Nature Club Coordinator
Nature Club Coordinator
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 / Department / Team
Mercy Corps and Axiom International will implement a 24-month program “Inclusive Security and Resilient Youth Project – ISRY,'' a community-based development program supporting at-risk youth in Jordan between the ages of 15 to 30. ISRY will adopt a positive youth development approach to psychosocial support interventions to promote learning; increase stability through co-existence and inclusive security and build the psychosocial resiliency of youth and their families. Mercy Corps, in close coordination with Axiom, will create connections between youth and Public Security actors through engagement in Nature-based activities and community-based activities. In close collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Ministry of Social Development, the program will identify three local community action hubs- CAHs in the north, center, and south of Jordan – to establish Community Action Hubs that provide youth with a safe space to improve social stability and ultimately make youth and their communities more resilient. Additionally, the program will seek to strengthen the CAHs’ institutional capacities to sustain long-term impact The project will place additional focus on the national level to strengthen the role of women and youth representation in the Youth Peace and Security – YPS 2250 – coalition in Jordan, through close collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and other stakeholders.
The Position
The coordinator “Nature Club” will be overseeing and supporting all Nature Club programming within the ISRY project by being responsible for guiding the unit’s strategic planning, including being part of project design, proposal development, technical material, training, and budget development. In Addition to introducing environmental/outdoor sports into other projects within MC.
Facilitate and coordinate the MHPSS integration within the unit activities, in collaboration with the MHPSS coordinator, in a way that fits the project methodology of supporting youth at risk and their communities.Overseeing and providing support to the implementation of the ISRY Nature Club project, through guiding the curriculum design and development of training tools as well as the delivery of the courses and capacity building process using internal and external resources. S/he will report to the PSS and Capacity Building coordinator and work closely with staff dedicated to the program – such as Project managers, training coordinators, training officers, Coordinators, Field officers, Field Coordinators, and M&E Coordinators. S/he will also lead efforts to build the capacity of Coaches from CAH partners to meet the Psychosocial support programming requirements of MC and other donors.
This model has measurably improved the mental health, well-being, and security of Syrian and Jordanian youth at risk of violence, aggression, and isolation. A pioneering component of Mercy Corps Youth Programmes is the Nature Club, a psychosocial-based environmental leadership program for the most vulnerable, unemployed youth. Indoor and outdoor sessions emphasize a healthy lifestyle, improved mental health, and environmental stewardship through nature education, climate change awareness, and activities like hiking, rock climbing, and camping that push young men and women out of their comfort zones to realize their potential.
Essential Responsibilities
Coordination with other projects within Mercy Corps
1. Initiate Outdoor based programming collaboration opportunities between ISRY and other Mercy Corps programs
2. Support the application of Sports based activities among MC programs
3. Integrate an environmental-based approach to be advised in field programs and find a practical way of applying it
4. Advise on any outdoor youth programming among MC
5. Providing advice on building up risk management systems for outdoor/ field activities.
Development of Nature Club model
1. Supervise the incorporation of the ISRY Psychosocial support approach into Nature Club programs Training manual, lesson plan, and activities.
2. Facilitate and further improve minimal standards and safety measurements ensuring standards are in line with the profound stress and Attunement frameworks through the application and mainstreaming of the Nature Club Quality Management strategy.
3. Support to Identify, and contracting specialized sub-grants that further contribute to the development of the Nature Club
4. Support quality assurance through review results of training programs evaluations, attendance, and training data, and recommend necessary actions.
5. Support procurement officer through research training suppliers and materials as needed – including details, cost comparison, and timelines
6. Explore professional development opportunities and share with ISRY and Ambassadors Of Nature, team, and staff.
7. Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
8. Coordinate planning and delivery of training programs with partner CAHs
Capacity Building and Mentoring
1. Contribute and provide technical input during the design of the projects’ activities in close coordination with all PSS and Capacity Building team members.
