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 Team

The Global Security team provides proactive, practical security support and advice to country leadership, regional security advisors, security focal points and global leadership; and rapid analysis, mitigation strategies and support during a crisis or critical incident. Global Security’s goal is to build a culture of safety, security and inclusion that leverages the strength of our diverse team to protect our people and our organization.

Mercy Corps is a global team of humanitarians working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises to create a future of possibility, where everyone can prosper. Our mission is to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. The Global Security team supports the agency to ensure that team members can work safely, whilst enabling programming and operations.

To ensure that team members understand the nature of safety and security risks and can manage those risks effectively, Global Security provides training in personal security, security management, crisis management, first aid and trauma care, hostile environment awareness and other key areas. Our way of training and learning draws on both digital and live methods, adopting adult learning principles and methodologies – where the perspective of the learning developer is Learner-centric, the content and learning product is accessible, relevant, memorable and works within the Learners’ regular day to day activities. As digital learning is continually growing and evolving, we want to be at the forefront of applying innovative learning and development methods so that Mercy Corps team members can actively make a difference in other people’s lives, whilst always being safe and secure.

The Position

The successful candidate will work in the Global Security team to develop and deliver a diverse portfolio of online and blended eLearning programmes related to safety and security. We are looking for someone who can confidently use eLearning content creation tools and who has a deep understanding of adult learning theory and evidence to develop pedagogically sound, effective, innovative, and fit-for-purpose content that aligns with Global Security’s training, learning and development objectives. We need an experienced instructional designer who can design and build asynchronous and synchronous training courses that meet the determined learning objectives of each training and are able to produce visually appealing and engaging modules for our global learners.

While script writing will mostly sit with other team members, the digital learning developer (DLD) will prioritize the learning audience in mind and work with subject matter experts to provide script writing and storyboarding guidance while managing expectations around each learning project. The ideal candidate can thrive working independently on the technical aspects of eLearning Development and has no problem delivering the learning products within the determined project timelines and can actively communicate project delays and issues, while thinking creatively about solutions. The candidate will share project updates with their team and respective project stakeholders, and occasionally may need to consult with other Learning and Development stakeholders across the agency to align our approaches where necessary. Project, communication, and time management skills are necessary.

Essential Responsibilities

CURRICULUM AND TRAINING DEVELOPMENT

• Review existing training materials with the Global Security Team and see where there are opportunities to build and revamp online course content to make them more engaging and effective for our learners. This includes, and is not limited to, updating and developing learning objectives, course framework, modules, assessments, and interactive and design elements for our mandatory online safety & security modules.

• Support the Global Security team to adapt these teaching materials for blended learning delivery modes (online and in-person delivery)

ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSIVITY

• Ensure eLearning courses meet WCAG compliance requirements to help make digital content accessible to people with disabilities.

• Account for and consider learners with various levels of internet access, levels of technical literacy, difficulties related to their geographical location, non-primary language limitations, and cultural context when developing training.

• Ensure all transcripts, subtitles, and captions for all visual and auditory content are included in course development and translated into Mercy Corps’ predominantly used languages before rollout.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

• Conduct quality assurance tests and engage volunteer testers to ensure eLearning courses meet quality, productivity, and the needs of learners while habitually documenting new and existing processes.

• Take appropriate actions to identify, investigate, and resolve issues as quickly as possible and understand when best to escalate due to potential impact of the issue.

IMPROVE THROUGH ITERATION

• Evaluate the learning experience alongside data from the LMS to identify actionable insights to drive continuous improvements in learning.
• Develop a course revision schedule in accordance with industry norms, advances in technology, and developments in the field of study.

• Actively update technical, language, and process fixes to existing courses and changes as needed
• Engage in a variety of relevant learning opportunities outside of the immediate team to enhance personal job skill capacity and knowledge.

COLLABORATION AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Manage multiple course development projects, prioritize tasks through effective time management and actively communicate with the team to effectively and efficiently manage the projects

• Facilitate meetings and collaborate with subject matter experts to lead the eLearning content review process, achieve learning project goals, and ensure a collaborative development process

• Partner with the LMS Administrator to ensure that training is designed to meet LMS requirements and understand any existing system limitations, and

• Consult with the Mercy Corps Brand team throughout the development process to ensure Mercy Corps’ design and branding standards are met

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively incorporate safeguarding into recruitment processes, identifying and mitigating risks.

• Uphold Mercy Corps’ values by respecting the dignity and well-being of team members and participants.
• Foster open communication within the team and promote the use of reporting mechanisms for any concerns.

Supervisory Responsibility

The Digital Learning Developer has no supervisory responsibilities.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director of Capacity Strengthening and Training, Global Security.

Works Directly With: Global Security team members and other learning and development counterparts across the agency.

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 (or equivalent) in instructional design, instructional technology, curriculum development or related field preferred.
• 2+ years of experience working as a digital learning designer and online curriculum development and delivery for adult learners.

• Strong knowledge of instructional design concepts and principles and can present their online portfolio of storyboards, templates, courses, and curricula they have developed to evidence this expertise.

• Trained and deep working knowledge of Articulate Storyline 360 and SCORM requirements.

• Strong attention to detail and understands the importance of quality assurance processes and can present various optional solutions to problems upon their discovery.
• Proficiency in English (spoken, written, and reading) is required. Fluency in an additional language, such as French, Spanish, or Arabic, is a plus.

• Demonstrated high standard of communication skills including written and verbal communications skills.

• Demonstrated ability of managing expectations of internal/external stakeholders.

• Thrives working independently with excellent time management and organizational skills.

• Thrives being a collaborative and engaged team player who can be flexible and assume new tasks when required to support broader team objectives.

• Highly motivated and passionate about what they do.

• Experience working with non-governmental organizations (NGOs)/security organizations, is a plus.

• Experience working with diverse populations in terms of language, location, and accessibility needs, is a plus.

• Experience with Adobe Captivate and/or video production software to create video-based learning experience, is a plus.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will be passionate about applying learning practices in a humanitarian organization, and will be able to work closely with a diverse team to adapt materials and methodologies to ensure the best training across varied contexts. The Digital Learning Developer will demonstrate exceptional technical digital learning development skills and strong project management abilities, attention to detail, the ability to meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, are committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills a priority in all situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position is open to any Mercy Corps office location and offers the option for remote work. Flexibility to work within UK business hours is required to ensure effective collaboration across time zones. This is a temporary, 24-month assignment, with the possibility of extension based on business needs. . Limited travel may be required for this position.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a business trip to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

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 and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).

Covid-19 Vaccine Policy for US-Based Employees

Mercy Corps has determined that, in an effort to protect the health, safety, and well-being of all Mercy Corps employees working in the United States, all U.S.-based employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, regardless of prior COVID-19 infection status. This policy is necessary to ensure not only the safety of our workforce, but the ongoing functionality of the organization.

This policy will be revised as needed to comply with federal, state, and local requirements, and to respond to changing guidance from public health authorities.

For new employees this requirement goes into effect within 10 business days of employment. Team members that travel are expected to comply with host-country requirements, including vaccinations. Failure to comply may impact your employment. Proof of vaccination or exemption must be provided.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements