Project Manager - T4D, Digital Communities (open to other Mercy Corps locations)

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

The Mercy Corps Technology for Development team's vision is a world of digital inclusion and opportunity. To support this vision, we seek to build an agency where every team member and beneficiary is an 'applied technologist' who is comfortable experimenting with and using ICTs in their program work and daily lives.

Mercy Corps is a leader in the use of technology for development. We see technology as an enabler to improve scale, access, efficiency, engagement and effectiveness in our global work. Committed to incorporating technology in the most sustainable ways possible, Mercy Corps has a Technology for Development (T4D) team that provides in-house advisory to country teams and implementing partners.

The T4D Digital Communities Initiative grew out of a desire to expand and diversify Mercy Corps' past work, in partnership with the International Rescue Committee, on digital information dissemination programming in 2015 to address the pressing need for reliable information amongst migrants and asylum seekers arriving in Greece and the Balkans. Since its inception, the program has served over 800,000 individuals in 7 countries. We have expanded programming to now include WiFi provision for beneficiaries and community building apps supporting resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) activities. The goal of Digital Communities is to empower affected populations with information access and WiFi connectivity through context-appropriate platforms and tools.

General Position Summary

The T4D Digital Communities Project Manager will be Mercy Corps' representative to the joint IRC/Mercy Corps Signpost (previously Refugee.Info) project in addition to managing Digital Communities' general activities, including working with the Global Connectivity Manager on beneficiary-facing WiFi provision projects. This position will support Digital Communities operations and Mercy Corps team members, understand changing contexts making recommendations for Digital Communities projects enhancements and direction, and work with Mercy Corps field teams for suitability, potential customization, and implementation.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Understand user needs and identify and drive Digital Communities' strategic priorities, working closely with Digital Communities partners and field teams.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps' relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Overall support implementation of Digital Communities strategic plans and roadmap, in close collaboration with initiative manager and other members of the team, as well as other key stakeholders in TSU and in close collaboration with relevant field teams.

Project Management

• Establish and maintain an effective working partnership with IRC and other Digital Communities partners.
• Oversee project/activity startup and ongoing project/activity management and administration of teams across various field locations.
  • Inclusive of activities related to WiFi deployments, maintenance and monitoring.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity, protection mainstreaming and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
• Participate in joint partner meetings as necessary.
• Work to drive strong, open and sustained communication channels within the team, and with the wider stakeholder community, communicating effectively to ensure overall project/activity targets and donor obligations are met.
• Work with stakeholders to shape project interventions, and proactively solve conflict situations through problem-solving , negotiation, open communications and direct influencing.

Expansion & Development

• Work with Digital Communities partners to develop and oversee rollout strategy and training programs for future partners (both internal and external).
• Work with Digital Communities partners to develop program implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, beneficiary targeting and distribution process as well as capacity building of partners.
• Manage assessment and determine level of readiness for future Digital Communities partner countries/programs.
• Support in prioritization and selection of new Digital Communities countries/programs/partners.
• To proactively work with Digital Communities team and other stakeholders to advance process improvements related to the integration of Digital Communities portfolio of solutions and services within projects/programs.

Measurement & Impact

• Working with T4D Digital Communities Advisor and MEL Coordinator, identify clear project and activity goals and objectives with corresponding measurable indicators.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.
• Ensure project/activity implementation is on time, target and budget using effective M&E systems to measure desired indicators and overall program impact.
• Report against milestones on a monthly basis.

Relationships

• Develop and manage MoUs and service contracts with new Digital Communities partners.
• Ensure Mercy Corps compliance with funder requirements.
• Coordinate, manage and plan logistics and provide operational support for Digital Communities' partner program implementation, research/M&E efforts and Digital Communities'' WiFi deployment activities.
• Liaise with and manage relationships between Mercy Corps Field Teams and Digital Communities' partners.
• Liaise with other team members of the Technology for Development (T4D) team and the wider Technical Support Unit (TSU), to secure alignment on potential interdepencies across projects/programs.

Team Support

• Support Mercy Corps Digital Communities team members' administrative needs and Mercy Corps-specific tasks, goals and objectives.

Finance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency and development programming.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of Mercy Corps procurement and operational procedures - at Field and HQ levels.

Influence & Representation

• Represent Digital Communities and Mercy Corps externally at conferences, workshops and other convenings to demonstrate Digital Communities' effectiveness and innovation.
• Use field knowledge and context to contribute to the overall Digital Communities and T4D strategies, direction, profile and services within Mercy Corps.

Organizational Learning

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Technology for Development Advisor Digital Communities, Mercy Corps.

Works Directly With: External partners including IRC and other NGOs, global Mercy Corps field teams and funders for the purposes of reporting performance and measurable impact. In addition, the role will work with Finance, the Digital Communities Core Team, and the Refugee.Info joint IRC/MC Steering Committee.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA required in related field, Masters Degree preferred.
• 3- 5 years working in international development or related field OR 3+ years experience where combined with an advanced degree.
• Experience in relationship and partner management - particularly in remote situations.
• Multicultural program implementation and project management experience.
• Strong technology acumen and experience implementing technology platforms and tools.
• Knowledge of user experience design methodologies would be advantageous but not essential.
• Experience in program measurement, analysis and recommendations/arguments.
• Some experience with/knowledge of networking, LAN, WLAN and IT desirable, but not a requirement.
• Experience with protection mainstreaming desirable, but not a requirement.
• Knowledge of social media platforms desirable, but not a requirement.
• Experience in working effectively with multicultural and remote teams.
• Strategy development and business planning in complex international environments
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Multi-stakeholder environment experience with ability to develop partnerships through soft skills as well as business planning.
• Ability to facilitate meetings, effective presenter and open collaborator.
• Ability to work in highly complex and diverse operational environments.
• Ability to manage and prioritize large numbers of projects and change initiatives targeting delivery in parallel.

Success Factors

The position will have highly developed interpersonal skills and strong business acumen for working in co-lead partnership environments. They will need to address complex situations ranging from very tactical e.g. coding for translation payments to very strategic e.g. program integration in new country. Overall success will require this person to drive Digital Communities toward beneficiary reach and impact, while working seamlessly collaboratively and cooperatively with remote teams and partners. This will require stewardship without necessarily having authority.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Portland, USA and may require up to 40% travel to multiple global locations. This position is expected to travel unaccompanied often, which may include some weekends. Constant communication is important where infrastructure allows.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside 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 MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps' vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment

PI103045780

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