Mercy Corps
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 Program
Since 1986, Mercy Corps has helped Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza access critical services and become more economically self-sufficient focusing its interventions on WASH, community crisis resilience, economic opportunities, and cash programming. With funding from BHA and ECHO Mercy Corps has been able to work together with communities in the West Bank and Gaza to respond to these needs. The escalation of conflict that began on October 7, 2023, has sharply exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the region. Mercy Corps is actively working to respond to the crisis and restart our humanitarian programs in Gaza where team members there are committed to significantly ramping up much needed lifesaving aid as soon as it is safe to do so.
The Position
The Emergency Operations Manager is a key person within the Gaza Emergency Response team, who ensures the resources are planned and utilized towards effective emergency response support. The Emergency Operations Manager plays a key role in the overall leadership of the Gaza Response under the guidance of the Emergency Response Team Leader.
As a member of the Gaza Response Team, the Emergency Operations Manager shares the overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of the Gaza Emergency Response’s operation activities under the direct supervision of the Emergency Response Team Leader.
Essential Responsibilities
● Manage reliable and cost-effective operations and effective implementation of the strategies of the Gaza Response towards the right direction, including supervision of all operations aspects of the response.
● Develop, set-up & manage supply chain lines for the timely delivery, transport, storage, and distribution of relief items.
● Manage supply chain partnerships and service contracts as required.
● Liaise with logistics coordination clusters and stakeholders.
● Supports the emergency program team in the timely provision of operations support at a higher level of standards.
● Ensures compliance requirements of Mercy Corps and rules and regulations specified by the donors and sometimes host governments.
● Provides management information for decision-making as required.
● Support developing budgets for operations activities of emergency response as an integral part of program proposal development and budgeting.
● Represents Mercy Corps as required in coordination with the emergency response team. As an emergency response team member, the Emergency Response Operations Manager will have certain representation at the discretion of the Emergency Response Team Leader. The level of representation may vary depend of the country context (i.e. Local Logistics Cluster, NGO Working Groups, etc.)
Responsibilities of Emergency Operations Manager:
As a member emergency response team, the Emergency Response Operations Manager is responsible for but not limited to key responsibilities of strategic oversight, development and implementation of policies and procedures and resource management;
STRATEGIC OVERSIGHT
Strategic oversight, direction and advice on all aspects of Mercy Corps operations management, aiming at the achievement of the following results
● Successful contribution for implementation of emergency response strategies and establishment of management guidelines.
● Advice on operations strategies, policies and plans affecting operations, program deliverables and staffing related to the emergency response.
● Analyzing Mercy Corps’ operating environment in the emergency response areas adjusting operations and providing advice on contextual changes.
● Guide emergency response operational strategies and activities.
● Promote continuous organizational learning culture with the empowerment of individuals and teams with the identification of learning needs. Create learning opportunities and ensure access to available learning resources.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Effective and efficient resources management in emergency response with the achievement of the following results:
● Ensure effective management of administrative / logistics resources and reporting in a systematic, transparent and efficient manner during the emergency response.
● Responsible for provision of high quality and timely procurement and other program support.
● Exercising oversight over procurement processes and logistics ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps procurement policies and procedures as well donor rules and regulations.
● Contract administration of emergency-related service and purchase contracts.
● Manage warehousing, transport, handling and customs clearance-related activities.
● Oversight on maintenance of proper custody of Mercy Corps assets, warehouse inventory and general inventory related to emergency response.
LIAISON AND COORDINATION:
● Liaise with Key stakeholders, which may include Logistics Cluster, Implementation Partners, Service Providers, Government Officials, Consortium members, INGOs and national NGOs/CBOs.
● Represent the Mercy Corps Emergency Response Team externally as required.
SECURITY
● Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by emergency response leadership.
● Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
Supervisory Responsibility
None
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Emergency Response Team Leader
Working Directly with Emergency Program Leads, Regional Management Team, Senior Operations Manager WBJ, Global Procurement and Logistics Team
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/BS degree in a relevant field.
● Minimum of 5 years senior management experience in a corporate or an INGO sector, including experience in operational support including emergency response.
● Sound knowledge of administrative and logistics procedures is highly desired.
● Proven supervisory ability and/or technical skills combined with leadership.
● Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues in a diversified multi-cultural and multi-ethnic working environment.
● Skills in managing, organizing, planning and implementing assigned tasks under pressure of frequent and tight schedules.
● Strong ability to apply good judgment and decision making skills in difficult and complex working environments.
● Demonstrated analytical and problem solving skills in handling management and coordination issues at country program level.
● Effective verbal and written communication, organizational, prioritization and Microsoft Office applications.
● Excellent oral and written English skills required.
● Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
Success Factors
The successful Operations Manager will be good at problem solving and have the ability to work out methods to deliver successful programs while demonstrating excellent stewardship of donor funds and compliance with Mercy Corps and donor regulations. They will maintain strong cooperative relationships with other departments and interact effectively with international and national personnel both in a managerial as well as training capacity, while demonstrating the ability to multitask, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. They will be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment and be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Jerusalem and it requires up to 40% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Housing for this role is in individual housing, staff will have access to good medical services, and the living situation is of a moderate standard.
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.