Mercy Corps
Location: Washington DC or Portland, Oregon; US Remote Position Status: Full-time, Regular Minimum Starting Salary: $64,000.00
Current unrestricted US work authorization is required at the time of application for this position.
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’ global safeguarding team is a key part of the Mercy Corps Ethics and Compliance Department (ECD) and leads our organizational efforts to prevent, detect, deter and respond to safeguarding issues. This includes our prevention and response work on issues involving Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Beneficiaries, Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, Trafficking and Child Safeguarding. The team reports to a Senior Director of Safeguarding who reports to the Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer (CECO). The global safeguarding team is bolstered by a global network of advisors, focal points and champions working at the country level to mainstream safeguarding and raise awareness about individual rights and responsibilities of our team members, participants, partners, volunteers and many others who are a part of the critical work we do. Although our primary focus is on ensuring our own safeguarding policies, practices and investigations are robust and effective, the Safeguarding Team also engages in cooperative efforts across the sector, engaging with partners, peers, donors and internal stakeholders, not only to raise our own practices to the highest standard, but to play a meaningful role in safeguarding improvements across the sector.
The Position
This position will play a critical role in supporting the global organization’s safeguarding efforts, particularly around the roll out of Core Safeguarding Standards, and will contribute to the agency’s strategic vision by developing systems to monitor, advise on and improve the safeguarding systems, capacity and progress of our country and operational teams.
Essential Responsibilities
ANALYTICS AND SYSTEMS
- Lead on the design and implementation of a Safeguarding Standards Analytics Strategy
- Innovate around analytics solutions to solve complex safeguarding integration related issues
- Integrate solutions with existing systems/technology, other organizational workflows and operational contexts
- Support country offices by preparing and helping individuals, teams, and business entities in implementing the organizational changes outlined in the Safeguarding Core Standards
- Work with the Safeguarding Team to establish systems, processes, workflow and technology solutions which support implementation of minimum standards for safeguarding (e.g. country dashboards, automated certification processes for learning products, etc)
- Develop processes and tools to track compliance with safeguarding standards at the country level and operational level; identify relevant data points/metrics and establish tracking mechanisms in coordination with multiple stakeholders
- Embed analytics and adaptive management considerations in the Core Standards roll out professional development products
- Establish and monitor quality assurance processes within safeguarding core standards tracking
- Collaborate with the PAQ team to integrate safeguarding into the roll out of the Agency’s Consolidated Reporting Mechanism for the Program Management Minimum Standards (MSR Project).
- Develop high-quality, standardized Power BI dashboard templates for safeguarding core standards reporting internally; user-friendly and concise
- Own the Safeguarding Teams Team’s SharePoint site and work with IT around appropriate SharePoint architecture.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
- Project Manage the Safeguarding Core Standards global roll out and other safeguarding workstreams
- Support the development and alignment of training packages for country offices around strengthening tracking and analytics for the Safeguarding Core Standards
- Support the Safeguarding Team on providing data for presentations and reports, including internal Board reports, the externally published Annual Safeguarding Report, donor assessments and other various internal communications
ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Communicate results of Standards reporting with stakeholders, including ECD leadership, regional leadership, and country leadership as needed
- Support the utilization of Standards Reporting to identify and compile case studies of safeguarding best practices and success in country programs to facilitate cross-country learning
- Cultivate networks in colleague agencies to facilitate exchange of ideas and collaboration across the sector, identifying potential areas for innovation and influence
- Collaborate with regional teams to provide training sessions and technical support to country teams as needed
- Support tool and standard pilots in select countries and provide targeted, in-depth trainings to country teams on new systems
Supervisory Responsibility
None
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Senior Director of Safeguarding
Works Directly With: Global Safeguarding Team; Ethics and Compliance Department, MCG and MCE Compliance, Global Safeguarding 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 in relevant field required, MA/MS/MBA or equivalent encouraged
- At least 4+ years of professional experience in development/humanitarian sector
- Experience with gender based violence, protection and/or safeguarding field; including a deep understanding of survivor sensitivity
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with cross functional teams across the program management cycle in an international organization required
- Experience working cross-functionally with technical and non-technical individuals; demonstrated skills in cross-cultural communication
- Proficiency with MS Office software required (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and Google suite (Google drive, docs, sheets).
- Proficiency in advanced data analysis and visualization software, including advanced Excel and DAX coding, mySQL,Power BI and Tableau
- 1-2 years of experience working with data management systems and automated workflows
- Experience of developing global procedures and guidance for NGO program management
- Experience of providing professional development in program management through direct and remote support
- Knowledge and / or experience of establishing strong global networks and internal communications
- Knowledge and / or experience of coordinating with multiple stakeholders, with different perspectives
- Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.
- Spoken and written English fluency required; fluency in French or Spanish is highly preferred.
Success Factors
The successful candidate has passion for the critical role of safeguarding in humanitarian work. They possess a sustained lens of cultural humility in seeking and creating best practice in the context of insecure and opaque environments with a broad spectrum of cultures, languages and education levels. They have an abiding sense of empathy for the stakeholders, participants and survivors we serve, and for the difficulties that INGOs and our partners face in carrying out this work. They consistently navigate difficult circumstances with a calm demeanor and reach understandings and resolutions in a methodical, analytical and empathetic manner. They persist in moving complex problems forward and strive to make substantial improvements in a timely yet methodical manner. The Advisor leads by example and motivates a diverse array of stakeholders, tempering technical expertise with a desire to learn from a place of equity.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
This position is based in Portland, Oregon or Washington DC and it requires up to 25% travel, which may include travel to insecure locations where amenities and freedom of movement are limited.
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.