2. Deliver and support training to community volunteers and local organizations’ staff who are involved in implementation including coaches and mentors to further develop behavior strategies and attunement skills that support enabling young people to manage their behavior.
3. Ensure quality of participant programming and training delivery through contributing to the content development, overseeing the delivery, scheduling, and providing the necessary support. 4. Identify and plan capacity-building training relevant to conducting the Nature Club safely and creatively by utilizing external specialized resources.
5. Supervise Nature Club team members and give all the needed support
6. Seek other related training
Implementation of Project Activities
1. Support the development of work plans in coordination with field Coordinators and Officers each according to their geographic responsibility
2. Support quality assurance through review results of training programs evaluations, attendance, and training data, and recommend necessary actions to maintain the quality of the project’s activities in close coordination with all PSS and Capacity Building team members.
3. Oversight and provide technical guidance to ISRY training officers and area officers, CAHs teams, coaches, and host communities on regular basis. This includes the development of weekly and monthly progress reports that highlight challenges and required actions to ensure successful implementation of the training work plan and associated activities.
4. Conduct implementation of approved work plans for targeted beneficiaries in the local community in line with previously designed session plans, and in consideration of Nature Club Quality Management Strategy and safety measurements.
5. Conduct efforts both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
6. Other duties as assigned.
Management Support
1. Support senior Management in proposal writing in Nature/Environment related projects 2. Support budgeting Nature Club
3. Building up work plans and supervising their implementation
4. Support Environment based programming
5. Provide updated Risk Management plans
PEOPLE (Team MANAGEMENT):
1. Effectively manage the ISRY Nature club team, and coordinate the day-to-day activities including capacity building, planning, intervention methods, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting.
2. Ensure the implementation level are monitored and coordinated properly based on the needs of each location. And that the mechanisms are designed to be later sustained and owned by the CAH partners.
3. Conduct monitoring of CAH personnel engaged in outdoor activities, including sampling cases and checking cases are managed as per relevant psychosocial service provision protocols; assuring fidelity of MHPSS interventions.
4. Manage CAH outdoor activities and the nature team, ensure there is adequate coverage during periods of absence, training needs are met, and performance evaluated.
5. Community Collaboration and Capacity-building: Provide training and coordination with other organizations to promote network development and to better address the needs of youth and their families through outdoor activities.
6. Project Evaluation: Track and ensure project objectives are met. Participate in the implementation of project evaluation.
Supervisory Responsibility
Nature club officers, CAH Coaches – facilitators
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Psychosocial Specialist & Capacity Building Team Leader
Works Directly With: Senior Project Manager, Coordinators, training coordinator, training officer, Project Coordinators, Field Coordinators, Partner Organizations, and Sub-grantees.
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 Qualification & Transferable Skills
▪ University degree and/or Accredited certification in Mountaineering Sports, Health Education, Social Work, or related field
▪ At least 5 years of related experience performing required tasks, preferably in complex emergency or relief context/Outdoor Mountain Sports
▪ Proven experience in training materials development, preferably in a relevant field of work ▪ Project Budgeting and proposals involvement
▪ Proven experience in implementing project-relevant activities on a national level ▪ Ability to work independently and as a part of a team
▪ Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Excel and Word
▪ Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel to Amman/northern Jordan
▪ Knowledge of English is preferable.
Success Factors
• Deep commitment to humanitarian principles and values
• Willingness to learn new skills and methodologies
• Ability to work under pressure, independently, and with limited supervision
• Demonstrated organizational skills
• Demonstrated creative problem-solving skills
• Security, political, and culturally aware
• Ability to multi-task while meeting several pressing deadlines
▪ Mature, responsible, and diplomatic in their interactions with others;
Competencies
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• The ability to lead and d influence others.
• The ability to find creative solutions to new challenges.
• The skill to prioritize tasks effectively and meet deadlines.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Amman, Jordan or other Middle East Mercy Corps locations and it requires up to 70%% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard.
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
