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 Talent Acquisition People Team at Mercy Corps drives the organization's mission by attracting and retaining the talent we need to deliver our ambitious Pathways to Possibility strategy and Country Strategic Plans, through innovative sourcing, branding, and DEI-focused hiring practices. We prioritize safe recruiting and cultivate strong partnerships to access the best global talent, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Our strategic approach includes proactive planning, research and data-guided decision-making, and a commitment to aligning hiring culture with our organizational values and P2P commitments. Mercy Corps needs to compete for talent within a competitive international relief and development landscape and this role plays a critical role in ensuring we have a clear and compelling offer and ensure a positive candidate experience from end-to-end of the hiring process.
The Position We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Director of Talent Acquisition to help design and lead our Talent Acquisition Center of Excellence (COE) and drive our efforts to attract, assess, and select the talent we need to meet our evolving organizational needs, deliver our strategy and reflect our mission and values. The Senior Director of Talent Acquisition (TA) will develop and implement a global talent acquisition strategy that aligns with the global People Team priorities in support of Mercy Corps’ transformative Pathways to Possibility (P2P) strategy, manage and develop a global team of talent acquisition professionals, and partner with key executives to develop talent and pipeline strategies. Key activities ensuring diverse high-quality hires, creating efficient hiring practices and marketing strategies that leverage recruitment technology and data analytics, sourcing for complex programs, and emergency recruitment.
Essential Responsibilities STRATEGY AND VISION
Develop and implement intentional talent acquisition strategies ensuring effective and creative sourcing, evaluation, and selection of the most qualified and diverse global talent. Collaborate with others to design and support the implementation of a fit-for-the-future Talent Acquisition strategy for Mercy Corps aligned with evolving needs, our mission, values and P2P commitments. Collaborate closely with the Chief People Officer, other COEs, the VP People Team and the Regional HR Directors to guide the overall vision and approach to recruiting top talent, delivering clear actionable plans to achieve agreed TA priorities. Develop appropriate metrics and tracking mechanisms, service-level agreements and other planning and measurement tools to build accountability and measure results, impact and cost-effectiveness of the hiring process and talent acquisition team. Lead with a continuous improvement mindset, involving the talent acquisition team and hiring managers in identifying process improvements in our hiring practice that will reduce the time to fill and increase the quality of candidates/new hires, such as standardization of the hiring process and improved interviewing tools. Provide strategic direction, talent acquisition expertise, and guidance to key stakeholders on strategic and emerging talent acquisition trends, benchmarks, and other talent acquisition issues. Ensure that every new hire has a positive and professional recruitment experience by creating an exceptional experience at each step of the recruitment process, collaborating with other HR and organization leaders to assure a smooth orientation handoff from talent acquisition to the hiring teams. Ensure compliance with local regulatory requirements.TALENT ACQUISITION FUNCTIONS Develop global standards and maintain talent acquisition processes that ensure quality and consistency in attracting, assessing, selecting, and hiring talent. Develop strategies to address talent acquisition-related challenges and provide appropriate approaches for resolution. Empower the delivery of a responsive, high-quality candidate experience that aligns with Mercy Corps' values and mission. Develop and implement strategies to build national recruitment capacity in partnership with country leadership, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and objectives. Advise on and approve exceptional talent acquisition-related circumstances globally, ensuring compliance with specific labor laws and internal processes. Ensure legal compliance for talent acquisition processes, maintaining accountability for adherence to relevant regulations and guidelines. Thoughtfully delegate responsibilities for effective coordination between the Global Talent Acquisition and other HR functions, ensuring seamless collaboration and alignment of priorities. Represent Talent Acquisition priorities to executives and leadership, advocating for resources and support as needed to achieve strategic objectives.TEAM LEADERSHIP Ensure the growth and effective resourcing of the Global Talent Acquisition team, with a deep understanding of roles and responsibilities. Foster a work environment of mutual respect, excellence, and continuous learning, where team members are empowered to thrive. Engage in close partnership with the larger People Team and agency to share ideas, develop standard practices, and implement best practices across Mercy Corps programs. Design and streamline processes in collaboration with People Team leaders to enhance the Global Talent experience across the organization, focusing on efficiency and effectiveness. Guide project management efforts within the Global Talent department, prioritizing process, and system improvements to drive operational excellence. Ensure effective systems are in place in all country offices for the management of talent acquisition processes, providing support and guidance as needed. Review and support country team adherence to Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures, contextualizing them to local labor laws and ensuring compliance. Provide dedicated support to country teams during emergencies or complex program startups, leveraging resources and expertise as needed. Collaborate with country finance leads in producing bi-annual master budgets, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and financial guidelines. SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES 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 optionsSupervisory Responsibility Supervises a TA Manager and TA Technical Advisor. Will lead the strategic development of the TA Center of Excellence in partnership with the VP People Team and COE leads.
Accountability Reports Directly To: Chief People Officer Works Directly With: People Team Leaders, Organizational Leadership, COE Directors & Regional HR Leads
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 Qualifications & Transferable Skills
Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field; advanced degree preferred. 8+ years of progressive experience in talent acquisition, including at least 5 years in a leadership role within a global organization or NGO. Experience personally managing executive/senior level recruitment within the past 5 years. Demonstrated success in developing and implementing talent acquisition strategies that support organizational objectives and foster a diverse and inclusive workforce. Experience developing and improving talent acquisition systems and tracking talent metrics. Deep understanding of recruitment best practices, including candidate sourcing techniques, assessment methods, and employer branding strategies. Demonstrated experience and expert ability to create, implement, maintain, and improve recruitment strategies and systems in a high-volume context. Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and empower a diverse team of professionals. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization. Ability to communicate and problem-solve effectively across diverse cultures with sensitivity.