Mercy Corps
Location: United States, Preference for candidate in Pacific Timezone, Open to other locations.
Position Status: Full-time, Regular
Salary Level: HQ4 – US: Minimum Starting salary for this role will be $53,000 to commensurate on experience, based on local benchmark for candidates outside of the United States.
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’ Technical Support Unit (TSU) is a key part of the program department. Mercy Corps’ TSU houses subject matter experts whose mission is to help our global teams apply the most effective solutions to the world’s toughest challenges, while building our global reputation and resources to do so. By advancing technical excellence the Unit plays a key role in driving Mercy Corps’ impact, innovation and influence around the world. The TSU helps set agency-wide strategy and develops strategic approach documents and other technical briefs for their practice area to inform the entire organization’s work. In addition, it offers technical expertise to offices worldwide – supporting country strategy development and assessments, and engaging throughout the program life cycle from project design and proposal development to quality implementation and evaluations.
The Position
The Project and Knowledge Management Officer (PKMO) will have two primary functions:
1.) Act as project officer for an institutional capacity grant that aims to help Mercy Corps strengthen our approaches to gender equality, social inclusion and diversity in our operations and our programs;
2.) Support the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion and Young People and Protection Teams to set up and maintain improved knowledge management systems. Key activities will include helping the team shift from google to Microsoft Teams, document organization and management, supporting internal team communications and processes, and contributing to the Gender Equality, Diversity, and Social Inclusion community of practice.
Essential Responsibilities
PROJECT AND GRANT MANAGEMENT
- Serve as Project Officer for a three year grant with two objectives: (1) building alignment and a clear and unified purpose across the agency to support inclusive and resilient communities, including within our global operations; and (2) creating healthy accountability mechanisms to ensure that the agency measures and tracks internal and programmatic progress towards its commitment to inclusive and resilient communities and allocates sufficient resources to these important activities in the long-term.
- Support in tracking progress related to the program workplan and hired consultants
- Help to plan key events and activities, participate in workshops
- Track expenditures for the Inclusion Grant and draft reports as required.
- Maintain and update Inclusion Grant workplan in partnership with the GESI Senior Director and GDI Director
- Support Senior Director in providing guidance to consultants hired on the Inclusion Grant.
- Review content, edit, assemble, format, and support to ensure timely submission of donor reports, at the direction of the Senior Director.
PROPOSAL SUPPORT
- Support in proposal development efforts, including drafting Past Performance Reports, capacity statements, copy-editing, formatting and final compilation for submission.
- Maintain GESI/YPP team proposal tracker.
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
- Liaise between Gender, Diversity and Inclusion team (operations) and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion team (programs).
- Respond to requests for information from other HQ departments, at direction of the Senior Director
- Support GESI and YPP teams to edit and finalize communications materials as requested by Senior Director
- Maintain internal communications page on Mercy Corps Hub page (internal) and contribute to Workplace posts
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
- Help set up and maintain improved document management system for GESI and YPP technical teams
- Maintain up-to-date GESI and YPP technical information on Mercy Corps’ online knowledge management tools, e.g., GAIT, Digital Library, Hub
ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
- Maintain adequate records of all documentation and correspondence for inclusion grant, ensuring that documents are saved in Teams and linked to the Digital Library. Responsible for implementing HQ file retention policy.
- Help draft and process GESI/YPP team invoices for consultants
- Provide administrative support to the Senior Director as requested
Supervisory Responsibility
None.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Senior Director, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
Works Directly With: Director, Gender, Diversity and Inclusion; Director, Young People and Protection; GESI and YPP team members, other TSU team members, finance team members
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 International Development or related fields is highly preferred.
- 2+ of demonstrated experience in project management and/ or administration support is required. Previous budget management experience preferred.
- Strong interpersonal skills: demonstrated relationship management experience, strong networking skills, and an ability to work collaboratively with others across difference
- Proficiency with MS Office software (Word, Excel, Powerpoint), Microsoft 365, and Google Suite tools (Google Docs, Sheets, Forms) required.
- Knowledge of relevant technical sectors (gender equality, social inclusion, youth, protection) is a plus.
- Exceptional English written and verbal communication skills required.
- Language proficiency in French, Spanish, Arabic or Russian required.
Success Factors
The Project and Knowledge Management Officer must be a detail-oriented multi-tasker who is able to communicate clearly and work under pressure. They must demonstrate patience, flexibility, and taking initiative to independently solve problems. Vital skills include communication (both written and verbal), as well as building and maintaining effective internal and external relationships. They must demonstrate the ability to understand and follow agency procedures, meet deadlines, and work both independently and as part of a complex distanced-based, multi-cultural team. An exposure to and interest in international development and/or humanitarian issues is important, and an understanding of the complex challenges faced by program teams operating in overseas environments is critical. They must demonstrate a passion for gender equality, diversity, and social inclusion issues.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position can be based in Portland, Oregon or Washington, DC. Travel to support country programs may be required – sometimes on short notice – to areas with limited access to medical facilities and amenities.
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.