BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS SENIOR 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 works in places of transition, where conflict, disaster, political upheaval, or economic collapse present opportunities to build more secure, productive, and just communities. Providing emergency relief in times of crisis, we move quickly to help communities recover and build resilience to future shocks and promote sustainable change by supporting community-led and market-driven initiatives. Recognizing both the great potential and the complex challenges faced by the Middle East, since 1989 Mercy Corps has been implementing a range of humanitarian assistance and development programs tailored to the specific needs of the region and of those communities where we work.

Mercy Corps seeks to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression around the world. Mercy Corps has global experience working in countries undergoing major transitions, brings knowledge, expertise and strong management skills to position the agency as a partner of choice for progressive change in Syria. In Syria, Mercy Corps has been implementing emergency and life-sustaining activities since 2012. We empower and engage citizens by informing and mobilizing communities, and promoting civic engagement. By elevating the voices of vulnerable communities and increasing their inclusion in decision-making, we ensure governance processes are more equitable and effective, empowering communities to tackle the underlying causes of the world’s toughest challenges, working collaboratively to build secure, productive and just communities.

The Position

The Business Development and Communications Senior Coordinator will lead a dynamic and multi-faceted set of critical responsibilities for the Mercy Corps Syria office. S/he will work closely with the Syria team to pre-position the organization with donors and to prepare for funding opportunities, and develop and disseminate internal and external communications products. S/he will ensure that teams adhere to all Mercy Corps’ Minimum Standards and best practices of business development, and to donors’ branding and visibility policies and procedures. The position involves strategic thinking, vision, and dedication to establishing and refining key tools for business development, new internal and external communications strategies, and strategies for visualizing/conveying information to a wide variety of internal and external audiences, within Syria, the region, and globally. The Business Development and Communications Senior Coordinator will report to the Grants Management Director while working closely with the Grants Managers and senior leadership.

This role includes up to 10% travel. The person will work closely with a diverse team in an intense and fluid environment. They must be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites.

Essential Responsibilities

Business Development

• Maintain updated donor profiles and conversation trackers
• Coordinate priority areas for business development in collaboration with program leadership and Deputy Country Director
• Map donors to program priorities in collaboration with program leadership to guide Country Director and Deputy Country Director in strategic relationships
• Develop donor engagement standards and train staff in donor engagement and presentations
• Coordinate non-traditional donor diversification in areas such as gulf state, foundations, and corporations
• Lead “capture” process (pre-positioning) of Mercy Corps Syria for upcoming and anticipated new opportunities, integrating PM@MC Minimum standards into processes in collaboration with PaQ
• Provide surge support for proposal coordination and writing
• Provide ad-hoc support to improve business development at Mercy Corps Syria

Communications Management

• Implement a country-level communications strategy and plan, aligning with country and regional strategies, reflecting inputs from all key stakeholders and in liaison with HQ
• Identify areas of improvement within existing internal and external communications practices and play a leadership role in driving this forward
• Stay current on communications, branding and social media standards and ensure publications and products meet Mercy Corps’ and donors’ brand identity/visibility reporting and other project requirements
• Attend Mercy Corps Syria functions and visit project sites in order to assist with documenting programs and partners through photographs, video clips, blogs, success stories, case studies, etc.
• Maintain a library of program photos, videos, success stories, publications, etc. that can be shared with key stakeholders and encourage use of Syria photo portfolio on Identity Central
• Support the Senior Management and Programs Teams in matters related to communications

Internal Communications

• Produce a monthly digital newsletter in English and Arabic, including writing and/or compiling content, to be distributed to team members across the country, as well as in the region and at Mercy Corps’ headquarters offices
• Establish a visual presence of the Mercy Corps Strategy in the Mercy Corps Syria offices through posters, banners, etc.
• Track and share articles in external media and Mercy Corps communication platforms that include or focus on Mercy Corps Syria
• Set up and host regular MSS-hub-level dialogue
• Develop and manage content on Mercy Corps internal communications platforms with a focus on showcasing the work in all Hubs and Mercy Corps Syria
• Follow the news and flag articles, initiatives, and policies that can be shared more broadly through weekly internal communications products; flag anything critical with senior leadership staff in a timely manner

External Communications

• Develop and maintain capacity statements, one pagers, video case studies, and other key communications materials (factsheets, brochures, leaflets, flyers, etc.).
• Maintain updated standardized pitch decks and talking points, and help Senior Management and Programs teams prepare for external-facing events and meetings, including preparation of document packages, meeting-specific talking points, etc.
• Manage Mercy Corps Syria’s presence across such platforms as Mercy Corps’ external website and social media to extend the reach of the country program.
• Coordinate logistics for quarterly “Voices from the Field” series which brings participants experiences to donors

Miscellaneous

• Provide interpretation/translation of Arabic to English and vice versa for the Country Director, SMT and other expatriates at public events, external meetings, or site visits as needed.
• Perform written translation from English and Arabic as well as Arabic to English of key program documents and other essential documents as assigned by the SMT.
• Proofread/edit translations to ensure consistency and quality of language.

Supervisory Responsibility

No supervisory responsibility.

Accountability

This position reports to the Grants Management Director and works with the Country Director, SMT, Grants Team, Program Teams, field teams, Program Performance and Quality (PaQ) Team, and our HQ offices.

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.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 4+ years of experience working in business development, fundraising, grant management in the humanitarian/development sector
• Perfect written and spoken English and Arabic essential
• Excellent computer skills including Microsoft applications
• Communications design experience a plus: Graphic and web design, basic photography and videography including editing, InDesign (or other graphic design software)

Successful characteristics

• Completer/finisher with exceptionally high level of attention to detail and dedication to quality
• Proactive problem-solver able to work under pressure, independently, and with limited supervision
• Proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results and deadlines
• Ability to be flexible, resourceful, and innovative in a variety of situations
• Excellent at relationship building; willingness to collaborate across a diverse set of teams in different locations
• Ability to identify compelling stories and communicate them effectively
• Commitment to teamwork and accountability
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative relationships
• Highly developed interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to organize and prioritize competing priorities
• Ability to maintain a sense of humor in stressful situations
• Sensitivity towards cultural, political, and religious diversity
• Commitment to humanitarian principles and values

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 based on 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 encounter 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.

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