Global Program Officer

Location: Portland, Oregon or Washington, DC

Position Status: Full-time, Regular

Salary Level: Starting salary for this role will be $53,000 commensurate on experience.

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 / Department / Team

Mercy Corps’ Strategic Framework within its Vision for 2030, commits Mercy Corps to (1) centering communities – and the most affected within them – as the protagonist of our work; (2) focusing on conflict and climate as the core drivers of fragility; (3) aligning around four outcome areas that build resilience for communities: food security, good governance and peace, water security, and economic opportunities; (4) partnering with communities, local NGOs, governments, and the private sector in various contexts for sustained impact; and (5) committing to five programming principles that will underpin all of our work: advancing our vision for localization for ourselves and the sector, innovating and testing new ideas in the hardest of places, using data, evidence, and analytics to scale what works, embracing the urgency of the climate emergency, and creating dignified and accessible spaces for all people to have a voice.

The Regional Program Team (RPT) supports strategic, impactful, high-quality programming in each of Mercy Corps’ geographical regions. They support Country Directors in aspects of their country program and grant administration. They play a key role in connecting the field to HQ resources and represent the country/regional interests internally with various HQ teams as well as with external stakeholders. They provide the secondary check and support the field (ultimate point of responsibility) in adhering to internal and external policies and regulations. RPT is the HQ point of responsibility for overall monitoring of grants/programs for both external/donor requirements as well as Mercy Corps’ internal policies and requirements. The RPT desk officers are advocates for the mission within Mercy Corps and with external groups including donors, media and civil society.

The Position

The Global Program Officer (PO) is a critical member of the Regional Program Team and Global Programs Team. The Global PO supports strategic, impactful, high-quality programming globally, alongside the Global Programs Advisor and regional Senior Program Officers (SPOs) on a rotating basis depending on regional and global priorities. The Global PO will work closely with the regional SPOs to support country program and grant administration, playing a key role in program and grants administration, donor communications and proposal development. The Global PO provides the secondary check and supports the country offices (ultimate point of responsibility) in adhering to internal and external policies and regulations. The Global PO plays a critical role in connecting the country offices to HQ resources and representing the country/regional interests internally with various HQ teams as well as with external stakeholders. The Global PO will provide insights into global grant administration trends to support harmonization across regions and improve efficiency of processes.

Essential Responsibilities

PROGRAM & GRANT ADMINISTRATION

• Serve as HQ point of responsibility for overall monitoring on grants/programs for both external/donor requirements as well as Mercy Corps’ internal policies and requirements.
• Provide ongoing monitoring of the status of programs and complete regular check-ins on grant requirements (such as reporting, co-financing/match, BVA, data aggregation, etc.).
• In coordination with the SPO, serve as HQ point of contact to donor representatives, as needed
• Support country team’s adherence to Mercy Corps internal policies and Program Management minimum standards. As identified, support adherence to Mercy Corps’ Complex Programs management standards.
• Support country programs, as needed, with planning and implementation challenges, and coordinating with other HQ departments, including Technical Support, Compliance, Finance, to provide additional support.
• With guidance from Global Programs Advisor, support global grant administration process improvement projects.

PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT

• Lead HQ coordination for proposals (unless designated otherwise). Throughout the proposal process, monitor the timeline, status of proposal and communicate to the relevant parties as appropriate.
• Provide input to proposals, ensuring alignment with donor priorities and requirements. In addition, review drafts for coherence, provide copy-editing and rewrites as necessary, and manage submission to the donor. The Global PO may be appointed a different role in the design process and travel to the field if needed.

STRATEGY, PLANNING & LEARNING

• Facilitate learning across country portfolios and regions and share lessons learned and knowledge of agency resources/tools/best practices/etc.

INTERNAL COMMUNICATION

• In coordination with the APO, support internal communications and ensure knowledge management systems are up to date and accurate to support communication with other teams.

Supervisory Responsibility

None.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Global Program Manager

Works Directly With: Global Programs Analyst, Regional Program Teams, other HQ Program units and other departments, including Resource Development, Finance, Compliance, Legal, Policy and Advocacy, Mercy Corps Counterparts at MC HQ offices in Europe; MC Country Offices; MC donors and partners

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/S in relevant field required; MA/MS/MBA or equivalent preferred.
• 2+ years of field-based experience in international relief and development; demonstrated knowledge of relevant sectoral and/or operational areas.
• 2+ years of experience managing the development, implementation, administration, and compliance (especially of US Government-funded grants); general program management experience preferred.
• Experience with proposal development including support and writing with various donors, particularly US Government, private foundations, and corporations.
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation and other learning efforts.
• Experience representing the organization and its interests to a diverse range of local and international government officials, local civil society organizations, other international organizations, the media, and the public – preferred.
• Proficiency with MS Office software required (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Preference given to candidates with prior work experience in Asia, Africa, Americas or Middle East.
• Proficiency in French, Spanish and/or Arabic preferred.

Success Factors

The successful candidate is a problem solver, who is adept in successfully dealing with issues of complexity. They are a skilled communicator, able to develop and utilize strong relationships with staff, partners and donors. They are flexible and able to communicate workloads and team needs effectively. They will coordinate with their supervisor and regional SPOs, and be effective at building working relationships with stakeholders. They will collaborate with Mercy Corps’ diverse program support teams, including members of the TSU, International Finance, and Grants Compliance teams to support impactful partnerships with country programs and the region at large. The Global PO is part of a team that works with country teams to ensure that we learn from experience, thoroughly research and analyze context and develop high impact strategies. They will be a skilled writer and synthesizer of diverse and complex information, helping teams generate new insights into their work, the needs of the regions, and how program impact can be scaled. A robust sense of humor is greatly appreciated.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position can be based in Portland, Oregon or Washington, DC and is expected to travel up to 10% of the time – sometimes on short notice – to areas with limited access to medical facilities and amenities. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a country office posting or on a visit/STA to a country office posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

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.

As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based employees. Any offers of employment or continued employment are dependent on the successful completion of the screens which include, but are not limited to our Background Check and Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme processes,

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.

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

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 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.