Mercy Corps
Location: TBD
Position Status: Full-time, Regular, Exempt
Salary Level: HQ6
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 People Team
The People Team ensures that Mercy Corps has the people resources in place to enable our workforce to thrive. The People Team seeks to foster and achieve purposeful, diverse, and high performing global teams. We do this through recruiting and retaining the best global talent and shaping this talent into our future leaders through equitable development opportunities, and then by driving strategic partnership at all levels of the organization. We steward the organizational culture through our systems, structure, and processes and align conversations around diversity, wellbeing, total rewards, and safeguarding priorities; and connect all of this to our core operations and overall mission.
The Position
The Communications Advisor is a proven communications professional, responsible for helping bring creative energy and innovative approaches to designing, implementing, and leading communications for (and with) the Global People Team. This position will work closely with the global communications team, ensuring key employee communications are in sync in terms of content, distribution, and timing of overall agency communications.
Essential Responsibilities
STRATEGY AND PLANNING:
- Proactively plan in coordination with People Team leaders for communication needs and develop accompanying communication plans and internal marketing strategy.
- Develop an annual strategic communications plan with clear metrics that reflect awareness of various campaigns and People related workstreams.
- Support and shape internal “voice” for the People Team.
- Partner with the CPO to ensure regular, effective communication from the CPO and other team members to the rest of the agency. Includes drafting communications and talking points and creating presentations for CPO for multiple events and purposes – from meetings with global teams to executive leadership and Board of Director.
- Explore and manage processes to increase inclusion and engagement while building out familiarity with the entire employee lifecycle and engagement framework.
- Create, implement and measure engagement/awareness campaigns for People Team initiatives, such as the All Voices Survey, Equitable Compensation, Performance Management, Onboarding, etc.
- Explore, recommend, and implement tech-based approaches/solutions for delivery and availability of People Team info resources.
- Provide advisory support across the global People Team on communication related to policies, processes, and guidelines in coordination with Global Internal Communications, ensure that messaging is clear, concise, and appropriate – delivered in a timely manner and in alignment with other agency-wide communications.
- Develop a network of global team members to test ideas and messaging, solicit input on inclusive approaches and communications, and get feedback after campaigns.
COMMUNICATION CREATION, ENGAGEMENT AND MANAGEMENT:
- Create and disseminate engaging, accessible, and inclusive People Team communications for internal audiences across the Mercy Corps world.
- Work closely with and provide advisory support for the Talent Brand Manager to ensure the internal and external representation and brand of the People team is consistent.
- Support the People Team leaders and broader People Team with creation and sharing of announcements and presentations about initiatives, issues, and updates across multiple platforms.
- In collaboration with global team stakeholders, develop and implement “Employer of Choice” promotional campaigns for Mercy Corps’ career webpage as well as LinkedIn.
- Develop and curate reader-friendly toolkits, FAQs, and key messages to foster team member understanding of People Team workstreams and new initiatives, and to streamline and centralize access to information.
- Lead the creation of inter-departmental communications materials to ensure People Team members are aligned on information, messaging, and departmental changes.
- Establish, manage, and elevate a People Team newsletter. Bring heightened global perspectives to the content. Track metrics to assess readership.
- Create event and engagement opportunities for People Team members to connect and engage with each other and the CPO.
- Support the planning and engagement of large team meetings, annual events, and broader People Team gatherings.
Supervisory Responsibility
N/A
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Sanjeev Sahgal, Chief People Officer, with dotted line to Managing Director of Global Internal Communications Works Directly With: Global People Team leadership and stakeholders, Global Internal Communications Team, Executive Team members
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field (Communications, Human Resources) or relevant years of experience
- 5+ years of experience working in Internal Communications, Employee Engagement, HR related field.
- Track record of internal communications success at a large organization, preferably with Human Resources in a purpose-driven organization.
- Track record of working across a global organizational landscape.
- Excellent writing/editing skills; ability to “translate” technical language into compelling content for wide-ranging audiences.
- Experience preferred with new media and social networking technologies and working knowledge of online content management.
- Proven experience maintaining a high level of confidentiality and professional conduct.
- Proven ability to prioritize multiple competing and changing priorities, requests, tasks, and deadlines.
Success Factors
The successful candidate will be a clear and creative communicator who is passionate about growing a strong, connected culture through communication. They will be able to quickly acquire a solid knowledge of Mercy Corps and forge productive relationships with key internal stakeholders around the globe. They will understand and utilize the technical aspects and soft skills needed for effective communication.
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.
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.