Director (Regional HR Business Partner)
Mercy Corps
Job Description
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.
The Department
The People Team ensures that Mercy Corps has the people who will enable it to be a world-class, cutting edge, humanitarian, and development organization, creating transformational change in the world. We do this through the recruitment, retention, and development of the best global talent. Our aim is to drive strategic thinking and planning at all levels of the organization; create a robust body of research to guide us internally and externally and steward the organizational culture. To achieve this, we align conversations on learning; keep the organization focused on what has the greatest impact; leverage our comparative advantages in the crowded and competitive international relief and development landscape; and assure we are constantly learning from our work and the external environment.
The Position
The Director, Regional HR Business Partner, is responsible for leading and managing the Human Resources function for the Middle East Region. The Director, HRBP works closely with Regional Senior Leadership to understand the needs and objectives of the Country Programs to develop and implement HR strategies and initiatives that support the regional strategy and contextual needs of individual Country Programs, while remaining aligned with Mercy Corps’ global strategy.
Essential Responsibilities
- Advocates for and represents all areas of Mercy Corps’ People strategy. Actively participate as a strategic leader and member of the Regional senior leadership team with input, oversight, and accountability for the HRBP and Employee Relations functions.
- Work with the Regional Director and the Chief People Officer to guide the overall vision and approach of the People Team, delivering clear actionable plans aligned with program needs and the regional context, and gain support/ownership for that agenda with key stakeholders in the Region.
- Strategically develops and manages cross-departmental and cross-functional relationships and activities to ensure that the Human Resource function is well integrated into wider agency objectives.
- Developing capabilities of country HR teams and providing them with guidance and support to ensure that they are effectively carrying out their responsibilities.
- Providing guidance and support to managers and team members on a wide range of HR-related topics, such as performance management, employee development, All Voices survey and leadership development
- In collaboration with the Middle East Regional Leadership team, Country Directors, and other People team functions like Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Leadership and Learning, People Operations and Total Rewards identifies areas of opportunity to develop and implement programs that foster employee engagement and success for the region.
- Leverages and supports ongoing communication campaigns to strengthen the Global Human Resource team brand throughout appropriate digital, social media and in-person avenues within the agency. Apply lessons learned and best practices to achieve this objective at the country and regional level.
- Partner with the Employee Relations Team to ensure strategic decision-making and compliance in all performance and conduct related issues.
- Leverage Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Leadership and Learning, and Total Rewards to develop and implement programs which foster employee engagement and success.
- Leading and assisting in the development and planning of organizational change/transformation, leading identification/framing of problems, creation of trusting relationships, action plan fulfillment.
- Working with the HR leadership team to develop and implement organization-wide HR policies and programs and ensuring that they are consistently applied across the region.
- Analyzing HR data and metrics to identify trends and areas for improvement and providing recommendations to senior leadership on how to address any issues or concerns.
- Actively promoting the organization's diversity and inclusion initiatives and working with the HR team to develop programs and initiatives that support a diverse and inclusive workplace.
- In addition to these specific responsibilities, the Director, Regional HR Business Partner must possess strong leadership skills, excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, and a deep understanding of HR best practices and regulations. They must also be able to work effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment and be able to adapt to changing business needs and priorities.
Supervisory Responsibility:
Regional SR. HRBP, Country HR leaders (Co-Supervisor with CD)
**Accountability:
Report directly to**: Regional Director, and the Chief People Officer
Works directly with: Country Directors, Country SMTs, Regional SMTs, Total Rewards, Talent Management, Leadership and Learning, Talent Acquisition, Employee Relations, People Operations, People Systems, Corporate Finance; Ethics, Legal and other teams as needed.
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 Qualifications & Transferable Skills
- 10 years of Human Resources experience in global roles with a bachelor’s degree in HR or related field.
- A minimum of 5 years international experience.
- Exposure to INGO Programming, Country Operations is highly preferable.
- Experience leading a diverse team across geographies.
- Demonstrated capacity to utilize analytics and technology to improve efficiency.
- Demonstrated capacity to incorporate best in class assessment approaches in global organization.
- Demonstrated experience and ability to create, implement, maintain, and improve HR processes.
- Demonstrated understanding of working in Middle East, and significant experience with the challenges of operating and managing HR functions in the region.
- Demonstrated passion for staffing in international relief and development environments.
- Ability to communicate and problem-solve effectively across diverse cultures with sensitivity.
- Experience facilitating senior level conversations.
- Fluency in Arabic strongly preferred.
Success Factors
The successful team member will be an avid learner, self-directed, innovative and action orientated. Furthermore, they must have the ability to work independently, employ effective time management skills, handle frequent interruptions, and shift priorities, exhibit effective customer service skills, and work effectively with a wide variety of individuals including team members based overseas. They will have the ability to work onsite and collaborate with team members, deliver compelling designs within the guidelines of specific project objectives, and interact professionally and productively with HQ and other global staff. Additionally, the individual will thrive in a fast-paced environment prone to rapid change and be willing to increase his/her responsibility level in the assigned areas. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a positive approach, a strong commitment to teamwork and personal accountability and the ability to be flexible and ensure that effective communication is a priority in all situations.
Living / Environmental Conditions:
This position is based in Mercy Corps Office or any Mercy Corps location in Middle East. It requires up to 30% Regional travel in support of Mercy Corps programs. This position may be asked to travel on occasion with little notice.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the organization both during and outside of 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.
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 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 based on 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 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 Inter organization 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.