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. In more than 40+ countries around the world, over 5,400+ team members work side by side with people living through poverty, disaster, violent conflict, and the acute impacts of climate change. We’re committed to creating global change through local impact — 84% of our team members are from the countries where they work.

We bring a comprehensive approach to every challenge, addressing problems from multiple angles. And we go beyond emergency aid, partnering with local governments, forward-thinking corporations, social entrepreneurs, and people living in fragile communities to develop bold solutions that make lasting change possible.

About Programs at Mercy Corps

The Programs function at Mercy Corps supports its mission and works with program impact, innovation, and influence teams. The Program Function is composed of headquarters and regional departments which are guided by Mercy Corps global strategy: Pathway to Possibility and works in close partnership with all other agency departments to deliver the highest quality programming and impactful results. The Program Team aligns closely with the Pathway to Possibility, and works to deliver on increased accountability, alignment, and fair and transparent resource allocation, while acting with its Core Behaviors of collaboration, curiosity, inclusion, and integrity at the forefront. The Programs function is a key steward of Mercy Corps’ strategic commitments and the integration of these commitments into programming, inclusive of: Climate Smart, Locally Led, Evidence Driven, Innovative and Creative, and Safe, Diverse and Inclusive.

Our comprehensive TRaQ Team is an integral part of the Program Department that supports country-led work to deliver measurable impact, leads agency thinking in key technical and program management areas, and ensures quality programing while maintaining agency visibility with key audiences. TRaQ’s goal is to equip our global programs with the most effective technical solutions and quality program management tools to tackle the world’s toughest challenges, while simultaneously building our global reputation and resources.

The TRaQ team has nine technical and cross-cutting thematic teams, Climate and Water Security, Economic Opportunity, Food Security, Peace and Governance, Global Resilience, Social Inclusion, Cash, Infrastructure, Training and Program Standards. This position will be part of the Climate and Water Security team.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Energy Access, the Transforming Humanitarian Energy Access (THEA) Programme Manager will manage the THEA programme which provides inclusionary analysis and evidence on the energy needs of all displaced people. Specifically, by delivering high-quality research and knowledge to support policy and decision-making on humanitarian energy investments, as well as enabling systematic change within the UN system and humanitarian partners. The programme will deliver transformative action in humanitarian settings, working with the Transforming Energy Access platform to mainstream energy access in humanitarian settings, providing expert advice on the needs of refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs), and all displaced people for UK innovators and international energy access projects. Specific investments in renewable energy and transformative UN action will enable alternative and inclusive financing aimed at working directly with refugees and displaced communities.an ecosystem support actor that builds evidence, collects best practices, forms or supports new partnerships, tests innovations, raises and helps deploy finance, and advocates with key stakeholders to remove barriers to the quicker deployment of sustainable humanitarian energy solutions. THEA is delivered by Mercy Corps, in partnership with Refugee Led Organizations, Chatham House, Ashden and the Global Platform for Action.

The Project Manager is responsible for the management and implementation of the THEA project, and for delivering THEA on-time, on-budget and according to the Key Performance Indicators mutually agreed with Donor and Partners.

Essential Job Responsibilities

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

● To manage all operations related to THEA according to the work plan, project document and implementation strategy. Troubleshoot, as needed, to prevent disruptions in daily program activities.

● In close collaboration with the Project team, ensure that there are fluent communication channels, that the reporting schedule is timely met and that project objectives are achieved.

● Coordinate and share information with the Project team to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are being achieved. Troubleshoot on reporting and programmatic needs. Advise supervisor on suggested improvements and necessities, as required.

● Produce written reports on the project activities capturing activities planned, as per donor requirements.

● Maintain written correspondence with Partners and other project staff responding to daily project necessities.

● Collaborate with the Finance Manager to forecast expenditure surpluses and deficits to enable timely program adjustments.

● Identify risks or issues affecting the project delivery and escalate these proactively

● As security permits, conduct field visits to monitor project implementation

● Oversee the project filing system for all project-related activities and ensure that information is organized according to the reporting and auditing needs of the project. Ensure required levels of confidentiality.

● Ensure that all work follows Mercy Corps quality standards and best practices;

● Ensure that THEA fits into Pathway to Possibility strategy and provides input into the strategic plan.

● Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

● Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Energy Access

PARTNERSHIPS PROMOTION AND ADVOCACY

● Lead advocacy efforts within Mercy Corps and the overall humanitarian energy sector to consider the integration of inclusive humanitarian energy according to THEA’s Theory of Change.

● Encourage partner agencies to adapt THEA’s principles to decarbonize their interventions in situations of displacement

● Develop alliances and partnerships with potential partners from the humanitarian, private and public sectors

● Represent THEA internally and externally, focusing on enhancing visibility through communication materials and channels; and at dedicated fora (e.g. working groups, conferences, events, humanitarian cluster structure)

STRATEGY AND VISION

● Lead the development and creation of a pathway to scale for the implementation THEA’s vision and strategy

● Supervise the collaboration with THEA partners for the delivery of the shared objectives, namely on research and advocacy

● Closely liaise with implementing countries teams to ensure correct leverage of existing programs and clear understanding to contextualize THEA’s delivery

● Leverage humanitarian energy initiatives to ensure complementarity toward maximization of impact (e.g. Decarbonizing Humanitarian Energy)

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION

● Provide oversight and coordination of all learning, MEL efforts to facilitate information flow and the utilization of evidence in programmatic decisions and adaptive management.

● Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team, to ensure that effective MEL systems and processes are embedded within the project and that data is collected, analyzed, and used to inform ongoing adaptation of program strategies and delivery approaches

REPRESENTATION

● Ensure establishment and maintenance of relationships with communities, also through Refugee Led Organizations (RLOs)

● Ensure close coordination with relevant institutions, including UN, private sector associations, TEA programmes and partners, governmental bodies regulating situations of displacement

TEAM MANAGEMENT

● Assist in the recruitment and training of project staff to ensure team are of the quality and capacity to ensure the successful implementation of all project activities.

● Monitor and advise on staffing needs throughout the project.

● Ensure evaluations and disciplinary measures are made, as necessary according to MC policy.

● Ensure the close coordination and sharing of information with the project team with regular program meetings and close monitoring of the activities plans.

● Provide direct and ongoing supervision and managerial support to the project team

● Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.

● Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.

● Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular check-ins and performance reviews.

● Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

LEARNING AND IMPACT

• Provide in-country and remote training for Mercy Corps staff, partners, and programs with assistance on assessment, implementation, research, and evaluation.

SECURITY

● Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.

● Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO PARTICIPANTS

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

● Team members are expected to conduct themselves professionally and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility

THEA country officers

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director, Energy Access

Works Directly With: Finance team, People Team, Operations teams, TRaQ team, Research and Learning department, Energy 4 Impact, HQ MCE teams

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

● This position requires a Master’s Degree in a relevant field such as project management, international development or environmental sustainability

● Minimum five years of experience in implementing programs in areas including energy access, climate resilience, economic development, social inclusion, environmental sustainability

●Effectively coordinate with regional and country teams, and across departments within the agency

● Strong networking and relationship-building skills

● Excellent writing skills and experience in high-quality proposal and reports writing

● Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing in English. .

● Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.

Success Factors

The incumbent will have to demonstrate commitment, accountability, loyalty, and perform all duties in accordance with the organization’s office routines and procedures, keeping in mind the organization’s overall objectives. Thus, the incumbent of this position must demonstrate the following factors:

– Competent and rigorous

– Ability to define clear, SMART and understood objectives and related Key Performance Indicators

– Assert a methodology for effective project management

– Respect the constraints (budget, deadlines, quality) demanded by donors and employers

– Be able to sequence the project appropriately

– Be a good planner and ensure donor deadlines are met

– Work under pressure with tight deadlines

– Ability to manage resources to assign the right tasks to the right people

– Be able to identify, anticipate, control and monitor project risks

– Ensure good collaboration and cooperation within the project team, including external partners

– Involve all project stakeholders

– Strong leadership, communication, coordination and capacity building skills.

Living / Environmental conditions

The position is based in the UK. It requires up to 30% travel in the field to support program teams, which may include travel to insecure locations with limited freedom of movement and areas with limited facilities.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organisations 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 organisation 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, programme 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.