Description

** Note this opportunity is restricted to the current AMT LAC and HQMA team due to team structure update

Salary: US: hiring range starting at USD64,000; UK: hiring range starting GBP44,320 - commensurate on professional experience and internal equity

Closing date: please submit application by end of day Wednesday May 6

Supervisory Responsibility

Award Management Officers

Budget Management Responsibility

none

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.

Position Summary

The Awards Management Team (AMT) works in lockstep with Mercy Corps’ country teams to ensure they have the resources, tools, and information they need to succeed in the implementation of high-quality programs across three areas by:

1. Stewarding award management from kick-off to close out, supporting adherence to donor requirements, aligning donor contractual deliverables with internal program quality and compliance standards to deliver program impact, resolving compliance issues, and promoting knowledge management;

2. Contributing to strategic new business development by identifying new funding opportunities, supporting high-quality program design, and leading submission efforts aligned with donor requirements; and

3. Serving as liaison between Mercy Corps' program teams and their most critical relationships with internal and external stakeholders

The AMT Manager supports the implementation of the strategic direction set by the AMT Lead, ensuring impactful, high-quality programming support for their assigned portfolio within LAC/HQMA. The AMT Manager works closely with country teams and is an essential member of the AMT structure. They serve as a headquarters (HQ) focal point for supporting country programs in program and award management, connecting the field to Global and Regional resources, and representing specific country/award interests internally and externally. They provide day-to-day supervision, management, and mentorship to a team of Award Management Officers, ensuring quality work and fostering a cohesive team dynamic under the overall guidance of the AMT Lead.

Essential Responsibilities

Team Management (Day-to-Day Supervision):

• Provide day-to-day supervision and performance management for assigned Award Management Officers
• Develop the capacity of direct reports, deepen understanding of their roles, and assist with career development.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback through regular one-on-ones and performance reviews for direct reports.
• Check the quality and timeliness of direct reports' work.
• Contribute to a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Participate in hiring and lead orientation for direct reports, under the guidance of the AMT Lead.

Portfolio Management & Award Administration:

• Provide award administration and portfolio management to assigned portfolio, and support in the division of portfolio responsibilities across LAC/HQMA AMT
• Identify and assess award and compliance risks associated with program implementation
• Work with AMT Officers to ensure key award management processes are implemented and on track
• Support resolution of day-to-day award and compliance issues with Award Management Officers; escalate complex compliance issues to the AMT Lead
• Support country teams’ adherence to donor regulations.
• Ensure timely review and submission of high-quality narrative reports across portfolio, providing and assigning additional support across Award Management Officers as needed
• Ensure Mercy Corps knowledge management systems (e.g., Grant Award Information Tracker) are kept up-to-date and accurate for the assigned portfolio.

Business Development Support:

• Support proposal development efforts, providing guidance to Officers on proposal development efforts and collaborating with the AMT Lead, Regional Business Development Advisors, and Institutional Donor Engagement teams.
• As needed, review final proposal drafts for coherence, quality, and alignment with donor requirements; manage submission to the donor
• Support pre-positioning efforts in close coordination with the Team Lead, including early engagement with partners and stakeholders to strengthen competitiveness in business development
• As needed, provide proposal writing support
• As needed, ensure all proposals meet internal quality standards and donor requirements through thorough review and quality assurance processes
• Identify contractual risks in proposals and support the development of mitigation strategies.

Coordination, Representation & Learning:

• Coordinate the flow of information related to the assigned portfolio between country programs, the Awards Management Team, relevant Global and Regional departments, and donors.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with country offices, resolving operational issues and maintaining regular contact regarding specific awards.
• Represent specific award/country interests with internal stakeholders and operational external stakeholders (e.g., specific donor contacts for active awards), supporting the AMT Lead in higher-level representation as needed. May undertake specific donor representation based on location (e.g., Europe).
• Ensure field teams are aware of and utilize relevant Mercy Corps resources, tools, and best practices.
• Support the implementation of new awards management policies, procedures, and systems developed by leadership.

Any other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

● Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information clearly and concisely for various audiences.

● A detail-oriented, multi-tasker who is able to communicate clearly and work under pressure.

● A problem solver, adept in successfully dealing with issues of complexity.

● Proven ability to build and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with diverse internal teams and external stakeholders across different cultures and time zones.  

● Demonstrated ability to provide effective day-to-day supervision, mentorship, and coaching to direct reports, fostering their capacity development and promoting accountability.

● Adept at identifying, analyzing, and supporting the resolution of complex issues related to award management and program implementation.

● Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, track deadlines, and ensure timely completion of tasks for self and direct reports.

● A robust sense of humor is greatly appreciated.

● A demonstrable passion for, and a clear empathy with, the organization’s aims and values.

Required Education and Experience

● Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field.

● 5+ years of professional experience in international relief and development, including experience with award management, compliance, and program management. Field-based experience is a plus, ideally in LAC/HQMA

● Demonstrated experience supporting proposal development (support and writing) with various donors, particularly government donors (e.g., US Government, European donors), private foundations, and corporations.

● Experience representing an organization with operational external stakeholders such as donors, government officials, and partners.

● Experience with monitoring and evaluation and other learning efforts.

● Proven ability to lead, manage, mentor, and develop individuals and teams (day-to-day supervision).

● Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.

● Proficiency with MS Office software (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

● Fluency in English required. Spanish language skills preferred.

Travel & Environmental Conditions

This position may require up to 10% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/short term assignment to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times 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

Team Engagement and Effectiveness 

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Safeguarding & Ethics

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.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).