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 Team
Mercy Corps has been operating in Venezuela since 2018 implementing humanitarian and development programs, with special emphasis on water, sanitation and hygiene, health, protection, food security, and nutrition, and plays a key role in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information relevant to the humanitarian community in the country. The team is expanding its programs at the country level to implement quality programs with the required attention.
The Position
The Program Officer will support the Program Manager in managing and implementing Mercy Corps programs in Venezuela. In addition, direct supervision of some activities will be delegated, including ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps minimum standards and program quality. This position may support other program strategies and activities as determined by the Program Manager, including the identification, design, and development of proposals and technical narratives.
Essential Responsibilities
STRATEGY AND PLANNING
- Recognize internal and external opportunities for innovative action and create an environment in which alternative viewpoints are welcome.
- Prioritize and organize the management, actions and resources to achieve the objectives of the program and contribute to the national strategy.
- Develop and organize activities that ensure resources for programs and, together with the program manager, strengthen relationships with donors and other influential audiences within the country.
PROGRAMMES MANAGEMENT
- Prepare programmatic narratives, as well as updates to be shared with headquarters and the communication team.
- Support the development of instruments for data collection, information and evaluations in the field in coordination with the MEL team.
- With the program manager, design, supervise and follow up on program activities.
- Participate in the stages of design, formulation, execution, monitoring and evaluation of the indicator plan and work plans of the program and local partners.
- Design and promote strategies for the transformation of institutional and community culture through the use of inclusive language and forms of communication through women's rights and gender equality-based approach.
- Support technical teams in the field when required.
- Support the preparation of reports, presentations and technical reports on the program to be presented locally, headquarters, donors, and other related entities, according to the dates established at the contractual and project level.
- Respond for the proper use of program resources and ensure that they are applied in accordance with those established in the operating plan. Likewise, cooperate with the Finance team in the preparation of budgets, expense lines, estimates, and projections.
- Inform the Program Manager in a timely manner about difficulties or challenges that imply the actions of the program (submit early alerts on satisfaction of indicators and work plan).
- Support the implementation of M&E tools and instruments for the capture, processing and analysis of information according to the M&E guidelines for the component.
- Support the implementation of the CARM policy.
- Manage the strategic activities of the component according to the Mercy Corps program management standards, ensuring the application of program quality methodologies and tools.
- Support the review, adjustment and application of M&E databases of the component and program according to the guidelines of the M&E area.
- Conform case files with the tools designed by the program with all the information constituting the formalization processes. Correctly articulate the work carried out with other areas of Mercy Corps and local partners.
- Give constant communication to the team and Program Manager and provide timely information to the field team and local partners.
- Give correct evaluation, follow-up and monitoring of the goals and indicators of the programs and ensure the proper implementation of all the activities considered in them.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
- Help team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance and achieve common goals.
- Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback formally and informally at regular program meetings and with local partners.
- Create and maintain a work environment of mutual respect where team members and local partners strive for excellence. Mentor, follow up and coordinate with team members and local partners as needed.
- Drive Mercy Corps' policies and work standards on safeguarding.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND COMPLIANCE
- Ensure compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies related to the program.
- Draft and/or review the scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultant, including a review of technical effectiveness and contract budget.
- Plan at the budget level the development of the strategic activities in charge, maintain the follow-up and evaluation of the budget execution, and inform the manager and director of the program of the execution of the activities according to the budget execution.
- Submit timely and under the established schedule the budget projection and execution, the purchasing plan and the contractual follow-up matrix of the component in charge.
INFLUENCE AND REPRESENTATION
- Identify, build and manage collaborative alliances with partners, key entities, partners, beneficiaries, donors, local governments and other interested parties.
- Communicate effectively to ensure that overall project objectives and donor obligations are met.
- Plan at the budget level the development of the strategic activities in charge, maintain the follow-up and evaluation of the budget execution, and inform the Program Manager and Team Leader of the execution of the activities according to the budget execution.
- Submit timely and under the established schedule the budget projection and execution, the purchasing plan and the contractual follow-up matrix of the component in charge.
Supervisory Responsibility
Consultants, Contractors.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Programs Manager
Works Directly With: Technical teams in Venezuela, program team, finance, operations, MEL, Regional Team at headquarters, technical advisors at headquarters, members of local implementing partner teams, operations, human management, finance and purchasing area to coordinate logistics, contracting of services for activities and products of the program.
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 & Transferable Skills
- Professional training in humanitarian assistance, international cooperation, international development, political science, education, social sciences or related careers.
- 5 years of work experience in similar positions with international NGOs or similar employment in public and/or private sector.
- Knowledge and verifiable work experience in the management of humanitarian and/or development programs.
- Experience in managing databases and monitoring and evaluation systems for social programs.
- Experience in inter-institutional coordination with public and private entities.
- Preferably work experience with rural communities and women and with sensitivity to approaches of gender, ethnicity, race, disability and age.
- Have the skills to work in interdisciplinary teams.
- Skills and experience in presenting technical reports, follow-up to work plans, M & E and technical analysis.
- Social skills for dialogue with groups, communities and entities of the private and public sector.
- Knowledge of Word, Excel, PPT, Outlook, social networks and the Internet.
- Fluency in English is desirable.
Success Factors
A successful Program Officer must have flexibility and adaptability. Being proactive, autonomous, and a leader. Be technically rigorous yet flexible and creative in solving problems given changing contexts and needs. Be open to constant learning and take lessons learned into account to improve results. Have a vision and commitment to a medium- or long-term relationship with Mercy Corps. With great sensitivity to address diverse problems; ability to respond proactively and ability to function in diverse environments.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Caracas, Venezuela and will require occasional travel to implementation areas to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.
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.
As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.
Our screening process is designed to be transparent and completed in partnership with new Team Members. You will have the opportunity to disclose any prior convictions at the conclusion of the recruitment process before the check is initiated. We ask that you do not disclose any prior convictions in your application materials or during the recruitment process.