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Impact Advisor for Data (AWS) - Technology for Development

Washington D.C.

  • Organization: Mercy Corps
  • Location: Washington D.C.
  • Grade: Senior level - Senior
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
    • Statistics
    • Information Technology and Computer Science
    • Information and Communications Technology
    • Innovations for Sustainable Development
    • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
  • Closing Date: Closed

The salary range for this position is $56,400-$67,000 depending on experience

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

Technology for Development (T4D) collaborates with Mercy Corps field teams to unlock new possibilities and reach more people through the power of technology. T4D develops technology-based strategies to respond to urgent needs and support long-term recovery and resilience. We also think beyond today’s context, exploring how we can use current and emerging technology to shrink the global digital divide and help people in vulnerable communities adapt to and overcome evolving challenges. Internally, T4D provides strategic guidance and training in new platforms to Mercy Corps teams. Externally, we work with technology partners and other NGOs to improve and modernize global humanitarian aid and development to be more efficient, accurate, scalable and secure.

Mercy Corps has been engaged with AWS to pilot and scale up projects utilizing cloud, artificial intelligence technology and data analytics for the purposes of increasing the capacity of Crisis Analysis Teams to conduct quantitative and geospatial analysis and incorporate findings into their reporting. The AWS project is a three-year initiative ending in December of 2022.

General Position Summary

The Data for Impact Analyst, working under the Data for Impact Senior Technical Program Manager, is responsible for implementing the three-year workplan, including daily management and implementation of program activities as well as ensuring appropriate systems and support mechanisms are in place to track, analyze and report on results.

The Data for Impact Analyst has a solid understanding of common humanitarian data analysis needs, including geospatial analysis, and is an effective communicator, able to work with internal and external stakeholders to achieve common objectives. They are responsible for managing relationships with local partners, response teams, beneficiaries and AWS representatives, contributing to achievement of project goals through innovation and program development.

Implementation of program goals will include working with Mercy Corps program teams to design appropriate implementations of AWS technologies, and provide in-person and remote support for implementation. In addition, the Analyst will be the primary person collecting feedback on the utilization of the technologies, measuring impact, and ensuring the project effectively adapts to feedback and changing circumstances.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Program Support – Center of Excellence

  • Work with staff from global Mercy Corps programs, T4D, and IT as relevant to identify appropriate use cases of AWS technologies.
  • Communicate with AWS and Mercy Corps stakeholders to arrive at go/no-go decisions regarding implementation.
  • For approved use cases, design user-centered implementation plans and support implementation remotely and in person as needed.
  • Design and conduct user trainings on technical products including, but not limited to, dashboards, data pipelines and analytical models
  • Ensure all implementations adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and program participant accountability standards.

Communication with Technical HQ Team

  • Document technical specifications for data and analysis products and tools to be built.
  • Triage bugs and issues with existing tools to ensure the most urgent work is prioritized first and across multiple teams.
  • Engage with AWS and HQ technical teams to understand technical requirements and capabilities of the AWS stack, and effectively leverage relevant technologies.

Influence & Representation

  • Collaborate with relevant partners, internal and external stakeholders, both for purposes of implementation and for solution dissemination and replication.
  • Represent the work of the Data for Impact project internally within Mercy Corps, ensuring that knowledge about the work is disseminated beyond target implementing teams.
  • Work to ensure that solutions implemented are documented and replicable by other teams in Mercy Corps and the humanitarian sector.
  • Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.
  • Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
  • Exhibit an awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs.

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Senior Technical Program Manager

Works Directly With: Data for Impact Advisor, Mercy Corps Programs teams, Crisis Analysis teams (global, regional and country level), IT Development Team

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.

Knowledge and Experience

  • Bachelor's degree required, must have strong components in quantitative analysis, statistics, and/or data science.
  • 2-5 years of experience working in quantitative data analysis, GIS, economic modeling, computer science, or a related field. Experience in international development, especially in physically insecure environments is preferred.
  • Demonstrated skill and experience with basic statistical analysis is a must; advanced statistical programming and data visualization skills are highly desirable
  • Demonstrated experience in training/capacity-building (in person or and/or remote) and in fostering collaborative relationships with data practitioners and project management is preferred
  • Additional software and technical skills (e.g. database management, statistical programming, mobile technology, GIS software) are an asset; experience with AWS or other cloud computing technologies is highly desirable
  • Demonstrated familiarity with technical product design, including user needs assessments, specifications drafting, etc is an asset
  • Ability to work effectively with ethnically diverse teams in a sensitive environment, and work with geographically dispersed teams.
  • Excellent oral and written English skills required; proficiency in French, Spanish, and/or Arabic preferred.

Success Factors

The successful candidate should be a strong team player, with good communication and diplomatic skills. S/He should be able to build relationships in complex team dynamics and achieve aims, have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, good organizational skills and ability to work independently, with a strong commitment to advancing learning in international development through data analysis. S/he should be a committed learner with regard to data analysis, actively look to develop skills and knowledge on new technologies, and be able to demonstrate a history of using data to solve problems.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is ideally based in either Portland or Washington DC, but may be based in any Mercy Corps regional or country office location. The position may require international travel to insecure and/or remote locations.

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.

Ongoing Learning

In 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 & Inclusion

Achieving 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 Opportunity

Mercy 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 & Ethics

Mercy 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. 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.

Apply here

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