ICT Specialist Economic Development

Position Title: ICT Business Specialist
Location: Gaza Office
Duration: One Year with possibility of extension.
Department: Information & Communication Technology 

Mercy Corps is a non-profit, non-governmental international humanitarian and development organization, registered in the United States and Scotland with offices in more than 40 countries around the world, including the West Bank and Gaza, where the organization has been active in implementing relief and development programs for over a decade.  Mercy Corps ‘West Bank and Gaza’ has staff based in East Jerusalem and Gaza City offices that implement programs throughout the Palestinian territories.

Mercy Corps has implemented ICT sector development programs in Palestinian Occupied Territories since 2006, with an overall goal to contribute to the expansion and development of the knowledge-based economy in Palestine. Mercy Corps will start implementing a wider economic development program which will include many sectors with focus on utilizing ICT as a business development tool. The program is implemented in Gaza Strip, through and in cooperation with local partners that have relevant experience in education, accelerated learning, e-content development and ICT Software development.


Main Responsibilities:

A-Program Planning, Implementation and Development

-Develop the Palestinian ICT professionals’ technical, marketing and business skills through structured training and internships.
-Improve the quality of the services offered by the Palestinian ICT Companies though capacity building and quality certifications and provision of BDS support. 
-Increase market access though promoting the Palestinian ICT sector capabilities to the regional and international market and organizing structures B2B meetings and networking events.
-Improve the likelihood for Palestinian entrepreneurs to establish high growth ICT companies through entrepreneurship and business training and provisions of financial and technical resources for viable business concepts. Especially for the Arabic e-content development.
-Ensure timely implementation of the programs to the high standards delivering the highest possible quality.
-Ensure all program activities are implemented in accordance with technical and budgetary requirements including compliance with Mercy Corps and donor requirements.
-Work cooperatively with Mercy Corps staff, local community, partner NGOs, PA bodies and other parties.
-Conduct regular field visits to the project sites, and ensure regular coordination meetings with the partners.
-Ensure that accurate and up-to date programmatic documentation is maintained.
-In cooperation with the Designing & monitoring evaluation department, ensure that relevant evaluation strategies are implemented in a timely and high quality manner, and that all outcomes of activities are met.
-Issue regular reports on project implementation/ progress to the Senior Program Manager, and prepare draft reports and other project documentation required by donors. 
-Generating verbal and written translations of pertinent project documentation as needed/required.

B. Other Duties
-Performance of work beyond normal office hours as required, without additional compensation.
-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.
-Any other duties as required by the Program Director.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
The ICT business specialist is responsible for directing the works of Program Officers to best meet objectives.
ACCOUNTABILITY
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Senior Program Manager
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: HR, Admin, Finance and Procurement staff, Designing & monitoring evaluation department as well as staff of other programs implemented in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
   
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
1-University degree in ICT field of study.
2-At least 5 years of work experience in the field ICT Business management, Business development with ICT business involvement, or any similar field of work with supporting profile.
3-Candidates must not have any restrictions in movement in / out of Gaza, as the work might involve occasional overseas travel
4-Excellent speaking and writing skills in English and Arabic.
5-Proficiency in MS Office.

SUCCESS FACTORS:
1-Excellent communication and coordination skills, with strong personality.
2-Excellent planning and administration skills.
3-Initiative, self-reliant and cooperative.
4-Excellent time and organizational management skills.
5-Excellent ability to work under pressure and carry out multiple tasks.
 

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit a one page cover letter and their CV by e-mail to”
[email protected]  no later than Sunday, November 07, 2010.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Please indicate in the email subject; ICT Specialist Economic Development.
No application will be accepted if the email subject is not mentioned in the email subject line.
Please apply separate application for each position you are interested in.