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 / Department / Team
The Global Policy and Advocacy (GPA) team advances policy changes to achieve transformational impact in the countries where we work and for the populations Mercy Corps serves. The U.S. Policy and Advocacy team influences the United States government and select multilateral institutions such as the United Nations and World Bank to adopt and improve relevant policies, practices and decisions affecting vulnerable communities living in fragile, conflict-affected and disaster-impacted countries.
The Position
A senior leader within the agency, the Director for Policy and Advocacy is a public thought leader and policy expert – influencing the policy and practices of the U.S. government’s Congressional and Executive branches and multilateral institutions such as the United Nations and the World Bank. They bring voices, stories, evidence, and analysis from the countries where Mercy Corps works in order to shape policy debates and decisions in Washington and globally.
The Director supports the USPA team’s implementation of Mercy Corps’ Pathway to Possibility strategy through strategically shaping and executing the organization’s policy and advocacy agenda for the US market. The Director is experienced in translating research findings into policy arguments and can move easily among different stakeholders – in the field, Congress, the State Department, USAID, other U.S. governmental agencies, and with private sector colleagues. The Director understands the complex interconnections between diplomacy, development, and defense and can translate humanitarian concerns across the civilian-military divide. The day to day functions include: support the USPA’s organization, strategy development and execution across portfolios, high-level representation and advocacy toward the U.S. Administration, Congress, and United National officials; development of reports, briefing papers, and opinion pieces; support to Mercy Corps’ grassroots advocacy efforts; and lead liaison efforts with Mercy Corps field teams, TSU and HQ teams on refining the PA’s work plan and annual priorities.
This person will track and analyze relevant policy issues, independently and through working groups with partner agencies to advance joint coalition advocacy and campaign initiatives in U.S. and international fora, including those involving relevant United Nations agencies (e.g. OCHA, WFP, etc).
Essential Responsibilities
STRATEGY AND PLANNING
EXECUTION
○ Policy briefs, talking points, op-eds and Congressional testimony
○ Internal and external messaging
○ Web materials and products for the general public as needed
INFLUENCE AND REPRESENTATION
Supervisory Responsibility
Manage and direct the team in the Senior Director’s Absence. Manage Policy Advisor focused on development policy and appropriations, and occasional interns.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Senior Director of U.S. Policy and Advocacy
Works Directly With: Global Policy and Advocacy Team (including USPA, MCE, and other global positions); Humanitarian Leadership and Response Team; Washington DC office staff; Research and Learning Team; Media Relations Team, Digital Team; Regional and Country Teams; and Technical Support Unit.
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 & Transferable Skills
Success Factors
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
This position is based in Washington, DC with the expectation of spending 1 day per week in the DC office. This position may include travel up to 10-15% of the time to field locations that may include insecure or harsh environments. Travel may include short-term deployment to Mercy Corps field locations experiencing acute humanitarian need. Mercy Corps US Policy and Advocacy team members are expected to be based in Washington, DC, with opportunities for periodic remote work, as appropriate. 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.
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.