Back STA - Feasibility Study Team Leader

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 Liberia began operations in 2002 in response to the humanitarian crisis brought about by the two Liberian civil wars that ended in 2003. Mercy Corps’ interventions have evolved based on the context and needs of the Liberian people. With funding from the Embassy of Sweden, Agency for French Development, and US Department of Agriculture, among others, Mercy Corps Liberia focuses on Food Security, Peace and Good Governance and Economic Opportunity. Mercy Corps Liberia works closely with the Government of Liberia (especially the Ministries of Youth and Sports, Health, Labor and Education), the private sector, civil society, international and local NGOs to implement its programs from three offices/sub-offices (Monrovia, Buchanan, and Rivercess). Mercy Corps is one of the foremost development actors in Liberia implementing strategic and systems driven programming in youth employment and entrepreneurship, market systems development and good governance.

The Position Mercy Corps Liberia is collaborating with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to design a new program to address issues facing at risk youth in Liberia. As a part of this design, Mercy Corps and consortium partner, IECD (Institut Européen de Coopération et de Développement), will conduct a feasibility study. The STA – Feasibility Study Team Leader will be responsible for overall coordination of the feasibility study. This includes: reviewing documents, drafting project reports, coordinating with IECD and targeted participants in the feasibility study, coordination with external consultants and Mercy Corps TraQ team and planning and preparing for all meetings and engagements related to the feasibility study.

Essential ResponsibilitiesSTUDY COORDINATION

• Oversee the progress of the feasibility study, ensuring milestones and deadlines are met.
• Address any issues or roadblocks that arise during the study process.
• Act as the primary point of contact for stakeholders involved in the feasibility study.
• Address concerns and provide updates to maintain stakeholder engagement and satisfaction.
• Liaise with IECD and targeted study participants on a regular basis, providing proactive communication and engagement.
• Schedule and facilitate meetings, interviews, and workshops as required.
• Manage all logistics related to the study in coordination with Mercy Corps Liberia Operations Department.
• Maintain effective communication to ensure all parties are informed and engaged.
• Work closely with the Mercy Corps TraQ team to align on study goals and methodologies.
• Share findings and insights to support the team’s objectives and initiatives.
• Plan, organize, and prepare for all meetings and engagements related to the feasibility study.
• Develop agendas, prepare materials, and ensure all logistical arrangements are in place.EXTERNAL CONSULTANT MANAGEMENT
  • Coordinate with external consultants to integrate their expertise into the feasibility study.
  • Manage a team of enumerators hired to collect data for the feasibility study.
  • Oversee consultant deliverables, ensuring they meet project requirements and deadlines.
  • Manage consultant payments in coordination with the Mercy Corps Liberia Finance Department.RESEARCH, KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING
    • Thoroughly review and analyze documents related to the feasibility study.
    • Develop tools and frameworks to conduct the feasibility study.
    • Assess the relevance, accuracy, and completeness of the provided information.
    • Draft comprehensive and clear project reports based on study findings.
    • Ensure reports are well-structured, evidence-based, and aligned with study objectives.
    • Maintain organized records on Sharepoint of all project-related documents and communications.
    • Ensure that all documentation is up-to-date and accessible for team members and stakeholders.
    • Implement quality control measures to ensure the accuracy and reliability of study outputs.
    • Review and validate data and findings to support robust decision-making.

      Supervisory ResponsibilityManage one external consultant and a team of enumerators.

      Accountability Reports Directly To: Mercy Corps Liberia Director of ProgramsWorks Directly With: TraQ technical leads, Mercy Corps Liberia Market Systems Team Leader, Liberia country 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 Qualification & Transferable Skills

      • At least 5 years of experience working in international development programmes, preferably in Africa and working on youth issues.
      • University degree in relevant field.
      • Demonstrated coordination experience, preferably on an AFD feasibility study.
      • Extensive experience conducting research, evaluations, developing tools, analyzing data and synthesizing findings for reporting.
      • Successful track record in prepositioning, program design and proposal development in youth development programming.
      • Proven ability to work productively with a wide variety of stakeholders to execute participatory processes and also meet tight deadlines with an emphasis on producing quality products.
      • Familiarity with AFD rules and regulations.
      • Experience in West Africa, preferably Liberia.
      • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. French would be an added advantage, considering the donor and partner, but is not essential.

        Success Factors The successful candidate will be a master coordinator – able to multitask and manage competing priorities with ease. They will be a very effective communicator and relationship manager. They will be flexible to adapt to the project needs on the ground. They will have effective delegation skills and able to seek support within the Mercy Corps wider network when necessary.

        Living Conditions / Environmental ConditionsThe position is unaccompanied and is based in Monrovia, Liberia. It requires up to 60% travel field locations to support implementation of the feasibility study. Housing for this role is in individual housing. Limited medical services are available.

        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.