Senior Climate Change Strategy Officer – UK or NL At Mercy Corps

Position Description

Location: UK or NL
Position Status: Full-time, open terms
Salary: Edinburgh: circa 32K-37K; London: circa 37 – 43K; NL: circa 38.5K – 45K
Closing date: Candidates must submit applications before December 20th

Candidates must have the independant right to work in UK or NL at the time of appointment.

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 when 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.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY

The Strategy Realization Unit (SRU) ensures that Mercy Corps has the strategies and vision that will enable it to be a world-class, cutting-edge humanitarian and development organization creating transformational change in the world. The Strategy Realization Unit’s goal is to drive forward the agency’s 10-year strategy – Pathway to Possibility – providing a unifying vision while also enabling teams to be adaptive. The underlying intention is to create clarity and focus to enhance decision-making at all levels and locations of the organization.

The Chief Climate Officer (CCO) sits within the SRU and is responsible for leading the Climate Smart Commitment as part of the Pathway to Possibility strategy. The CCO works with leadership across the organization, including with Regional Directors, Country Directors, HLR and TSU senior leaders, HQ Function Leads, Department Heads, and others to advance the organization-wide push on climate change.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Climate Change Strategy Officer is a key member of the SRU and the CCO’s team, playing a critical role in advancing the work streams under the climate smart commitment. They support the CCO leading and/ or contributing to strategic initiatives, workstreams, or special projects contributing to the overall vision of the climate commitment.

Specifically, the Climate Change Strategy Officer develops internal and external communications products about our climate change commitment, helps build and coordinate matrix team structures, conducts desk research on emerging themes of interest, reviews and edits written documents from country teams or other partners across Mercy Corps, supports the CCO prepare for external speaking engagements and other high profile events, and works with the Technical Support Unit to foster a robust climate change community of practice. They also play a key role in Mercy Corps’ efforts to measure results against the climate commitment, foster accountability, and create coherence and clarity around the strategy across the entire organization.

The Climate Change Strategy Officer is a self-starter, proactive team player, and equally strong written and verbal communication skills with a drive to meaningfully engage teams in inclusive processes designed to further shape and advance our climate work. They are experienced in developing appropriate communication processes and content suitable across departments and country-based teams, a strong liaison with critical organizational counterparts in regional, country and headquarters offices, and practiced at navigating or managing complex initiatives with multiple stakeholders. They are a proficient user of data analysis tools and at visualizing information for various audiences.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

  • Develop and manage a regular internal-facing communications package covering progress on our climate smart commitment, in partnership with the global internal communications team and in alignment and support of communications efforts led by the SRU..
  • Support the preparation and dissemination of regular messages or presentations from the CCO to various internal stakeholders and working groups
  • Work with the TSU to build and manage a consistent and compelling workplace page and / or other efforts in support of a climate change community of practice

EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AND CONTENT PRODUCTION

  • Draft or synthesize talking points and slide decks for external events, speaking engagements, or donor meetings in partnership with relevant teams
  • Help draft or edit concept notes, blog posts and other written materials with the CCO and in partnership with relevant teams
  • Support in the planning the Mercy Corps engagement for large events such as COP and as needed

WORK PLANNING, COORDINATION AND MEASUREMENT

  • Lead and manage cross-functional working groups or task forces comprised of both field and HQ leadership to prioritize, identify, and implement solutions to deliver on Mercy Corps’ climate smart commitment
  • Coordinate and contribute to formal or informal working groups to drive forward visioning and planning for moving our agency commitments forward
  • Lead and / or support facilitation of covenings around emerging climate trends or key discussions
  • Develop and manage a work planning tool and process to track progress across various work streams
  • Support Mercy Corps’ processes to measure progress toward program outcomes and agency commitments; help coordinate harmonized, relevant, and timely deliverables from different teams and departments engaged in these efforts

COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION

  • Contribute to appropriate forums for feedback and discussion among stakeholders at various elevations of the organization
  • Interact expertly with team members at all elevations of the organization to both engage in and inform about the strategy process

ACCOUNTABILITY

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Reports To: Chief Climate Officer

Works With: Other members of the SRU, key members of the the Technical Support Unit, The Resource Development team, the Global Communication teams, Policy and Advocacy team and country and regional leadership

QUALIFICATIONS AND TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

  • 4+ years’ experience at an international organization required; international experience working on climate change related topics in a humanitarian, protracted and/or post-crisis setting preferred
  • Advanced content knowledge of climate change issues and how they relate to humanitarian and development work
  • Excellent writing, editing, and research skills required; proven ability to “translate” diverse technical language into compelling content.
  • Demonstrated experience in multi-channel communication, building compelling messaging from a breadth of authors, and proven competency in communication strategy, planning, and implementation of plans and tactics.
  • Demonstrated project management expertise and experience in core project management concepts and tools, such as work planning, project budgeting, and stakeholder engagement
  • Experience developing and implementing cross-departmental projects, activities or processes; demonstrated ability to contribute strategic planning, reporting, or results measurement efforts a plus
  • Collaborative work style that contributes to positive team environment and builds strong relationships with people from all backgrounds, genders, cultures, and viewpoints
  • Critical thinking skills and proven ability to problem solve and follow up appropriately.
  • Adaptable, resourceful, and able to multitask and deliver under pressure; comfort with ambiguity and complexity preferred
  • Commitment to diversity and inclusion; experience in incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work
  • Ability to travel up to 10% internationally for site visits, representation, and conferences, occasionally to insecure or hostile environments

Success Factors

The successful Advisor must be a self-starting multi-tasker, able to manage competing priorities and demonstrate a keen understanding of the larger picture while remaining focused on and able to handle the details. They are an expert problem-solver, adept in successfully dealing with issues of complexity. They must demonstrate patience, initiative, and flexibility. The Advisor has relevant experience driving participatory processes to build consensus as well as a practical understanding of how to engage different stakeholders, including senior leaders, to drive impact and organizational change. They are courageous and willing to challenge the status quo, speak up and speak out on key issues, and engage in constructive debate and sensitive conversations with agency stakeholders at all elevations of the organization.

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.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Portland, Oregon or other locations with a Mercy Corps office. It may involve some travel to support country programs or regional teams, which may include some visits to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.

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.

How to apply

Please apply with CV and cover letter here: https://jobs.jobvite.com/mercycorps/job/omaOlfwp

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