Economic Development Advisor – Early Economic Recovery (217644-927)

This position is based in either Portland, OR or Washington, DC, or another Mercy Corps HQ office.

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

The Economic/Market Development Advisor-Early Economic Recovery is a part of the Economic and Market Development Technical Support Unit (TSU). The EMD TSU: a) supports income poverty reduction initiatives with a focus on enterprise development and job creation, b) works collaboratively on nexus points between economic development and conflict mitigation, sustainable resource management and food security c) drives the integration of market-based solutions and private-sector partnerships into multi-sector programming and d) builds agency capacity to design, implement, measure and document market driven interventions.

Mercy Corps recognizes no fixed “stages” in transitional environments, thus our interventions consciously lay the foundations, forge partnerships and catalyze learning between relief and economic recovery and development. Mercy Corps believes crisis can create opportunities. We respond to short-term needs (symptoms) while remaining aware of and focused on long-term development processes (causes) and the opportunities to ‘”build back better.” When we conduct relief interventions we do so according to the following strategic objectives: meet immediate basic needs; leverage the private sector as part of the response; minimize market distortions; jumpstart the private sector; promote the re-emergence of markets and lay the foundation and relationships for market development

In the early economic recovery sector, Mercy Corps has been a leader in cash transfer programming; we helped develop and pilot the Emergency Market Mapping and Analysis (EMMA) Toolkit and Minimum Standards for Economic Recovery post Crisis (SEEP/ SPHERE) and create and deliver an elective as part of the Springfield Centre’s Making Markets Work for the Poor training, focused on transitional environments.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The EDM Early Economic Recovery Manager plays a key role in the EDM Technical unit in the areas of: economic and market development strategy, program and business plan design and development,; technical support to interventions and measurement; and organizational learning.

The Early Economic Recovery Manager will deploy during agency-declared emergencies, on a 48-hour notice and for up to 3 months per deployment. S/he will lead identification of critical markets; emergency market and response analysis; design of early economic recovery interventions; and identification of private sector partners. The EER Manager is responsible for close coordination with the Cash Learning Partnership Community of Practice and Early Recovery Clusters and will act as MC’s focal point on participation in the inter-agency Emergency Market Mapping Analysis. The EERPM will act as an on the ground point person for mobile banking and cash transfers in emergencies in coordination with the Social Innovations Unit.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Strategic Vision and Leadership:

Critical to this role is adherence to the principles of a pro-poor market development framework, Mercy Corps Vision for Change and Strategic Framework. The Early Economic Recovery Manager will:

Provide technical leadership, guidance and development of good practice of Mercy Corps’ interventions related to early economic recovery

Participate in strategy discussions, proposal review and lead-writing, development and promotion of implementation and monitoring & evaluation tools, branding materials and organization learning documents related to Mercy Corps’ ‘market-driven’ strategy in the early economic recovery sphere

Coordinate with the Social Innovations team on the application of mobile technology for cash transfer programming in crisis

Program and Business Plan Development & Support:

Ensure market analysis are used in program design

Provide support in program design and development both in the field and remotely. Lead proposal writing efforts as agreed upon.

Provide support in business modeling and business plan development

Ensure best practice principles are incorporated into program design and implementation and that economic recovery activities are intergrated, as appropriate, with other sectors.

Technically support on-going programming as requested.

Participate in a community of practice of early economic recovery practitioners

Impact Measurement:

Ensure monitoring and evaluation efforts in early economic recovery reflect best practice

Work in tandem with the EDM and M&E teams to ensure that indicators are relevant and accessible to field programs, tools are created to effectively measure indicators and that field capacity is built.

Ensure monitoring systems are in place to track cash transfer programs including gathering data for case studies

Representation & Partnership Development

Track strategies, interventions and best practices in the field of early economic recovery

Collaboratively identify and nurture strategic partnerships related to early economic recovery including private sector actors

Participate in relevant fora including Interaction, SEEP; M4P Hub and others as identified

Jointly represent Mercy Corps’ early economic recovery initiatives and actively engage in external and internal relationship building, providing intervention and relationship updates at meetings, academic events, conferences, media forums and other events as requested.

Training & Mentoring

Provide technical assistance, training, and mentoring of field-based early economic recovery teams Assist with development of training materials and deliver training to teams during field visits, regional meetings and other opportunities.

Organizational Learning

As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are invited to spend 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Economic and Market Development Director

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: TSUs, Program Operations, Resource Development, Institutional Financial Services and Social Innovations teams.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Masters degree or experiential equivalent in relevant field
• 5+ years experience in pro-poor market-based approaches, economic recovery
• Preferred 3+ years management experience in field-based projects
• Demonstrated successful track record on proposal development and donor cultivation
• Demonstrated successful track record on private sector partnerships
• Proven excellence in leadership, self-motivation and effective interpersonal skills.
• Proven success working on matrixed teams and in non-hierarchical settings
• Proven success working with teams of diverse backgrounds
• Strong organizational and communication skills.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

• Self-starter, demonstrating leadership
• Flexibility in a non-hierarchical environment.
• Multi-tasker with the proven ability to organize and prioritize competing priorities
• Demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles, follow procedures, and meet deadlines
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving
• Ability to communicate and work with a variety of actors including corporations, high-net worth individuals, and private foundations.
• Proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results
• Ability to understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details
• Demonstrate a strong understanding for cultural, political and religious environments and be able to live and work successfully in those environments.
• Maintaining a sense of humor in stressful situations.

LIVING/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

This position is based in either Portland, OR or Washington, DC, or another Mercy Corps HQ office. The position requires 30-40% travel within the US and internationally. Travel destinations may be insecure and/or with limited access to amenities. The position-holder may be deployed to field locations for up to 3 months.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps policies, procedures and values at all times.

Please apply directly at:

http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjo....

Mercy Corps is an AA/EOE.