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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

Mercy Corps alleviates poverty, suffering, and oppression and works to build secure, productive, and just communities in over 40 countries around the world. Our Program Department supports field-led work that delivers measurable impact.

Mercy Corps’ Technical Support Unit (TSU) is a key part of the Program Department. TSU subject-matter experts help set agency strategy and provide consultation – from assessment and design through project implementation and results measurement – to field offices worldwide, in some of the world’s toughest places. TSU team members lead research, foster organizational learning, represent Mercy Corps to external audiences, and develop partnerships. The TSU is also integral to global business development and revenue.

General Position Summary

Mercy Corps is seeking to hire a Senior Climate Advisor who has a broad range of experiences working across relevant climate adaptation approaches including disaster risk reduction, climate finance, natural resource management, and climate and weather services, as well as ecosystem and community-based adaptation. The primary geographic focus will be West Africa, but the position will be expected to work with the broader Environment team to support work across the continent, and occasionally in the Middle East.

Mercy Corps has a strong portfolio of climate programming covering a wide spectrum of activities including climate and weather services, climate-smart livelihoods, climate security, climate finance and disaster risk reduction, governance capacity building, and natural resource management. To learn about our work and approach please visit: www.mercycorps.org/climate.

The Senior Climate Advisor will primarily focus on helping country teams strengthen their portfolio of climate programming. This will involve supporting the development of country climate action plans, developing concept notes, donor engagement, producing influence-oriented research and writing products, and leading capacity strengthening initiatives.

More broadly, this position will provide strategic technical support to existing climate programs and countries teams. This support includes program design and development, network and partnership development, representation at key sector forums and events, writing competitive proposals for submission to donors, capacity building, and technical influence amongst internal and external partners, and helping ensure program quality and relevance.

The senior climate advisor position is part of the TSU focused on issues related to natural resource management, climate change adaptation, and energy access and will work as part of this team to achieve established cross-sector goals and strategies.

Essential Job Responsibilities

PROGRAM AND PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT

• Write/review proposals and concept notes for funding from donors including foundations, corporations and US, European, and UN agencies.
• Work with programs, country/regional teams, and technical support units on prepositioning and development of strategies.
• Work with other TSU members to integrate climate risk considerations and strategies into the design and support of multi-sectoral programs that encompass elements of broader agency goals such as resilience, food security, and youth development.
• Support complex, competitive proposals and large integrated teams following Mercy Corps’ best practices in proposal development, team management, and the appropriate sectoral area.
• Cultivate and nurture donor relationships that positively impact Mercy Corps ability to grow its climate programming, as well as strategic partnerships that result in stronger and impactful program development efforts.
• Work closely with field leaders to influence their engagement and support of program pre- positioning, development and implementation.

PROGRAM QUALITY

• Participate as an active, integrated member of the team providing technical support to a portfolio of field programs including those in complex crisis environments.
• Support effective interventions in the areas of the assigned team’s focus, using integrated approaches and applying systems thinking.
• Build capacity with Mercy Corps staff and partners to better design and implement programs.

LEARNING AND IMPACT

• Contribute to agency-wide climate initiatives such as the climate research and learning agenda.
• Provide in-country and remote training and support for Mercy Corps staff, partners, and others.
• Support new and ongoing programs with best practice advice and assistance on assessment, implementation, research, and evaluation needs.

• Conduct assessments; write case studies, learning documents, short articles, and blogs; and develop internal and external disseminate plan for all products.
• Nurture partnerships with universities, research institutions, and other organizations to produce case studies, assessments, and other learning documentation, as well as enhance program quality.

POLICY, ADVOCACY, REPRESENTATION

• Identify and nurture strategic partnerships with other organizations and institutions.
• Support a targeted policy and advocacy agenda with assistance from other Mercy Corps teams.
• Present concepts and ideas to donors, partners, and peer organizations that influence them to drive innovation and positive change.

Supervisory Responsibility

The position has supervisory responsibility over consultants, interns and/or volunteers.

Accountability
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Director, Environment Technical Support Unit

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: all other TSU teams, HQ, and field teams

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

• Broad experience in a range of climate adaptation related technical areas including natural resource management, climate finance, disaster risk reduction, climate-smart livelihoods, ecosystem-based adaptation, community-based adaptation.
• Bachelor’s degree required. M.A, M.S., M.Sc., or equivalent in a field related to the TSU team specialty and relevant technical certifications are valued, but not necessary.
• Practical experience, that demonstrates an understanding of the challenges of working in a variety of complex humanitarian and development contexts.
• Delivering Capacity Building materials or other relevant processes
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to Mercy Corps project sites and field locations, including traveling to insecure environments, is required.
• Fluency in English is required; fluency in French is desired.

Success Factors

All TSU positions require strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, and a level of emotional intelligence proficiency that quickly builds and maintains productive relationships across teams. Being aware and sensitive to international development issues and diverse cultures is critical.

This senior climate advisor position will demonstrate the ability to see connections, and work across, a range of technical areas related to climate change. The senior advisor will demonstrate significant experience with providing technical support to field programs and country offices. The position will demonstrate an ability to lead cross-team efforts in developing ambitions strategies and programs. The individual will show a strong ability to develop new business strategies through analysis, donor engage, and concept development. Importantly, the individual must demonstrate an ability to work across teams and institutions, building effective internal and external partnerships. The individual should have the proven ability to influence donors, partners, and peer organizations toward innovative programs and best practices.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position requires travel roughly 30% time, including to the field where living conditions may be exceptionally rugged or be in volatile environments where security protocols will need to be followed. Team members must be ready to deploy to field environments on short notice in response to any emergency or crisis. When in the field the team member must able to work in remote settings, over weekends and/or evening as required by the schedule, and in settings with limited infrastructure, food options, and living conditions.

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.

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.

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

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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.