Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we collaborate to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.
Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since August 2007, with a staff of around 400 people working in Eastern DRC, with the overall country goal being to support vulnerable communities through crises, while fostering programs that build resilience and promote long-term change. Mercy Corps’ national office is in Goma with sub-field offices in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri. Mercy Corps DRC’s key programming areas include a combination of longer-term development and immediate humanitarian response programs in order to 1) Improve water service delivery and ensuring equitable access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services, in urban and rural areas; 2) Improve food security and nutrition; 3) Promote diversified livelihoods, economic recovery and development; 4) Support peacebuilding and local governance. Mercy Corps DRC’s humanitarian programs aim specifically to assist populations affected by the conflict and crisis in Eastern Congo.
General Position Summary
The HR Advisor is responsible for ensuring comprehensive Human Resources support for the HR team and complex program start up. The HR Advisor ensures compliance with donor regulations, legal requirements and Mercy Corps' internal policies and procedures. The HR Advisor provides support and advises the People and Admin Director on HR issues. The HR Advisor works closely with all team members including Senior Management Team (SMT) and Program Managers to bring efficiency in HR procedures.
Essential Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision
In collaboration with the Human Resources Manager and country management, develop a recruitment and human resources management strategy for the complex program.
Ensure controls are in place to enable transparent and impartial recruitment processes and systems.
Use data analysis to track and ensure progress of active recruitment and future talent needs.
Partner with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and other DRC leaders to anticipate future talent needs and take proactive steps ahead of requirements.
Identify areas of opportunity to strengthen the recruitment function and proactively propose recommendations to recruitment teams, including working with hiring managers to ensure that job descriptions (PDs) and the recruitment process are adapted to take into account the Gender Diversity and Inclusion strategy.
Recruitment and Integration
Review job descriptions and publish positions on the Mercy Corps website and external portals.
Shortlist candidates according to established requirements and present them to the recruitment manager.
Conduct interviews and provide summary notes to hiring managers and then work with the hiring manager to determine which candidates to invite for further interviews.
Write interview guides, where appropriate, and guide post-interview discussions, where necessary, and help identify and execute next steps.
Conduct reference checks and follow the approval process established by Mercy Corps in order to negotiate bids.
Provide responsive, high quality service to applicants with additional focus on internal team members or former team members.
Develop the ability of recruitment teams to identify talent via improved interview skills and the ability to specify critical needs.
Certify that the recruitment process complies with national labor law and other applicable laws, including appropriate tax regulations, employee benefits, pre-employment screening, etc.
Supervisory Responsibility: NA
Accountability
Reports Directly To: People & Admin Director.
Works Directly with: Complex program start-up Team Lead and team, Country HR Manager, Operations Director, Finance Manager, Security Advisor, Country Director, Program Managers, and HQ People Team colleagues.
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 Qualification and Transferable Skills
Bachelor degree or equivalent in relevant field, masters preferred.
5 - 6 years of professional HR experience, including at least 5 years in the Humanitarian NGO sector.
Experience managing or advising a multi-national HR function.
Understanding and experience navigating multiple regulatory sources (labor laws, donor requirements, etc) and developing HR policies and procedures that ensure compliance with each.
Demonstrated understanding of complex emergencies, related security concerns and appropriate responses with experience in insecure environments.
Demonstrated attention to detail, following procedures, meeting deadlines and working and problem-solving independently and cooperatively.
Knowledge of donor regulations including USAID regulations is considered an advantage.
Excellent negotiation and representation skills.
Effective verbal and written French communication skills, organizational, prioritization and Microsoft Office applications; proficiency in other languages is a plus.
Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
Success Factors
Critical problem-solving skills and the ability to work out methods to deliver successful programs while demonstrating excellent stewardship of donor funds and compliance with Mercy Corps and donor regulations. Maintaining strong cooperating relationships with other departments is crucial. A successful candidate will have the ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel both in a managerial as well as training capacity and demonstrate the ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. S/he will be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment and be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites. The successful candidate will have a desire to grow and learn. S/he will face challenges with a smile and lightheartedness. The successful candidate will be comfortable in asking colleagues for help as well as stepping out of her/his role to assist others. The Mercy Corps team is one that emphasizes the value of joy and curiosity. The team enjoys a great sense of humor and appreciates sharing meals amongst colleagues.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
This position is based in Goma, DRC and unaccompanied. It requires up to 40% of travel to the field while conditions in the country are improving, there are still pockets of violence and insecurity and petty crime is present. Mercy Corps' offices experience variable levels of insecurity, with the situation closely monitored by UN peacekeepers. Years of conflict and corruption have badly damaged the country's infrastructure. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. Mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is limited, but available in all Mercy Corps’ offices. Travel to field sites will be required where living conditions are clean and secure, but basic. There are a number of health services available with several evacuation options for serious illnesses. There is reasonable access to most consumer goods.
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.
Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.
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 world’s 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.