Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.
Mercy Corps’ programming in Central America is currently limited to Guatemala, where it has over 20 years of programming and deep connections to rural communities, and has carried out rural development, food security, water security, health, land conflict mediation, land formalization and violence prevention activities with funding from a multitude of institutional and private donors. Given the high levels of humanitarian need and mixed migration flows throughout Central American countries, the need to develop more robust, multi-country focused programming has become apparent. Mercy Corps is currently seeking registration in Honduras - where Mercy Corps had a presence until 2004 - and El Salvador, with ambitions to also expand beyond these geographies. Humanitarian needs range widely, but in general span from multipurpose cash assistance to purchase basic needs to accessing essential health services, protection and psychosocial support. Target communities in need include individuals on the move, including Central Americans, Haitians, Venezuelans, Colombians, Ecuadorians and other migrants moving north from South America, through the Darien Gap into Panama, and northward towards the US border. Supporting longer term economic development, job creation, violence prevention focused on youth in urban areas, and other development interventions supporting origin communities are also priorities for Mercy Corps.
In line with Mercy Corps’ global and country-level Pathway to Possibility (P2P) strategies, the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) regional team is in the process of refining its regional strategy to advance P2P’s strategic outcome areas - food security, water security, economic opportunities, and peace and governance – by establishing new operations, partnerships, alliances and programs across Central America in a way that addresses the shifting socio-economic, political, and governance environment, and effectively meets community needs and donor priorities.
The Mercy Corps Central America Director is a growth-driven leader responsible for overseeing Mercy Corps’ day-to-day programs and operations in Guatemala, and leading the establishment of new program operations in Honduras and El Salvador. This person has held senior roles in managing operations and/or programming in fluid environments and formulating strategic direction across multiple contexts simultaneously. The Director has supervisory responsibility for the Guatemala country team leadership, and is responsible for ensuring the smooth functioning of the country program in compliance with local laws, Mercy Corps policies and procedures, and donor rules and regulations. They will also ensure that existing Mercy Corps Guatemala programs - and new programs established in other geographies - are implemented in accordance to PM@MC standards, ensuring a high level of program quality, and that programs are implemented on time, on budget, and on scope. This person will contribute to proposal development for multi-country, multi-sector programming, ensure accountability to program participants and donors, placing a high value on innovative solutions to humanitarian and development issues and creative partnerships. Ideally, this person will have experience in emergency response and rapid expansion of activities and support functions.
Engage with country level Ethics and Assurance focal points and global Ethics and Compliance department to track and manage individual cases of Fraud and Corruption, Safeguarding, and analyze trends, and ensure that adequate risk management systems are in place
Liaise with the Regional Security Advisor, Senior Director of Global Security, and Regional Director on crucial events, high-risk periods, incident reporting and security policy changes
SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervisory Responsibility: Guatemala Senior Program Manager; Guatemala Operations Officer; Guatemala HR Office; Guatemala Finance and Compliance Manager; Central America Program Development and Reporting Manager
Reports Directly To: LAC Regional Director
Works Directly With: Deputy Regional Director - Programs, Deputy Regional Director - Operations, Technical Director, Regional Program Team, International Finance and Grants Compliance, People team, Ethics and Compliance, Global Media and Communications, Global Policy and Advocacy, Emergency Response Team.
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
8-10 years of field experience in international relief and development programs, including demonstrable success in managing humanitarian, rural development, and complex development programs.
Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country governments, private sector, INGO, NGO, local partners, and other stakeholders.
Proven skills in financial and grants management; prior experience with USAID, USAID/BHA, DOS/PRM, ECHO, UN agencies, private donors, and grant management is preferred.
The successful Central America Director will skillfully represent programmatic priorities and ideas to donors and regional partners while providing effective leadership to the Mercy Corps program team. There is a significant emphasis on new business development for both the Guatemala program and new programs across Central America, and hence a successful Director will be able to help stimulate new and winning program ideas based on their own experience or initiatives proposed by team members and/or local partners and allies. They will have high emotional intelligence, sound judgment, experience developing and maintaining deep partnerships with local partners, and proven experience with capacity building and will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in dynamic and quickly-evolving environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Guatemala, and it requires up to 40% travel to support programs and expanding operations in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.
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.
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.