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 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.
The Position The Recruitment Specialist is a high-energy leader who is an exceptional relationship builder, strategic planner, and holder of the recruitment philosophy for Mercy Corps DRC. The Recruitment Specialist leads the Recruitment team in identifying exceptional talent to advance Mercy Corps’ DRC mission. The Recruitment Specialist works with key internal stakeholders to anticipate and plan for upcoming people needs, manage full cycle recruitment by designing and implementing effective recruitment strategies, building collaborative internal relationships and effective external networks. This position also works with the broad DRC team to strengthen their capacity to source, attract and select in-country talent. Anticipate Recruitment for future projects, working closely with the New Initiative recruiter and the proposal development team.
Essential Responsibilities
STRATEGY
Ensure that controls are put in place to allow for transparent and unbiased recruitment processes and systems
Utilise data analysis to track and ensure progress on active recruitment and upcoming talent needs.
Partner with Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and other DRC leaders to anticipate future talent needs and proactively take action in advance of needs.
Identify areas of opportunity to strengthen recruitment function and proactively offer recommendations to hiring teams including working with hiring managers to ensure Position Descriptions (PD) and recruitment process is adapted to take into consideration the GDI strategy.TALENT ACQUISITION
Revise position descriptions and advertise positions through Mercy Corps’ website and on external portals.
Shortlist candidates based on established requirements and present them to the hiring manager.
Conduct interviews and provide summary notes to hiring managers then work with hiring manager to determine which candidates to invite for further interviews.
Draft interview guides when appropriate and guide post-interview discussions, when appropriate, and help identify and execute next steps.
Conduct reference checks and follow Mercy Corps established approval process to be able to negotiate offers.
Provide responsive, high-quality service to candidates with additional care for internal or former team members.
Expand the capacity of hiring teams to identify talent via improved interview skills and ability to specify critical needs.COLLABORATION & NETWORKING
Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with talent sources in the DRC including technical networks, thought leaders, academic institutions.
Assist in promoting Mercy Corps as an employer of choice by attending events, promoting through social media, job boards and developing talent communities.
Build effective partnerships with internal stakeholders to support current needs and develop plans for future needs.
Collaborate with all members of the Global talent team to promote continuous improvement and foster information/idea sharing.TEAM MANAGEMENT
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 one on ones and performance reviews.
Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.Supervisory Responsibility3 direct reports
AccountabilityReports Directly To: People & Administration DirectorWorks Directly With: HR & Admin Team,in-country Recruitment Teams, Senior Leadership Team.
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 Qualifications & Transferable Skills
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in human resources, business administration, social science, or relevant field experience.
5+ years of experience with recruitment/talent acquisition.
Advanced experience with successful sourcing strategies for globally representative and diverse candidates.
Demonstrated experience and ability to create, implement, maintain and improve recruitment strategies and systems in a high-volume context.
Proficiency in MS Office, internet searching, and applicant tracking systems and use of social media for sourcing talent.
Demonstrated understanding of staffing and talent planning in international relief and development environments.
Ability to communicate, influence and problem solve effectively across diverse cultures and geographical distances with sensitivity.
Fluency in French and English required.Success FactorsThe successful individual will develop and maintain productive professional relationships with a broad spectrum of stakeholders within the organization and throughout the relief and development community. S/he will possess the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously, while remaining focused on the quality of internal and external relationships and will be able to work effectively as the leader of a high pressure function whose performance is key to the enduring success of Mercy Corps DRC. S/he will be flexible, resilient, possess sound judgment and have a good sense of humor.
Living Conditions / Environmental ConditionsThis position is based in Goma, DRC and unaccompanied.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.
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.