Please note, this position is subject to donor funding!

Будь ласка, надсилайте свої резюме: Business Support Coordinator (Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Mykolaiv) | Mercy Corps Ukraine

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.

Since the escalation of the war in 2022, Mercy Corps Ukraine has supported more than 950,000 conflict-affected people in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. We have provided cash assistance, food and hygiene kits, and psychosocial support for people in emergency situations; grants for micro, small and medium businesses, as well as small to medium farming enterprises; and conducted large-scale information campaigns. Notably, nearly all our programming is delivered in partnership with civil society organizations matching humanitarian action with capacity strengthening and a real commitment to localization.

The Program/Department Summary:

Enhancing resilience is at the heart of what Mercy Corps does and how we work. Mercy Corps strengthens sources of resilience to enhance the capacities of people, markets, and institutions to handle shocks, reduce risk, build more equitable and responsive systems, and improve well-being. Through our programs, partnerships, and influence, we support communities to cope, adapt, and ultimately thrive.

The 3-year FCDO-funded Building Livelihoods and Opportunities for Optimised Markets (BLOOM) programme aims to provide resilience support (farm & off-farm) to improve the food security and self-reliance of vulnerable, war-affected households and communities by protecting and restoring their food production and livelihoods. BLOOM will address immediate livelihood needs and market barriers in conflict-affected oblasts utilising a push-pull approach: Track 1 provides direct support (push) where needed, while Track 2 supports and strengthens the market systems Ukrainians rely on most both in and out of crisis (pull). Track 1 strengthens the resilience of vulnerable populations, helping them cope and adapt within ongoing crisis. This includes farm and off-farm cash grants, capacity strengthening, and protection services. These efforts, delivered in partnership with local actors, promote equity by enabling vulnerable households to transition from meeting immediate needs to economic self-reliance (Outcome 1). Track 2 complements Track 1 with “pull” mechanisms to improve quality and responsiveness of the social and economic systems communities rely on. A Market Systems Diagnostic will identify systemic barriers that hinder micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises’ (MSME) resilience and growth. The programme’s Growth and Resilience Opportunity Facility (GRO Facility) will offer a suite of customised support for local actors, including a Challenge Fund, to pilot inclusive business models and catalyse local investment. By integrating real-time learning from Track 1, the Diagnostic will inform evidence-based, targeted solutions to meet Ukraine’s evolving recovery needs (Outcome 2).

General Position Summary:

The Business Support Coordinator is part of Track 2 implementation team and is responsible to support identification of key systemic barriers that hinder micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises’ resilience and growth. He/She is will also support in designing the pilot interventions that will strengthen market linkages, fostering private sector engagement and ensuring inclusive economic growth that will result in creation of sustainable economic opportunities for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable groups. This role is crucial in ensuring that program interventions are not just providing direct assistance but also enabling market-driven solutions that contribute to long-term resilience and economic self-sufficiency. He/She at the same time should promote Mercy Corps values through various entry points in the project and preserve staff moral and enthusiasm for the programme’s work.

Essential Responsibilities

Safeguarding Responsibilities

Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Design:

Support in designing interventions according to the objectives and strategy of the project:

Support in identification of key systemic barriers affecting MSME resilience and growth.
Facilitate engagement with businesses, key market actors, and service providers to identify opportunities for systemic improvements that benefit both program participants and the broader market ecosystem.
Support the design of targeted pilot initiatives that can be supported via GRO facility to enhance market linkages and economic opportunities.

Implementation:

Under the leadership of Track 2 Lead, ensure smooth implementation of the activities envisaged under this component of the programme implementation, including various market assessments, mapping of market actors, identification of market entry points and opportunities, etc.
Oversee the selection, vetting, follow-up monitoring and impact assessments of the projects funded through GRO facility, ensuring investments align with market demand and growth potential.
Prepare and execute grant agreements with programme participants, control utilization of the funds as per signed the agreements.
Manage and coordinate relationships and contracts with contracted partners, undertake regular monitoring and provide strategic guidance and oversight.

