Central America Director - Guatemala

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. Program / Department Summary Mercy Corps’ programming in Central America is currently limited to Guatemala, where it has over 20 years of programming and deep connections to rural communities, and has carried out rural development, food security, water security, health, land conflict mediation, land formalization and violence prevention activities with funding from a multitude of institutional and private donors. Given the high levels of humanitarian need and mixed migration flows throughout Central American countries, the need to develop more robust, multi-country focused programming has become apparent. Mercy Corps is currently seeking registration in Honduras - where Mercy Corps had a presence until 2004 - and El Salvador, with ambitions to also expand beyond these geographies. Humanitarian needs range widely, but in general span from​ ​multipurpose cash assistance to purchase basic needs to accessing essential health services, protection and psychosocial support. Target communities in need include individuals on the move, including Central Americans, Haitians, Venezuelans, Colombians, Ecuadorians and other migrants moving north from South America, through the Darien Gap into Panama, and northward towards the US border. Supporting longer term economic development, job creation, violence prevention focused on youth in urban areas, and other development interventions supporting origin communities are also priorities for Mercy Corps. In line with Mercy Corps’ global and country-level Pathway to Possibility (P2P) strategies, the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) regional team is in the process of refining its regional strategy to advance P2P’s strategic outcome areas - food security, water security, economic opportunities, and peace and governance – by establishing new operations, partnerships, alliances and programs across Central America in a way that addresses the shifting socio-economic, political, and governance environment, and effectively meets community needs and donor priorities. General Position Summary The Mercy Corps Central America Director is a growth-driven leader responsible for overseeing Mercy Corps’ day-to-day programs and operations in Guatemala, and leading the establishment of new program operations in Honduras and El Salvador. This person has held senior roles in managing operations and/or programming in fluid environments and formulating strategic direction across multiple contexts simultaneously. The Director has supervisory responsibility for the Guatemala country team leadership, and is responsible for ensuring the smooth functioning of the country program in compliance with local laws, Mercy Corps policies and procedures, and donor rules and regulations. They will also ensure that existing Mercy Corps Guatemala programs - and new programs established in other geographies - are implemented in accordance to PM@MC standards, ensuring a high level of program quality, and that programs are implemented on time, on budget, and on scope. This person will contribute to proposal development for multi-country, multi-sector programming, ensure accountability to program participants and donors, placing a high value on innovative solutions to humanitarian and development issues and creative partnerships. Ideally, this person will have experience in emergency response and rapid expansion of activities and support functions. Essential Job Responsibilities STRATEGY & VISION