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 Program / Department / Team
The Talent Acquisition People Team at Mercy Corps drives the organization's mission by attracting and retaining the talent we need to deliver our ambitious Pathways to Possibility strategy and Country Strategic Plans, through innovative sourcing, branding, and DEI-focused hiring practices. We prioritize safe recruiting and cultivate strong partnerships to access the best global talent, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Our strategic approach includes proactive planning, research and data-guided decision-making, and a commitment to aligning hiring culture with our organizational values and P2P commitments. Mercy Corps needs to compete for talent within a competitive international relief and development landscape and this role plays a critical role in ensuring we have a clear and compelling offer and ensure a positive candidate experience from end-to-end of the hiring process.
The Position
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Director of Talent Acquisition to help design and lead our Talent Acquisition Center of Excellence (COE) and drive our efforts to attract, assess, and select the talent we need to meet our evolving organizational needs, deliver our strategy and reflect our mission and values.
The Senior Director of Talent Acquisition (TA) will develop and implement a global talent acquisition strategy that aligns with the global People Team priorities in support of Mercy Corps’ transformative Pathways to Possibility (P2P) strategy, manage and develop a global team of talent acquisition professionals, and partner with key executives to develop talent and pipeline strategies. Key activities ensuring diverse high-quality hires, creating efficient hiring practices and marketing strategies that leverage recruitment technology and data analytics, sourcing for complex programs, and emergency recruitment.
Essential Responsibilities
STRATEGY AND VISION
Develop and implement intentional talent acquisition strategies ensuring effective and creative sourcing, evaluation, and selection of the most qualified and diverse global talent.
Collaborate with others to design and support the implementation of a fit-for-the-future Talent Acquisition strategy for Mercy Corps aligned with evolving needs, our mission, values and P2P commitments.
Collaborate closely with the Chief People Officer, other COEs, the VP People Team and the Regional HR Directors to guide the overall vision and approach to recruiting top talent, delivering clear actionable plans to achieve agreed TA priorities.
Develop appropriate metrics and tracking mechanisms, service-level agreements and other planning and measurement tools to build accountability and measure results, impact and cost-effectiveness of the hiring process and talent acquisition team.
Lead with a continuous improvement mindset, involving the talent acquisition team and hiring managers in identifying process improvements in our hiring practice that will reduce the time to fill and increase the quality of candidates/new hires, such as standardization of the hiring process and improved interviewing tools.
Provide strategic direction, talent acquisition expertise, and guidance to key stakeholders on strategic and emerging talent acquisition trends, benchmarks, and other talent acquisition issues.
Ensure that every new hire has a positive and professional recruitment experience by creating an exceptional experience at each step of the recruitment process, collaborating with other HR and organization leaders to assure a smooth orientation handoff from talent acquisition to the hiring teams.
TALENT ACQUISITION FUNCTIONS
Develop global standards and maintain talent acquisition processes that ensure quality and consistency in attracting, assessing, selecting, and hiring talent.
Foster a work environment of mutual respect, excellence, and continuous learning, where team members are empowered to thrive.
SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervisory Responsibility
Supervises a TA Manager and TA Technical Advisor. Will lead the strategic development of the TA Center of Excellence in partnership with the VP People Team and COE leads.
Reports Directly To: Chief People Officer
Works Directly With: People Team Leaders, Organizational Leadership, COE Directors & Regional HR Leads
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
Deep understanding of recruitment best practices, including candidate sourcing techniques, assessment methods, and employer branding strategies.
Demonstrated experience and expert ability to create, implement, maintain, and improve recruitment strategies and systems in a high-volume context.
A successful Senior Director of Talent Acquisition at Mercy Corps embodies forward-thinking, avid learning, innovation, and action-orientation. This individual thrives on collaborating with a globally diverse team, influencing within a global context, and contributing compelling ideas while adhering to project objectives. They excel in professional communication, interact productively with headquarters staff and global colleagues, and adapt swiftly to change in a fast-paced environment. Their positive approach, commitment to teamwork, personal accountability, and flexibility ensure effective communication is prioritized in all situations, ultimately contributing to Mercy Corps' mission of alleviating suffering, poverty, and oppression worldwide.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in any Mercy Corps Office location, and it requires limited travel (up to 10%) to support country programs and team support, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Some evenings/weekends may be required during emergency responses.
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 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.
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. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. 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 e-learning 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]). Covid-19 Vaccine Policy for US-Based Employees
Mercy Corps has determined that, in an effort to protect the health, safety, and well-being of all Mercy Corps employees working in the United States, all U.S.-based employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, regardless of prior COVID-19 infection status. This policy is necessary to ensure not only the safety of our workforce, but the ongoing functionality of the organization.
This policy will be revised as needed to comply with federal, state, and local requirements, and to respond to changing guidance from public health authorities.
For new employees this requirement goes into effect within 10 business days of employment. Team members that travel are expected to comply with host-country requirements, including vaccinations. Failure to comply may impact your employment. Proof of vaccination or exemption must be provided.
This position is no longer open.
