Strategy & Operations Manager – People Team

Location Washington DC, Portland, Or, US Remote within approved states, London or Edinburgh
Valid unrestricted work authorization in the country in which you will be based (United States, United Kingdom) is required at the time of application for this position.

Position Status Full-time, Exempt, Regular
Salary Range US: $76,000 -$84,000, UK £45,000-47,000, commensurate with experience

About Mercy Corps

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 Program

The People Team ensures that Mercy Corps has the people who will enable it to be a world-class, cutting-edge, humanitarian organization, creating transformational change in the world. We do this through the recruitment, retention, and development of the best global talent. Our aim is to drive strategic thinking and planning at all levels of the organization; create a robust body of research to guide us internally and externally and steward the organizational culture. To achieve this, we align conversations on learning; keep the organization focused on what has the greatest impact; leverage our comparative advantages in the crowded and competitive international relief and development landscape; and assure we are constantly learning from our work and the external environment.

The Position

The Strategy and Operations Manager works across the People Team to implement and maintain more streamlined project management processes to create more cohesion, organization, and clarity within and outside of the People Team as it relates to our service objectives and organizational commitments.

The role will be to work within the CPO Office to provide oversight and support initiatives across the People Team, aiming to balance resources in terms of people, budget, and absorptive capacity across Mercy Corps. The Manager works closely with the People Team SLT to ensure projects are aligned to defined team priorities and guide the adaptation of projects as priorities inevitably shift and change. This role may own and lead some key projects, but largely will oversee, drive, and guide the assignment, launch, execution, and completion of People Team projects in accordance with defined priorities. This will include budget management, to create a streamlined and consolidated budget monitoring process to facilitate better decision making and financial transparency across the team.

Essential Job Responsibilities

OVERSEE THE OFFICE OF THE CPO

• Develop streamlined routines and practices for seamless operations of the CPO’s office with the support of the Executive Assistant.
• Build and run cadence for SLT, All People team meetings, and leadership meetings, including structuring and helping to deliver organization-wide communication of outcomes when needed.
• Support CPO in Board related matters, preparing required reports, analysis, and agenda.
• Lead the preparation of quarterly reports to the MC Leadership in partnership with the SLT.
• Promote team integration as well as cross-functional communication and collaboration.
• Develop and standardize decision making and planning criteria for allocation and/or measurement of available or needed resources, in terms of people, funds, tools, and absorptive capacity.
• Support the CPO and the SLT with strategic interventions, team retreats, agendas, and follow up action items aligned with the People Team vision.
• Guide and support the Executive Assistant to CPO to ensure smooth working of the CPO office.

DECISION SUPPORT AND REPORTING

• Develop and implement streamlined, standardized project management and cross-functional coordination framework for the People Team.
• Proactively engage with the SLT when initiatives are delayed determining bottlenecks and support in exploring options for progressing initiatives.
• Develop and maintain consolidated People Team budgeting tools and process to create more cohesion and transparency in the team financial status at specific intervals and to aid project planning decision making.
• Track and follow up on internal action items, assignment of tasks, moving projects through each phase, and assisting stakeholders with roll-out and communications.
• Track towards project objectives and milestones and ensure compliance with project timelines and assist with roll out as applicable.
• Manage People Team budget formulation, forecasts, and projections; Support special projects assigned by the CPO.
• Monitor budget, recommend budget related adjustments or decisions to stay within budget limitations and ensure good stewardship of allotted funds.

PERSONAL LEADERSHIP

• Consistently demonstrate flexibility, resilience, and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure, even under challenging or difficult circumstances.
• Promote Mercy Corps’ culture by promoting the development and advancement of ideas allowing for new and unique approaches to problem-solving within existing policy and procedural requirements.
• Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
• Demonstrate an awareness of personal strengths and development needs.

Supervisory Responsibility
None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Chief People Officer
Works Directly With: People Team Leaders, Executive Assistant to the CPO

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

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in leading strategy, change management, program management in large global organization.
• Experience in Human Resources function is preferred.
• BA/BS, in Business or HR is preferred.
• Multilingual is a ‘plus’ (English required with French, Spanish, or Arabic as a second language).
• Demonstrated history of stakeholder management and a high level of attention to detail
• Ability to leverage project management best practices.
• Ability to explain complex or technical information in a relatable format to team members of varying backgrounds.
• Effective organizational and interpersonal skills; strong written and verbal communication.
• Proven track record of successfully managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced work environment.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain composure in stressful situations.
• Effective skills in Microsoft 365, as well as project management tools.

Success Factors

The successful team member will be an avid learner, self-directed, innovative and action orientated. Furthermore, they must have the ability to work independently, employ effective time management skills, handle frequent interruptions, and shift priorities, exhibit effective customer service skills, and work effectively with a wide variety of individuals including team members based overseas. They will have the ability to work onsite and collaborate with team members, deliver compelling designs within the guidelines of specific project objectives, and interact professionally and productively with HQ and other global staff. Additionally, the individual will thrive in a fast-paced environment prone to rapid change and be willing to increase responsibility level in the assigned areas. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a positive approach, a strong commitment to teamwork and personal accountability, and the ability to be flexible and ensure effective communication is a priority in all situations.

Living / Environmental Conditions

This position is based in Portland, DC, London or Edinburgh or remotely within the US (approved states) or UK. It requires minimal international travel in support of Mercy Corps programs. This position may be asked to travel on occasion.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/STA 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 always 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. 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.

As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.

Our screening process is designed to be transparent and completed in partnership with new Team Members. You will have the opportunity to disclose any prior convictions at the conclusion of the recruitment process before the check is initiated. We ask that you do not disclose any prior convictions in your application materials or during the recruitment process.

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.