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 Corpsโ Crisis Analysis (CA) function supports humanitarian, early recovery and resilience, and development programming in the most complex contexts, including Syria, Lebanon, Ukraine, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of Congo and others. Mercy Corps CA teams aggregate and analyze data to improve decision-making and access in complex crises. The teams directly contribute to data-driven decision-making by layering information from primary sources, open sources and respondersโ programmatic data, which is analyzed by subject matter experts and data scientists. This analysis is grounded in Mercy Corpsโ status as an operational NGO, keeping our products constructive and relevant for humanitarian responders and donors within a given crisis.
Crisis Analysis โ Syria
Crisis Analysis โ Syria supports Mercy Corpsโ in-country programming as well as the wider humanitarian response throughout the region through the provision of quality, timely and relevant analytical products.CAโSYR looks at social, political, economic and security issues, including underlying factors that trigger conflict and displacement such as governance and service provision, the war economy, past displacement patterns, local, regional and international politics, social identity and inter-communal relationships, and Syrian modern history. CAโSYR also serves as a real-time information hub; assesses programmatic, partner, and operational risk; identifies and maps stakeholders; and works with internal partners to better enable data-driven decision-making. Written HAT products range from daily updates, and monthly periodical reports, to in-depth thematic, situation, and scenario reports.
Crisis Analysis โ DRC
The CAT-DRC team has developed unique expertise in the collection, processing and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data describing the complexities of various crises and crises within crises, focusing specifically on the provinces of Ituri, NK, SK, Tanganyika and Maniema. CAT-DRC's cross-sectoral approach combines a rich understanding of the local context with standardized analytical approaches and innovative analytical technology, augmented and amplified by national and international collaborations and partnerships. To guarantee the relevance, speed and quality of its analyses, CAT-DRC draws on the sectoral expertise of the existing analytical ecosystem and provides unique cross-sectoral analyses to a wide range of stakeholders. The CAT-DRC has developed its own methodologies to track changes in the operational context that combine the specific needs of humanitarian, development and peacebuilding actors, and thus fill existing gaps in terms of \"triple-nexus\" analysis.
The Position
Mercy Corps is looking for a temporary Crisis Analysis Managing Editor to take responsibility for editorial processes for Crisis Analysis products, from developed draft to publication. As Managing Editor the selected candidate will ensure that the material is of the highest quality and is delivered on schedule and to specification. This full-time position is a temporary maternity leave cover position, expected to last until the end of July 2024.
The Crisis Analysis Managing Editor supports two CA teams: Syria (approximately 75% level of effort) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (approximately 25%). The selected candidate will work across two dynamic teams with individuals passionate about research, analysis, and the contexts they focus on where English and/or French may not be the native language. Members of Mercy Corpsโ global Crisis Analytics team are also based in the UK offices, and informal collaboration with them is encouraged.
This position has two primary responsibilities: editorial quality assurance and product page layout. Working in collaboration with CA-SYR and DRC-CAT Directors and analytical unit manager, you will lead the implementation of best practices, workflows, tools, and templates to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the publishing process. You will ensure that the products are delivered in a consistent style and with a common โvoiceโ. You will develop an understanding of our audienceโs needs to support them being met. As Managing Editor you will be responsible for logical/structural edits, and proofing of CA external products to ensure minimal written errors (including typos, grammatical errors, and syntax issues); high quality, and consistency, in tone, style, and structural flow, and adherence to team-specific style guides.
In addition, the selected candidate will also be responsible for page layout and design of CA products. With InDesign, the selected candidate will utilize existing templates โ with the opportunity to introduce additional templates, visual elements, and Mercy Corps is looking for an individual who complements these abilities with an existing interest in and knowledge of international humanitarian and development, particularly in the MENA and/or sub-Saharan region(s).
Essential Responsibilities
WORKFLOW, EDITING, AND TRANSLATION
โ Constructively work with both CA-SYR and DRC-CAT to create and manage detailed workflows for the production of analytical products to ensure deadlines and donor needs are met
โ Support ideation and work planning phases of specific products, in collaboration with analysts
โ Edit early-stage drafts of external products in collaboration with analysts
โ Copyedit and proofread final drafts checking for consistency in terms of grammar, syntax, tone/voice/style, and nomenclature, while ensuring the highest degree of quality and minimization of errors
โ Ensure team-specific style guides are adhered to, and are updated as necessary
โ Develop reporting and product templates that meet the needs of the CAโs range of audiences.
โ Work with the Director to forecast resource requirements, to inform the development of new funding proposals
โ For DRC products, translate French copy to English with a high degree of accuracy and quality, as well as proofing
PAGE LAYOUT AND PRODUCT FINALIZATION
โ Using InDesign and Canva, adapt existing product templates for ongoing reports and products
โ Create novel product designs, including page layouts, visual components, and themes, based on branding guidelines
โ Support in the finalization of products and the dissemination process in collaboration with analysts
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
โ Contribute to donor grant reports as required by and relevant to CA
โ Ensure continued capacity development of analysts to write in accordance with the style guidelines, quality assurance, and informational/analytical needs CA audiences
โ Contribute to โafter-actionโ discussions to troubleshoot and problem-solve production issues as they occur
Supervisory Responsibility
N/A.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: CAโSYR Director and DRCโCAT Analysis Unit Manager
Works Directly With: CA Analysts, Data and GIS specialist(s), Global Crisis Analytics 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
โ Post-graduate qualification or equivalent experience in Publishing, Editing, Communications, Journalism, or similar field
โ Experience copy editing and proofreading technical publications, particularly for humanitarian and development audiences
โ Experience with INGOs, UN agencies, donor governments, or think tanks/research institutions
โ Experience in project management and workflow mapping
โ Strong cross-cultural communication skills
โ Functional knowledge of Adobe InDesign
โ Experience in international development preferred, particularly in the MENA and/or sub-Saharan regions
โ Exceptional written English
โ Experience translation from French to English
โ Experience working within a remote team with a high degree of autonomy and accountability
Success Factors
The effectiveness of our work is dependent upon the reputation of the products we produce, and this position will play a key role in increasing quality and consistency within the Syria team and sharing those learnings with the wider Crisis Analytics community of practice in Mercy Corps.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in the United Kingdom. It requires some travel across the region. Up to 10% international travel may be required.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs, and Mercy Corpsโ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corpsโ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.
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 worldโs 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.