PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY

Mercy Corps works amid disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to unleash the potential of people who can win against nearly impossible odds. Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided $1.5 billion in assistance to people in 106 nations. Supported by headquarters in North America and Europe, the agency's global programs employ 3,500 staff worldwide and reach 16.4 million people in more than 35 countries. Over the past five years, more than 89 percent of the agency's resources have been allocated directly to programs that help people in need.

Mercy Corps’ Program department is structured by regional teams and provides essential headquarters support to Mercy Corps country programs in the field. The regional teams are a key point of HQ contact for field management including Regional Program Director, Country Directors, program managers and other expatriate and national staff. The regional teams link the country programs to a range of U.S.-based resources and other support teams. The Program department is responsible for supporting field led programming that delivers measurable impact. The program department provides support in the design, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of field-led programs and operations, ensures qualitative and timely donor reports, maintains program data integrity and knowledge management throughout the agency, and seeks to enliven our innovative approach, which delivers the highest quality service.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The On-Call Program Officer (PO) will work with all of the regional teams to provide support where most needed during times of high-volume and will support the growth, development and administration of Mercy Corps’ programs around the world. S/he will provide surge support to the existing team including supporting knowledge management of existing and completed grants, review and copy-editing of donor reporting, coordination of proposal development, and other administrative duties. S/he plays a key role in connecting the field to HQ resources and ensuring effective communication between different parts of HQ and the field. S/he effectively supports new program development; managing existing grants; and responds to all public relations and information-flow needs.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Grant Administration and Management:

• Provide program operations support to field teams: [Describe overview of job missioensure deadlines are met, particularly for donor reporting and grant applications; ensure agency resources are utilized to maintain or improve programs and exceed MC and donor requirements; answer all field questions and requests.
• Ensure high quality of field reports and outputs, including grammar and copy-editing of reports and grant documents; may also include translation of reports.
• Support the regional teams in applying for new funding sources through coordination of proposal development, creation of final proposal submission package and copy-editing of draft proposals.

Communications:

• Handle desk communications, including internal and external requests for information both verbal and written; responses to field questions and needs; etc.
• Support the regional teams through coordination of logistical and technical needs to field, including the identification, contracting, deployment and payment of consultants; recruitment of ex-patriate staff, and all travel needs.
• Help liaise between field offices and other Mercy Corps HQ departments as needed, i.e. Resource Development, Public Affairs and Media departments, Human Resources, Resource Development, Finance, IT, Executive, etc.
• Manage ClearSpace, Mercy Corps’ online agency learning and exchange interface, communicate and coordinate with country program focal points and the Digital Librarian for updates and maintenance.

Other:

• Other duties as requested.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Organizational Learning

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: TBD

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Program Operations team (SPOs, POs and APOs), HQ Program and Technical Support units and departments, including Resource Development, Material Aid, Logistics and Finance; Mercy Corps Counterparts at MC HQ offices in Europe; MC donors and partners.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• BA/S in relevant international development field.
• 1-2 years of international relief and development program management experience preferred.
• Proficiency in reading, writing and speaking French/Spanish/other languages strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with MS Office software required (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required and ability to handle confidential matters appropriately.
• Proven ability to prioritize multiple competing requests, tasks, deadlines, needs.
• International, non-profit, and government experience and/or interest preferred.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative to achieve tasks.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

This position is based in Portland, Oregon, with no travel requirements.

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. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps' policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.