Deputy Chief of Party

Location: West Bank and Jerusalem

Position Status: Full-time, Regular employment

Salary Level: 7A

Duration: One year with a possibility of extension

About Mercy Corps

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.

Program

Positive Youth Engagement (PYE) is a seven-year multi-sectoral Youth Activity designed to address the core issues of Palestinian youth development. The PYE activity will reach vulnerable and marginalized youth aged 10-24 at risk of social marginalization in deprived areas and private universities where they live by improving education, health, employment, community involvement (reintegration) and other needs as identified through drivers' assessments.

The activity’s goal is to transform vulnerable youth into productive, contributing citizens who are connected to their communities by increasing opportunities for Palestinian youth to realize their potential and to effectively contribute to social and economic development. Following are the main themes of the PYE:

• Core programming that supports, protects, prepares, and engages youth in safe spaces located within a strong network of more than 80 CBOs throughout the West Bank. 
• Tailored packages of activities, resources, and referrals that will set youth on individually selected pathways building on the core curriculum to increase opportunities for youth to effectively contribute to social and economic development.
• Opportunities for sustained community engagement and leadership through youth-led pathways and councils, community and social media campaigns, and mentorship of subsequent cohorts as part of sustainable community youth networks.
• Improve opportunities for learning and individual empowerment for youth in grades 7-12 through the network of safe spaces.
• Expand safe spaces through 11 local universities career centers to reach youth ages 19-24 and offer the PYE core interventions including the Profound Stress and Attunement (PSA) approach and healthy wellbeing for youth, parents, and adult caretakers; learning activities (including the Passport To Success (PTS) and I:SERVE), youth pathways; and youth-led small-scale initiatives in addition to technology and innovation driven learning programs with a focus on STEAM, green solutions, and entrepreneurship.

General Position Summary

In close collaboration with the PYE Chief of Party (CoP), the Deputy Chief of Party (DcoP) will provide technical guidance and management to the PYE core team members to ensure effective and timely implementation of the program in line with the Award, the Program Performance Plan (PMP), budgets, internal systems, and resources available at the levels of the program, partner organizations, and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) that are hosting the safe spaces as well as Career Centers across 11 private universities in the West Bank.  

The DCoP will supervise program staff under two main components of the program (Youth Pathways, Youth Wellbeing) as well as the Gender and Social Inclusion Senior Specialist, and the Reporting and Communications team. Further, the DcoP will work closely with the teams on the Non-Formal Education, the Universities’ Career Centers, and the Learning and Capacity Strengthening components. The DCoP will manage a pool of selected partners and service providers that implement programmatic activities in safe spaces in communities and in the universities’ career centers. Further, manage the implementation of the internships program with a focus on providing youth with advanced training linked to employment opportunities in the private sector.

Essential Job Responsibilities

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

• Support the CoP in the implementation of related interventions in line with the mandate of the program. Ensure program implementation is on time, and according to the target and budget, using effective MEL systems to reach desired impacts.
• Manage the technical components on the Youth Pathways and Youth Wellbeing, Gender and Social Inclusion, Communications and Reporting, and private sector engagement through the internship program among other interventions —ensuring that they are properly executed, responsive to changing program requirements, and results-oriented.
• Work closely with the teams on the Learning and Capacity Strengthening component, Non-Formal Education, and Universities’ Career Centers to ensure mainstreaming of related interventions, activities, resources, and tools from these components to the main Youth Pathways and Youth Wellbeing components and vice versa.
• The DCoP will manage a pool of selected partners and service providers that implement programmatic activities in safe spaces in communities and in the universities’ career centers.
• In coordination with the CoP, ensure implementation and operational policies and procedures are in place for the program that are in alignment with the Award guidelines and other donor guidelines, staying abreast of changes in the regulatory environment related to Donor compliance, update policies and procedures as necessary.
• Manage key interventions across partner organizations and service providers and other implementers with a focus on technical priorities.
• Provide support to the CoP to develop annual work plans, monitoring and evaluation of the program, and reporting management.
• In coordination with the MEL team, ensure processes and achievements are documented to ensure best practices are captured and disseminated.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into PYE activities as appropriate. Certify all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and program participant accountability standards.
• Support and provide input on the work of program consultants.
• Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, and administration, teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Assist team members with information, tools, and resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews for relevant teams and staff members.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Support the hiring of new staff members in coordination with the CoP and the HR team.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging program participant communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility

The DcoP will directly manage the Youth Pathways Component, Youth Wellbeing Component, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Specialist, and the Communications and Reporting team. Additionally, the DCoP will be working closely with the Advisors on the Learning component, Non-Formal Education, Universities’ Career Centers, the MEL team, and Safe Spaces Specialist. Further, manage a pool of partner organizations that are implementing the program’s activities in the community-based safe spaces and universities’ career centers. The DCoP will manage the private sector engagement efforts mainly the internship program.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: PYE Chief of Party

Works Directly With: Finance, compliance, and Operations teams, Partner Organizations, Safe Spaces in the communities, and Career Centers at the selected private universities, MercyCorps Regional and Global Teams mainly the Technical Support Unit.

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

Knowledge and Experience

• Master’s degree in equivalent experience in youth development, social or political science, management, or public administration international development or other relevant field to youth development programming. Applicants with other academic track records who bring a

strong track record of work (including at least 10 years of relevant youth development programming experience) may also be considered.

• A minimum of 10 years of overall experience managing donor-funded programs in Palestine-specific experience strongly preferred.
• Technical experience in youth development focusing on innovation, preparedness to enter the labor market, and healthy wellbeing development and systems approaches preferred.
• Successful track record of managing and implementing donor-funded technical assistance programs.
• Demonstrate ability to build and maintain relationships with donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners. Knowledge of the Palestinian context and key Palestinian stakeholders, as well as work experience in the Palestinian context, is strongly preferred.
• Fluent verbal and written communication skills in Arabic and excellent verbal and written English is required.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members and other stakeholders of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. This position requires an ability to think creatively about changing norms that lead to greater opportunities for economic growth at household, community, and institutional levels. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem solving, work within a complex and sensitive setting and to follow laws and security protocols. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position is based in Ramallah, Palestine, and requires constant movement between West bank cities. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, and values always and in all in-country venues.

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 a 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.

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 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 always adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Qualified people with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online HERE no later than 3:00 pm November 6, 2023.  Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Please apply separate applications for each position you are interested in.