve problems.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position will be based out of a country or regional team and is expected to travel up to 30% of the time, sometimes to areas with limited access to medical facilities and amenities. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when traveling on an international assignment. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC 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.

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.