Vacancies at Mercy Corps

Consultant Activities:

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Manage all operations related to the Project according to the work plan, project document and implementation strategy. Troubleshoot, as needed, to prevent disruptions in daily program activities Liaise with Team Leader and Research Managers, as necessary.
• In close collaboration with the Team and Human Resource support staff, the consultant will support the Project team, consultants and staff, ensuring that there are fluent communication channels, that the reporting schedule is timely met and that programme objectives are achieved.
• Coordinate and share information with the Team Leader to ensure overall projects targets and donor obligations are being achieved. Troubleshoot on reporting and programmatic needs. Advise supervisor on suggested improvements and necessities, as required.
• Manage consultant recruitment and contract management in lines with Mercy Corps global and country-level policies and practices.
• Maintain written correspondence with and for the Team Leader and other programme staff responding to daily programme necessities and routine communications.
• Coordinate closely with the Team Leader, Research Manager, and relevant administrative and finance staff to ensure proper logistics, administration, human resources and transport needs of the programme are conducted within MC policy and with the maximum benefit to the programme.
• Work with the Team Leader to forecast expenditure surpluses and deficits to enable adjustments to be made to the programme in a timely fashion.
• Oversee the programme filing system for all SPARC-related activities in the south and ensure that information is organized according to the reporting and auditing needs of the programme. Ensure required levels of confidentiality.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

OPERATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT

• Assist in the recruitment and training of research consultants to ensure they are of the quality and capacity to ensure the successful implementation of SPARC activities. Ensure contractual processes follow MC and donor policies. Monitor and advise on consulting needs and support gaps throughout the program. Manage consulting contracts and budgets. Ensure evaluations and disciplinary measures are made, as necessary according to MC policy.
• Ensure the close coordination and sharing of information between the various department teams (e.g. Country, Evidence & Learning, TRaQ)
• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

SECURITY

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Accountability

*Reports Directly To:*Regional Director of Evidence & Learning, Resilient Dryland Production Systems (SPARC Team Lead)
*Works Directly With:*Mercy Corps and Consultant Researchers, Global and Country Finance Team Members, Global and country-level HR, Administrative and Operations Team Members,

Knowledge and Experience

• This position requires a Bachelor's degree in Management, Business Administration, Organization Management, Data Science or other Economic or Social Science.
• More than five years of experience focused in the management of research, development projects, or private business including developing and maintain workplans, donor/stakeholder reporting, activity monitoring.
• Demonstrated experience in account management, budget management and forecasting.
• This post requires a high computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications. Advanced skills in the Microsoft 365 platform and applications are strongly preferred.
• Administrative capacity and planning skills to support a large team of national and international staff and consultants of multiple sectors.
• Excellent English communication skills, both verbal and written, required. Working knowledge of French (written and oral) is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge or understanding of Institutional Review Board (IRB) application and approval processes is beneficial.
• An internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.

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Consultant Activities:

DIGITAL & DATA - SYNTHESIS

• Review reports and blogs on social media and digital jobs for Kenya-specific data points and insights
• Update internal list of relevant policies, programs and influence partners related to data, digital economy, and inclusive pastoral development in Kenya
• Create annotated overview of above list highlighting any existing nexus for digital economy in the drylands: review key digital/data policies for mention and relevance to pastoralist contexts; review key drylands-specific policies/programs for any highlights applicable to digital economy policy intervention
• Based on the insights from above, research any relevant regional policies or global case studies that may inform Kenya’s digital economy policy
• Develop 2 page summary of data/digital and pastoral development policy nexus

POLICY INTERVENTION PATHWAYS

• Select and coordinate outreach with at least 5 policy influencers and relevant experts
• Synthesize and integrate qualitative input from focus groups, key information interviews, and other sources
• Develop a framework for policy interventions to unlock further benefits of the digital economy in the pastoral context in Kenya. Such a framework may draw on Kenya’s Digital Economy Blueprint pillars: digital government; digital business; innovation-driven entrepreneurship; and digital skills and values.
• Provide a foundation of illustrative cases and examples from the region or globally mapped onto this framework — to be developed further in co-design
• Where applicable, integrate key insights into SPARC’s review of hardware and digital innovations as well as inform parallel dissemination outputs

Consultant Deliverables:

• Develop 2-page summary of data/digital synthesis;
• Develop annotated review of data/digital and pastoral development policy nexus;
• Host 1 focus group with at least 3 key external and internal experts;
• Publish 3–6-page brief highlighting policy intervention pathways

Qualification & Transferable Skills

• BA/S in international development, public policy or other relevant social science
• At least 8 years of demonstrated experience in qualitative and quantitative research, content development and/or storytelling
• Demonstrated experience working in collaboration with pastoralists, and drylands-based actors, including private sector partners, in participatory research or co-design initiatives
• Experience in research and learning within international development programmes, preferably in the Horn of Africa. Evidence of deep networks in Kenya’s ASAL regions is ideal.
• Experience working remotely with diverse teams
• Demonstrated ability to communicate research findings, verbally, visually, and in writing in English.