Back Economic Opportunities Technical Advisor, Latin America and the Caribbean

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 DepartmentMercy Corps’ expanding operations in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region currently focus on the countries of Haiti, Guatemala, Colombia, Venezuela, and several Caribbean Island nations and territories. Mercy Corps LAC's strategic programmatic priorities encompass addressing issues related to climate change, human displacement, rural development, humanitarian response, and the inclusion and protection of LGBTQI+ individuals throughout the region. Mercy Corps LAC works with local leaders from civil society, government and the private sector to find and implement solutions that foster sustainable growth and thus contribute to Mercy Corps' global commitment of creating a better world for all.

Mercy Corps LAC is currently establishing its regional technical team to provide sound, timely and contextualized technical support both operationally and strategically to teams while developing and cross-regional learning and strengthening a regional cohesion in line with our global, regional and country strategies.

The LAC region is closely connected with Mercy Corps’ global Technical Resources and Quality Unit (TRAQ). The TRaQ Team is an integral part of the Program Department that supports country-led work to deliver 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 technical resources. Regional Technical Advisors are a vital part of this wider network of technical specialists, providing regionally-focused support services in close coordination with the global team while working more intensively with a small number of strategic programs in the region under the direction of the regional leadership team.

The PositionThe Regional Technical Advisor for Economic Opportunities will support and grow Mercy Corps LAC’s regional capacity to design, deliver and learn from a portfolio of high quality and impactful economic recovery and market systems development (MSD) programs. Their support includes program design and development, network and partnership development, representation at key sector fora and events, helping to monitor and improve program quality and relevance, staying current on industry innovation and best practices, writing competitive proposals for submission to donors, delivering training, and disseminating information to internal and external partners. The advisor will also participate in matrixed teams, share and build the capacity of others, and help integrate their technical areas with others. They will bring expertise in economic programming to the role, but also be a skilled connector, leveraging technical knowledge in specific sectors/themes from across the regional and the global TRaQ team.

Essential ResponsibilitiesPROGRAM AND PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT

• Write/review proposals and concept notes for funding from donors including foundations, corporations, and US, European, and UN agencies.
• In partnership with country program teams, gather/analyze data and complete and/or manage market assessments to determine program needs and priorities and Mercy Corps’ competitive advantage for funding, including potential to evolve and scale existing programs focused on economic recovery and development using market systems approaches.
• Work with country/regional teams, global TRAQ, and regional Senior Business Development Advisor on prepositioning for strategic funding opportunities that advance country strategies
• Mobilize resources from other TRAQ teams to effectively design multi-sectoral, integrated programs that encompass elements of broader agency goals such as food security, and focus on Mercy Corps distinctives, such as resilience, MSD for Employment (MSD4E), financial inclusion, particularly for youth.
• Work with regional leadership to identify and pursue multi-country and regional programs that advance the Economic Opportunities outcomes envisioned in the regional strategy.
• Keep up to date on relevant strategies being developed or applied by significant governmental, academic, and non-profit groups. Work with Mercy Corps to determine how the agency can best work with and/or influence such materials.

  PROGRAM QUALITY

  • Participate as an active, integrated member of the regional team providing technical support to a portfolio of programs across development, humanitarian, and triple nexus contexts.
  • Support effective interventions in the areas of economic recovery, financial inclusion, and youth employment, applying integrated principles where relevant and using integrated approaches.
  • Help maintain standards of program delivery that apply agency priorities and comply with relevant regulations and requirements.
  • Harness agency-wide learning and structures to help country and regional teams gather, refine, and disseminate tools such as training presentations and manuals, teaching notes, best practices and lessons learned, program examples, and monitoring and evaluation tools.
    • Build program staff capacity to better design and implement programs that advance economic opportunity outcomes, through mentorship and training in collaboration with various TRaQ and program team members. Core topics include MSD and quality approaches for youth employment, financial Inclusion, and economic recovery.

      LEARNING AND IMPACT

      • Work with the regional Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Advisor and country MEL staff to ensure that monitoring and evaluation of programs with economic opportunity-driven activities is practical and reflects best practices. This may include identifying MEL priorities for building economic recovery into humanitarian portfolios as well as identifying key changes for MEL systems to monitor through private sector partners and measure change in MSD interventions.
      • Contribute to the development and execution of the LAC region’s Evidence and Learning Agenda as it pertains to research and learning around economic opportunity sub-sectors, as well as to agency-wide opportunities to advance thought leadership.
      • Provide in-country and remote training and support for Mercy Corps staff, partners, and others.
      • Support new and ongoing programs with best practice advice and assistance on assessment, implementation, research, and evaluation needs.
      • Conduct assessments; write and review case studies, learning documents, short articles, and blogs; and develop internal and external dissemination plans for all products.

        INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

        • Represent Mercy Corps at academic events, conferences, media forums, and other events; contribute to thought leadership in area of expertise.
        • Identify and nurture strategic partnerships with other organizations and institutions, with a focus on local organizations advancing economic recovery and develop outcomes in the places Mercy Corps works.
        • Contribute to a strong and regularly updated network of technical experts and consultants that can serve as an additional resource to be deployed for program support.

          SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

          📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

          ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

          • Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
          • Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
          • Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options

            
            
            

            Supervisory ResponsibilityNone.

            Accountability Reports Directly To: LAC Technical Resources and Quality DirectorWorks Directly With: Global Economic Opportunities and other TRAQ teams (Financial Inclusion, Market Systems, Youth Employment, Cash,), Regional Director, Deputy Regional Director for Programs, Country Directors, Directors of Programs, Program Directors/Managers implementing related programs, global Evidence and Learning team members

            Accountability to Participants and StakeholdersMercy 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

            • Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field preferred.
            • 4+ years of experience in international development work and or relevant private sector experience, with a minimum of three years in a program management or technical advisor role, including proposal design.
            • Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in technical work related to technical focus areas within Economic Opportunities (Financial Inclusion, Youth Employment) - including experience with program design, private sector partnership building, business modeling, technical advising, and/or learning and research.
            • Experience working in Latin America and the Caribbean required. Experience working in fragile contexts and humanitarian settings preferred.
            • Strong writing skills required.
            • Strong presentation and representation skills required.
            • Fluency in oral and written Spanish and English required; French skills preferred

              Success Factors The Advisor will demonstrate a winning track record in program management and bring flexibility, creativity, and enthusiasm to every project they undertake. The individual must have change management skills and the ability to multitask, set priorities, pay attention to detail, and work under deadlines within complex team environments. They will contribute towards and establish the foundational systems and practices promoting learning within Mercy Corps. They will also be a skilled communicator, able to develop and utilize strong relationships with team members and departments internally, as well as with external bodies, and to facilitate process mapping and champion opportunities for improvement in existing approaches. They will have a positive and dynamic working style that enables them to adapt to contextual and other challenges as they arise. They will harness the expertise, experience and ideas of diverse Mercy Corps team members and external partners to strengthen accountability and program management systems and processes within Mercy Corps. Being aware and sensitive to international development issues and diverse cultures is critical.

              Living Conditions / Environmental ConditionsThe position is based in the LAC region, with periodic visits within the region up to 40% travel.

              Ongoing LearningIn 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 & InclusionAchieving 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 OpportunityMercy 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 & EthicsMercy 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.