Job Detail

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 when required

INCIDENT REPORTING

• Maintain contextual awareness in all areas in which MCA is working and inform security coordination and incident response, working jointly with the Interim Director of Operations and Site Security Manager.
• Ensure the humanitarian access team contributes to and maintains current mapping of humanitarian access conditions and issues to build a comprehensive view on events & trends in the region.
• Help create an environment where all Mercy Corps programs and team members and business are conducted with professionalism, impartiality, accountability and other core principles required as a humanitarian agency.
• Place high value on inter-agency coordination in security; encourage Mercy Corps field-level coordination in the NGO community. Seek opportunities for formal and informal cooperation;

 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.

Supervisory Responsibility

Liaison Manager. Other positions TBD

 Accountability

Reports Directly To: Country Director

Works Directly With: Interim Senior Management Team; Regional Safety & Security Advisor; Crisis Analytics team

Knowledge and Experience

• Over five years of experience working in and/or advising on programs in fragile, insecure and complex contexts.
• Experience managing humanitarian relief and/or transitional programs in areas affected by conflict and insecurity preferred.
• Keen research and analytical skills, particularly in political-economic analysis, risk analysis and security analysis.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills required, including influencing, negotiation and coaching;
• Strong management skills with good understanding of managing international, cross-cultural teams;
• Ability to translate analysis into solutions to complex issues required;
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Fluent written and oral communication in English required.
• Knowledge of major donor requirements and compliance issues.
• Strong understanding of conflict sensitive program mainstreaming and gender or protection mainstreaming would be an advantage.

SUCCESS FACTORS

The successful HAA will have on the ground experience in coordinating and managing complex programs as well as demonstrable research, networking and analytical capability.  S/he will be able to translate analysis into actionable insights that can be applied to program operations and critical decision-making. S/he will have proven experience with cross-cultural teams, with strong leadership, communication, coordination and mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. Patience, tenacity, diplomacy and a sense of humor will contribute to success.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Kabul, Afghanistan and requires up to 30% travel to field locations, including Herat, Kandahar and Mazar-i-Sharif. It is an unaccompanied position. Kabul suffers from insecurity and criminality and the overall situation remains unstable and heavily affected by an economic crisis. Access to healthcare and basic utilities may at times be constrained. Travel to field sites will be required where living conditions may be basic. There is reasonable access to most consumer goods, although they can be expensive.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on short-term assignments. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, 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 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.