PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
The Program Department supports the Mercy Corps mission. Our global platform enables us to deliver high quality, community-led and market-driven programs, and pursue our Vision for Change
The HQ Program teams – Operations, Strategic Response & Global Emergencies (SRGE), Technical Support Unit, and Social Ventures – engage and work with the Regional Program Directors (RPD) and Regional Program Team (RPT) to support our global field programs.
All teams and programs ultimately serve to support our program participants – the core of our work.
Mercy Corps’ Core Values allow us to continuously improve our program quality and impact. These Core Values guide the behaviors, actions and decisions of Mercy Corps and our team members.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
Facilitate strategic planning to identify and evaluate agency priorities and promote learning through the use of data, systems and tools to inform decision-making, management of performance, and clear effective communication. Break information silos and surface holistic business intelligence that makes it easy for decision makers to connect dots across finance, program, operations, security, and HR data. Lead country planning process and ensure integration and two-way facilitation with agency-wide process to ensure that countries and regions have strong clear, mission aligned strategies and plans and the needed mechanisms to support adaptive management of the plans.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Strategy & Planning
- Support the agency’s annual planning process including evaluation and design of the overall process and development of agency Roadmap.
- Lead development of the field component of the process including: development of process, tools, reporting mechanisms, analysis of information.
- Create and maintain tools for strategic planning accessible to all team members.
- Ensure reporting is carried out effectively.
- Facilitate strategic planning processes where requested and providing internal consulting on strategic planning (at HQ and the field) where required.
Data Analysis & Systems for Learning
- Interface between- global programs and IT on business intelligence needs.
- Break information silos. Develop and manage integrated systems that enable seamless business intelligence to inform management decision. Designed from a user perspective.
- Serve as business owner for GAIT and Agency/ Beneficiary Dashboard. Facilitate changes to these systems based on evolving business needs.
- Support retention of agency data and promote access to data for all team members.
- Use iterative loops: design, test, launch, establish a means for continuous feedback intake process, as well as regular scheduled check-ins from user-base. Improve, test, launch.
- Support and encourage the use of data in strategic planning at the country, regional and agency level.
- Support transition from static data to dynamic data platforms to enable agile planning and management, where appropriate.
- As requested complete research and analysis of special projects/initiatives, such as an agency-wide competitive analysis.
Reporting & Communications
- Outreach to user-groups: On use of data and platforms. Demonstrate functionality and utility. Acquire input on how to optimize.
- Manage field reporting ensure accountability and transparency and mechanisms for communicating results effectively throughout the agency.
- Develop and facilitate communications of key planning milestones and results targeting HQ and country leadership
- Develop creative ways of communicating results and monitoring integration of findings into future plans.
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.
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.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Director of Global Programming and Senior Director, Strategy & Learning
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: IT, Mercy Corps HQ and field teams
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- BA/S in relevant field required and five years of experience in a NGO or non-profit setting.
- 2-3 years’ experience in strategic planning.
- Proficiency in business intelligence systems/ platforms: 2-3 years of experience presenting performance data and metrics to inform management decisions.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and provide project management support.
- Demonstrated ability to complete quantitative and qualitative analysis.
- Project Management certification and proficiency. Demonstrated ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects.
- Proven ability to take direction from multiple supervisors as well as work independently using initiative.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Superior interpersonal skills and ability to work cross-functionally.
- Proficiency with MS Office well as proven business correspondence writing and editing skills is necessary.
- Proven experience maintaining confidentiality.
- Requires travel to the field up to 25%.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
The Strategy and Business Analyst must be a detail-oriented multi-tasker who is able to communicate clearly and work under pressure. S/he must demonstrate patience, flexibility, and taking initiative to solve problems. Vital skills include communication (both written and verbal), as well as building and maintaining effective internal and external relationships. S/he must demonstrate the ability to understand and follow agency procedures, meet deadlines, and work both independently and as part of a complex distanced-based, multi-cultural team. An exposure to and interest in international development issues is important, and an understanding of Mercy Corps and the complex challenges faced by teams is critical.
LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
This position is based in Portland, Oregon. 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 MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
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