Mercy Corps is a global team of humanitarians working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises to create a future of possibility, where everyone can prosper. In more than 40+ countries around the world, over 5,400+ team members work side by side with people living through poverty, disaster, violent conflict, and the acute impacts of climate change. We’re committed to creating global change through local impact — 84% of our team members are from the countries where they work.
We bring a comprehensive approach to every challenge, addressing problems from multiple angles. And we go beyond emergency aid, partnering with local governments, forward-thinking corporations, social entrepreneurs, and people living in fragile communities to develop bold solutions that make lasting change possible.
About Programs at Mercy Corps
The Programs function at Mercy Corps supports its mission and works with program impact, innovation, and influence teams. The Program Function is composed of headquarters and regional departments which are guided by Mercy Corps global strategy: Pathway to Possibility and works in close partnership with all other agency departments to deliver the highest quality programming and impactful results. The Program Team aligns closely with the Pathway to Possibility, and works to deliver on increased accountability, alignment, and fair and transparent resource allocation, while acting with its Core Behaviors of collaboration, curiosity, inclusion, and integrity at the forefront. The Programs function is a key steward of Mercy Corps’ strategic commitments and the integration of these commitments into programming, inclusive of: Climate Smart, Locally Led, Evidence Driven, Innovative and Creative, and Safe, Diverse and Inclusive.
Our comprehensive TRaQ Team is an integral part of the Program Department that supports country-led work to deliver measurable impact, leads agency thinking in key technical and program management areas, and ensures quality programing while maintaining agency visibility with key audiences. TRaQ’s goal is to equip our global programs with the most effective technical solutions and quality program management tools to tackle the world’s toughest challenges, while simultaneously building our global reputation and resources.
The TRaQ team has nine technical and cross-cutting thematic teams, Climate and Water Security, Economic Opportunity, Food Security, Peace and Governance, Global Resilience, Social Inclusion, Cash, Infrastructure, Training and Program Standards. This position will be part of the Climate and Water Security team.
Reporting to the Director of Energy Access, the Transforming Humanitarian Energy Access (THEA) Programme Manager will manage the THEA programme which provides inclusionary analysis and evidence on the energy needs of all displaced people. Specifically, by delivering high-quality research and knowledge to support policy and decision-making on humanitarian energy investments, as well as enabling systematic change within the UN system and humanitarian partners. The programme will deliver transformative action in humanitarian settings, working with the Transforming Energy Access platform to mainstream energy access in humanitarian settings, providing expert advice on the needs of refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs), and all displaced people for UK innovators and international energy access projects. Specific investments in renewable energy and transformative UN action will enable alternative and inclusive financing aimed at working directly with refugees and displaced communities.an ecosystem support actor that builds evidence, collects best practices, forms or supports new partnerships, tests innovations, raises and helps deploy finance, and advocates with key stakeholders to remove barriers to the quicker deployment of sustainable humanitarian energy solutions. THEA is delivered by Mercy Corps, in partnership with Refugee Led Organizations, Chatham House, Ashden and the Global Platform for Action.
The Project Manager is responsible for the management and implementation of the THEA project, and for delivering THEA on-time, on-budget and according to the Key Performance Indicators mutually agreed with Donor and Partners.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
● To manage all operations related to THEA according to the work plan, project document and implementation strategy. Troubleshoot, as needed, to prevent disruptions in daily program activities.
● In close collaboration with the Project team, ensure that there are fluent communication channels, that the reporting schedule is timely met and that project objectives are achieved.
● Coordinate and share information with the Project team to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are being achieved. Troubleshoot on reporting and programmatic needs. Advise supervisor on suggested improvements and necessities, as required.
● Produce written reports on the project activities capturing activities planned, as per donor requirements.
● Maintain written correspondence with Partners and other project staff responding to daily project necessities.
● Collaborate with the Finance Manager to forecast expenditure surpluses and deficits to enable timely program adjustments.
● Identify risks or issues affecting the project delivery and escalate these proactively
● As security permits, conduct field visits to monitor project implementation
● Oversee the project filing system for all project-related activities and ensure that information is organized according to the reporting and auditing needs of the project. Ensure required levels of confidentiality.
● Ensure that all work follows Mercy Corps quality standards and best practices;
● Ensure that THEA fits into Pathway to Possibility strategy and provides input into the strategic plan.
● Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
● Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Energy Access
PARTNERSHIPS PROMOTION AND ADVOCACY
● Lead advocacy efforts within Mercy Corps and the overall humanitarian energy sector to consider the integration of inclusive humanitarian energy according to THEA’s Theory of Change.
● Encourage partner agencies to adapt THEA’s principles to decarbonize their interventions in situations of displacement
● Develop alliances and partnerships with potential partners from the humanitarian, private and public sectors
● Represent THEA internally and externally, focusing on enhancing visibility through communication materials and channels; and at dedicated fora (e.g. working groups, conferences, events, humanitarian cluster structure)
STRATEGY AND VISION
● Lead the development and creation of a pathway to scale for the implementation THEA’s vision and strategy
● Supervise the collaboration with THEA partners for the delivery of the shared objectives, namely on research and advocacy
● Closely liaise with implementing countries teams to ensure correct leverage of existing programs and clear understanding to contextualize THEA’s delivery
● Leverage humanitarian energy initiatives to ensure complementarity toward maximization of impact (e.g. Decarbonizing Humanitarian Energy)
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION
● Provide oversight and coordination of all learning, MEL efforts to facilitate information flow and the utilization of evidence in programmatic decisions and adaptive management.
● Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team, to ensure that effective MEL systems and processes are embedded within the project and that data is collected, analyzed, and used to inform ongoing adaptation of program strategies and delivery approaches
REPRESENTATION
● Ensure establishment and maintenance of relationships with communities, also through Refugee Led Organizations (RLOs)
● Ensure close coordination with relevant institutions, including UN, private sector associations, TEA programmes and partners, governmental bodies regulating situations of displacement
● Assist in the recruitment and training of project staff to ensure team are of the quality and capacity to ensure the successful implementation of all project activities.
● Monitor and advise on staffing needs throughout the project.
● Ensure evaluations and disciplinary measures are made, as necessary according to MC policy.
● Ensure the close coordination and sharing of information with the project team with regular program meetings and close monitoring of the activities plans.
● Provide direct and ongoing supervision and managerial support to the project team
● Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
● Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
● Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular check-ins and performance reviews.
● Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.