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Program / Department Summary
The Implementer-Led Design, Evidence, Analysis and Learning (IDEAL) activity is funded by USAIDโs Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) that works to support the United States Governmentโs goal of improving food and nutrition security among the worldโs most vulnerable households and communities. IDEAL addresses knowledge and capacity gaps expressed by the food and nutrition security implementing community, supporting them in the design and implementation of effective emergency and non-emergency food security activities. IDEAL is led by Save the Children and implemented by a consortium that includes Mercy Corps, TANGO International and Acute Incite.
The Program Development and Reporting Officer provides administrative and programmatic support to the Implementer Led Design, Evidence, Analysis and Learning (IDEAL) Team Lead. IDEAL is an $30 million dollar program over 6 years designed to provide strategic capacity strengthening to implementing partners of USAIDโs Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) and other food security stakeholders. The Program Development and Reporting Officer will be also part of the Mercy Corpsโ Technical Support Unit (TSU) is a key part of the Program Department. TSU subject-matter experts help set agency strategy and provide consultation โ from assessment and design through project implementation and results measurement โ to field offices worldwide, in some of the worldโs toughest places. TSU team members lead research, foster organizational learning, represent Mercy Corps to external audiences, and develop partnerships. The TSU is also integral to global business development and revenue.
General Position Summary
The Program Development and Reporting Officer will support all activities for the IDEAL Award. They play a key role in managing information and data that comes in from the partners to help facilitate information sharing within the consortium staff and through the various internal and external coordination bodies. They will provide broad-based support across technical component areas, in close coordination with the IDEAL Team Lead. This includes preparing internal and external reports, supporting the IDEAL Team Lead in the preparation of webinars, workshops, and any other communication event. They coordinate with key stakeholders and helps ensure the program team adheres to internal and donor policies.
Essential Responsibilities
- Drafting monthly reports, semi-annual, and annual reports for USAID/BHA, as well as internal reports and updates and help prepare Consortium team for presentations to high-level stakeholders.
- Coordinate monthly and ad hoc information sharing on Mercy Corpsโ behalf to the other IDEAL consortium members.
- Helping produce learning products like reports and videos.
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND SHARING:
- Support the IDEAL Team Lead with administrative tasks such as maintaining required documentation, as per Program Team Files policies, and knowledge management of the grant
- Contribute to and help maintain a robust dataset capturing program achievements, progress, and indicator data which can be easily deployed in presentations, infographics reports, and in response to donor requests and for internal Mercy Corps use (Tola, etc.)
- Assist with other tasks as required, including editing/proofreading support of reports, translation of key documents, note-taking at key meetings, etc.
PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT AND COORDINATION:
- Provide administrative support for reports such as drafting Past Performance Reports/capacity statements/or other required documents, copy-editing, and assisting in the preparation of budget notes.
- With guidance from the IDEAL team Lead, help update and execute program contracts and sub-awards for new awards or existing program modifications.
REPRESENTATION:
- In collaboration with IDEAL Team Lead, represent Mercy Corps at consortium/donors meeting and other coordination meetings as requested.
Supervisory Responsibility: None
Accountability
Reports Directly To: IDEAL Team Lead
Works Directly With: IDEAL Team, TSU team members including members of resilience, governance and conflict sensitivity, and localization teams. BHA Implementing Partners, Save the Children, Tango, and Acute Incite, and Mercy Corps HQ teams as appropriate including Resource Development and Finance.
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 Qualifications and Transferable Skills
- Relevant degree (BSc, BA or above) or at least 5 years of work experience, preferably including field experience; Higher level degree (MSc, MA) preferred.
- Experience with food security activities for international development or humanitarian projects.
- Experience with incorporating and mainstreaming Humanitarian, Development and Peace (HDP) Coherence principles in humanitarian and/or development projects, preferably within food security or food assistance programming.
- Experience coordinating or delivering capacity building, peer-to-peer learning and engagement activities, including using web-based learning and communication platforms, preferred.
- Strong reporting, presenting and verbal communications skills.
- Experience working with USAID/BHA programs is a plus.
- Working knowledge of a second language (French, Spanish, Portuguese or Arabic) is a plus.
Success Factors
The successful applicant will possess technical expertise in HDP principle integration, combined with practical experience working within food security programs. They will have experience and interest in assessing information related to HDP integration, developing knowledge sharing documents and tools, using the web to disseminate technical knowledge, and capacity building. They will be self-motivated and able to think creatively about achieving capacity-building objectives for a global, multi-organizational target audience. They will have strong networking and relationship building skills and the ability to represent the organization at formal and informal functions and meetings. They will be resilient and calm under pressure.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Washington DC or USA remote (within approved states) and may require up to 15% travel to activity locations, some of which may lack amenities or be in volatile environments where security protocols will need to be followed. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field 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.
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.
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.
- In collaboration with IDEAL Team Lead, represent Mercy Corps at consortium/donors meeting and other coordination meetings as requested.