Coordination:

Ensure program activities promote economic inclusion, particularly for vulnerable groups, and facilitate connections with relevant market actors and financial services, by closely coordinating with GESI and Protection teams.
In coordination with the Monitoring and Result Measurement team, design and implement a monitoring plan for interventions under Track 2 using results chains, and assist in relevant analysis and assessments.
Closely liaise with Track 1 to align on programme’s overall objectives and to identify linkages and opportunities for cooperation.
Maintain strong working relationships within Mercy Corps and with external organizations to enhance program effectiveness and scalability.
Coordinate the implementation of Track 2 activities with the local implementing partner organizations.
Coordinate with local authorities, industry associations, and other partners to support program goals.
Collaboration with various stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector actors, NGOs, and international organizations.

Knowledge Management:

Initiate information dissemination and outreach activities to ensure active participation and engagement of the programme participants.
Contribute to knowledge products with information and by coordinating necessary research and analysis
Contribute to knowledge sharing and learning as a strategic tool for the project to reach impact and scale.

Operational:

Organize a filing system for this programme component in and ensure supporting documentation is in place.
Document intervention strategies, concept notes and monitoring data for interventions.
Have oversight on the overall portfolio of interventions under Track 2, over budget planning, monitoring and reporting.
Perform other tasks as requested by the programme management.

Team Management:

Develop and ensure capacity strengthening plans are used to mentor and coach staff to build their capacity.
Foster a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
Lead a team across the whole process of farm and off-farm grant recipients identification, vetting, grants disbursement, follow-up monitoring and impact evaluation.

Accountability to participants and stakeholders

Collaborate with Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism (CARM) staff members to strengthen systems to promote accountability to participants and communities.
Support programme participants to understand their rights and are comfortable to provide feedback to Mercy Corps.
Ensure Track-2 activities in the respective area are gender sensitive and in adherence with Mercy Corps’ and FCDO Gender Policies.
Apply Do No Harm standards to ensure that Track 2 activities implemented in the respective area do not have adverse effects on communities.
Support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners during implementation of the programme.

Supervisory Responsibility Line manages Business Support Officers.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Track 2 Lead

Works Directly With: Track 1 Lead and Livelihoods Coordinators, Track 2 Lead and staff members, partner organisation representatives.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our programme 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

Advanced university degree in economics, public/business administration, or other related field.
At least 7 years of overall working experience, including at least 3 years of work experience applying a Market Systems Development Approach.
Understanding of resilience and livelihoods interventions in the Ukrainian context with a focus on durable solutions for conflict-affected populations using market systems development approaches.
Thematic experience in agriculture, livelihoods programming, private sector in the Ukrainian context preferred.
Experience with market assessments, analytical tools and working with private sector partners is considered an advantage.
Experience in managing multi-functional teams.
Experience in programme management and elaboration and implementation of the project tools and systems.
Proficiency in Ukrainian and English required.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs required.
Good communication, presentation and reporting skills.
Certification in Market Systems Development (e.g. from Springfield Centre) will be an advantage.
Small business / micro-finance / budget management qualification will be an advantage.
Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in humanitarian response preferred.

Success Factors:

The successful candidate will demonstrate high-level communication skills, effectively conveying ideas and collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders. Strong time management and prioritisation abilities will be essential for handling multiple tasks efficiently while maintaining productivity. Effective interpersonal skills will enable the candidate to build and maintain professional relationships, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment. A keen attention to detail will ensure accuracy and precision in all aspects of the role. While self-motivation and the capacity to work independently are essential, the ability to collaborate effectively within a team is equally important. The ideal candidate will possess a solutions-oriented mindset with a strong focus on achieving results, ensuring the ability to analyse challenges and implement effective solutions independently.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

During the field trips living conditions will be adjusted to the field conditions.

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 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 Ethics 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 (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

Please note, this position is subject to donor funding!

Тільки попередньо відібрані кандидати будуть запрошені на співбесіду.

Ласкаво запрошуємо осіб з інвалідністю та ветеранів відгукнутись на цю посаду.

Mercy Corps створило робоче місце для працевлаштування осіб з інвалідністю та ветеранів, та належні умови праці для цієї вакансії, але це не обмежує коло осіб, які можуть подаватись на цю вакансію.

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