Mercy Corps is searching for a Senior Advisor for Evidence Useto serve as the first full-time team member for the new Evidence Use Team. The Senior Advisor will collaborate directly with the lead for the Evidence Use Team—the Senior Managing Director for Research, Evidence, and Learning —to finalize thestrategy for Evidence Use at Mercy Corps and to begin advancing that strategy by leading several prioritized projectsidentified in the design process for the Evidence Use Team.To help ensure that the Evidence Use Strategy and implementation plan are aligned with the needs and resources of stakeholders across the organization,the Senior Advisor and Senior Managing Director will convene and consult with an Advisory Group made up of a diverse set evidence producersand evidence users across the organization.

• Contribute to the biannual Evidence Digest newsletter by helping todesign and execute the communication strategy for the product,curating featuredevidence products from within each outcome area, and helping to author and edit short summaries synthesizing and translating what we’re learning on prioritized themes and questions in language that is clear and user-friendly.

• Support thematic evidence syntheses for Organizational Outcome Measurement reportingby helping to design and refine the methodology and helping to author and edit short summaries synthesizing and translating short summaries.

• Lead or assist withanalysis and writing forevidence synthesis or translationproducts for theGlobal and Regional Evidence and Learning Agendas, tailored to specific use casesprioritized by the respective ELA leads(including but not limited to policy influence, thought leadership,community feedback, program design and adaptive management, or replicating and scaling effective program approaches).

 

• Develop guidance notesand/or templates to help teams and team members across Mercy Corps in developing evidence synthesis and translation products tailored to a set of prioritized audiences and decisions (including but not limited to donors, policymakers, communities, and program teams).

• Developing, socializing, and supporting the use of a standardized suite of trackers and maps that help to support efficient and user-friendly accumulation, curation, and synthesis of evidence being produced within our Evidence and Learning Agendas.

• Support the process of conceptualizing, designing, piloting, and implementinga searchable globaldatabase or platform that helps team members access up-to-date,curated evidence syntheses and products and easy to understand summaries of what we’re learning.

• Engaging with workstreams and pilots on data architecture and literacy and Artificial Intelligence to ensure alignment with the evidence use strategy and best practices.

• Develop guidance notes and/or templates to help teams and team members across Mercy Corps in developing evidence trackers, maps, and databases tailored to their own targeted evidence use and knowledge management efforts.

• Contribute to developing and socializing Mercy Corps’ strategy for Evidence Use by helping to draft core documents and presentations and by helping to convene and manage the Evidence Use Advisory Group.

• Develop a community of practice or network of Evidence Use Practitioners within Mercy Corps to promote cross-learning, peer support, and collaboration among team members playing evidence use, knowledge management, and applied learning roles (and/or team members interested in building related skills).

• Assist with ourannual Evidence in Action Competition by supporting thesubmission and review process and by helping to compile and share case studies of effective Evidence Use in engaging content, including presentations, briefs, and/or graphics.

• Develop guidance notes and/or templates to help teams and team members across Mercy Corps in developing core evidence use skills, including (but not limited to) facilitating collaboration between evidence users and producers in co-creating relevant, timelyevidence and harnessing communities of practice and peer networks for evidence use and applied learning.

• 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 options

• Bachelor’s or Advanced degree in international development, public administration, knowledge management, applied statistics, or other relevant field of study.

• Experience supporting evidence use, knowledge management, and/or organizational learning in nonprofit organizations.

• Candidates with a Bachelor’s Degree should have5+ years of experience (with at least 3 years spent working for humanitarian or development nonprofits, government organizations, or academic organizations/think tanks).

 

• Candidates with an advanced degree should have a minimum of 4 years experience (with at least 2 years spent working for humanitarian or development nonprofits, government organizations, or academic organizations/think tanks.

• Expertise in at least one of the following types of approaches/tools and interest in/ familiarity with the other two. Preference for candidates with expertisein all three types of method.

• Cutting edge methods for evidence synthesis including systematic review, rapid reviews, and evidence mapping/gap mapping.

• Technical tools that support evidence use and knowledge management, especially Generative AI and Microsoft 365 (especially Sharepoint and Power BI).

• Participatory and inclusive approaches to applied learning, including Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA), adult learning, sensemaking, human-centered design, and/or communities of practice.

 

• Training and/or expertise in at least one core technical area related to Mercy Corps’ Pathway to Possibility Strategy (Economic Opportunities, Peace and Good Governance, Food Security, or Water Security).

• Preference for candidates with training and/or expertise in Food Security or Water Security and/or candidates with training and/or expertise in multiple sectors.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including demonstrated ability to convey and tailor the takeaways from evidence their implications to multiple audiences, including senior policy makers and executives, practitioners and program managers, and the general public.

• Strong networks, relationships, and profile with experts and organizations working on the cutting edge of evidence use, knowledge management, and/or organizational learning.

• Willingness and ability to travel to Mercy Corps regional and country offices and/or project sites, including potentially traveling to insecure environments.

• Fluency in English is required.

• Preference for candidates with proficiency in French, Spanish, and/or Arabicin addition to fluency in English.