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
In support of Mercy Corpsโ mission, the US and Europe Corporate and Foundation Partnership teams manage Mercy Corpsโ fundraising relationships with major US and European companies and foundations. We set bold visions for the positive social change we can create with our partners, provide outstanding partner services and relationship management, and together build meaningful partnerships that provide value to all parties while creating lasting impact for the local communities where we work. Our partnerships span areas including emergency response, economic and market development, food and water security, climate change, and peacebuilding. We work across many teams at Mercy Corps, including marketing and communications, mass market fundraising, the executive office, and with our program and country-based colleagues around the world. This position is within Mercy Corpsโ broader Development team, also encompassing major and mid-level giving and strategic philanthropy.
The Position
The Senior Communications Officer, Global Corporate & Foundation Partnerships, will contribute to implementing the communications and influence strategy for the global corporate, foundation and catalytic philanthropy audiences. Working closely with the Communications Director, Global Corporate & Foundation Partnerships, this position will coordinate across internal teams and directly with external partners to create and deliver high-quality communications products including emails, blog posts, pitch decks, videos and marketing campaigns. Written communications will require translating content produced by other teams to resonate with and meet the needs of a private sector audience on topics including emergency response, food and water security, climate change, economic development and peacebuilding and governance. In addition to communications, this position will manage the planning and engagement process around corporate & foundation-related external events (e.g. World Economic Forum, Skoll Global Forum, BSR, Social Innovation Summit) including maintaining a calendar, preparing event strategy briefs and talking points, and coordinating among team members. We seek an outstanding project manager and writer who understands what motivates corporate and foundation partners (and their employees, customers and other stakeholders) to engage around social impact, and excels at translating content to fit the audience.
Essential Job Responsibilities
General Communications (25%):
Write emergency response communications (creating and sourcing content from internal teams), including email solicitations and updates.
Create communications around moments such as World Refugee Day or Giving Tuesday, adapting content for private sector audiences.
Work closely with the Development Officer to coordinate comms delivery and outreach.
Develop and maintain internal tracking documents to evaluate and prioritize communications opportunities with partners.
Ensure the Corporate and Foundation teams follow Mercy Corpsโ communications and marketing guidelines and policies.
Contribute to Mercy Corpsโ ethical fundraising and communications strategy: advance ethical storytelling materials that meet the needs of the private sector audience.
Communications Deliverables for High Value Donor Opportunities (50%):
Source and transform content (working across the marketing, digital, creative services, media relations and programs teams) into compelling corporate & foundation audience-specific products. This can include, but is not limited to emails, blog posts, social media, pitch decks, fact sheets, and videos.
Contribute to the development and implementation of profile-raising, multi-channel communications and PR strategies. This can include liaising and partnering with other internal teams (such as the marketing, digital, creative services, media relations) to develop and deliver on such strategies.
Contribute to implementing the strategies for large, influential โbig betโ giving opportunities and other strategic fundraising priorities.
Contribute to strategic employee communications for top corporate partners in partnership with the Senior Officer for Employee Engagement and Workplace Giving.
Event & Profile Strategy (25%):
Contribute to the profile and influence strategy to raise Mercy Corpsโ profile with key corporate and foundation donor audiences.
Maintain an external events calendar to ensure the team can proactively prepare for key profile-raising opportunities. Research events, assess ROI, provide engagement recommendations.
Manage the planning and execution of Mercy Corps-organized corporate & foundation partnership events, e.g. side events at conferences, webinars, or partner summits. Prepare strategy briefs, coordinate engagement, develop outreach communications and draft top-line talking points.
Supervisory Responsibility
None
Accountability
Reports directly to: Director of Communications, Global Corporate & Foundation Partnerships
Works directly with: Senior Directors, Directors and Deputy Directors for Corporate & Foundation Partnerships across the US and Europe; Senior Employee Engagement and Workplace Giving Officer; Senior Development Coordinator; Marketing and Communications team members.
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
BA in related field, such as Business, Communications, Non-Profit Management, or International Development.
4+ years of experience in corporate or non-profit communications, ideally in international development-related issues.
Expertise across a variety of specialties including media relations, social media, editorial planning, digital marketing.
Outstanding writer with experience in multiple formats.
Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage and prioritize competing demands while maintaining attention to detail.
Visual thinker โ basic design skills and experience working closely with designers
Ability to adapt and pivot in a fast-paced environment, excelling in both proactive and reactive responses.
Strong understanding of the social impact and philanthropy space.
Strong understanding of international development work.
Success Factors
The Senior Communications Officer, Corporate & Foundation Partnerships will have demonstrated experience in creating and delivering high-quality communications products for sophisticated corporate and foundation audiences. They will be an outstanding writer with the ability to shape complex content so that it is fit for purpose. Experience in corporate social impact, innovative philanthropy and international development will be a strong asset. This role requires impeccable project management skills and the ability to work collaboratively with multiple teams and individuals across many departments to ensure successful project outcomes. A passion for international development work is appreciated.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in the U.S. and it requires up to 5% travel to domestic locations.
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.
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 is necessary to ensure not only the safety of our workforce, but the ongoing functionality of the organization.
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.