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Position Title: Director Gender and Youth Associate Award
Location: Washington DC
Country: United States
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
Mercy Corps is an organization dedicated to alleviating poverty, suffering, and oppression while working to build secure, productive, and just communities across more than 40 countries worldwide. The organization is driven by the belief that a better world is possible and emphasizes the importance of diversity within its teams to enhance long-term impact. Mercy Corps' Program Department supports field-led initiatives that deliver measurable results, and its Technical Resources and Quality Unit (TRaQ) plays a crucial role in ensuring that global teams apply effective solutions to the world's toughest challenges. The TRaQ Unit is composed of subject matter experts who contribute to advancing technical excellence, thereby enhancing Mercy Corps' impact, innovation, and influence globally.

Job Overview:
The Director Gender and Youth Associate Award will oversee the IDEAL Associate Award focused on Gender and Youth Capacity Building, Learning, and Small Grants. This position is integral to the GAYA program, which is a five-year initiative with a budget of $8.8 million aimed at strengthening the technical and operational capacity of implementing partners associated with USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. The Director will provide strategic vision and leadership, guiding the team in identifying gaps, testing new approaches, and building capacities to improve Nutrition" id="link" class="link">Food and Nutrition security while addressing inequalities. The role requires collaboration with various stakeholders and a commitment to integrating gender and youth perspectives into programming.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Director will lead technical discussions with USAID representatives, ensuring quality results across all components of the Associate Award. Responsibilities include coordinating with BHA and IDEAL, utilizing innovative methods to harvest effective practices, and developing guidance for new programs. The Director will implement a small grants program to address gender and youth knowledge gaps, ensure cross-cutting principles are integrated, and maintain an adaptive staffing structure. Additionally, the Director will track progress across workstreams, analyze feedback from implementing partners, and develop knowledge Management Systems to capture learning and inform programming. The role also involves representing Mercy Corps in Food Security networks and fostering relationships with implementing partners.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree at the Master's level or above, as per USAID requirements. A minimum of 10 years of experience managing gender and age issues, food and Nutrition Security programming, and organizational learning in various contexts is essential. At least five years of direct experience supporting gender and/or age activities is required, along with strong knowledge of integrating Gender Equality and Positive Youth Development into programming. Experience with food and nutrition security programming, particularly related to BHA, is necessary. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to liaise with donor agencies, think strategically in challenging environments, and provide capacity building within teams and government partners.

Educational Background:
An advanced degree at the Master's level or above (M.A., M.S., MPP, MPA, MBA, or Ph.D.) is required for this position, as stipulated by USAID. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of gender and youth issues within the context of food and nutrition security programming.

Experience:
The position requires at least 10 years of experience in managing gender and age issues, food and nutrition security programming, and organizational learning. Candidates should have a minimum of five years of direct experience supporting gender and/or age activities, demonstrating a strong understanding of the relevant frameworks and practices.

Languages:
Fluency in French and/or Spanish is preferred, in addition to proficiency in English. These language skills will enhance communication with diverse stakeholders and facilitate effective program implementation in various contexts.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and involves supervisory responsibilities, including managing the Mercy Corps Technical Advisor for Research and Learning, Gender Advisor, and Program Officer. The Director will also have matrix management responsibilities with other advisors and teams. The role emphasizes safeguarding responsibilities, requiring the Director to actively learn about safeguarding practices and integrate them into their work. The position is based in Washington DC, and the deadline for applications has not been specified.