United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Senior Talent Acquisition Advisor, Europe location tbd

Deadline to apply: October 16th, 2015

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Poverty. Conflict. Disaster. These are the global challenges that we’ve been responding to since 1979, helping more than 258 million people survive emergencies and build back better. When a natural disaster strikes, an economy collapses, or conflict erupts, Mercy Corps is there. We respond immediately to meet urgent needs for food, water and shelter, and stay beyond the emergency to partner with communities for their long-term recovery. Our network of professionals in more than 40 countries literally speaks the language – 93 percent of our field staff are from the country where they work – giving them unique insight into what will move communities from relief to recovery and ultimately toward resilience. We believe even in the world’s most challenging places, people have the power to transform their own lives when they have the right resources. Growing more food, earning higher incomes, advocating for their needs – we leverage their local logic to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions that build stronger communities.

See a video on who we are here.

The Mercy Corps Talent Acquisition (TA) Team’s mandate is to identify exceptional team members to advance Mercy Corps’ mission of productive secure and just communities. As part of the Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness (LOE) Team, the Talent Acquisition Team is committed to delivering and maintaining optimum recruitment support to internal clients throughout the agency. The aim of the LOE team is to attract, develop, retain and support Mercy Corps’s global talent. The goal of the TA team is to ensure that Mercy Corps has a diverse, high performing, global team, whose talents are consistent with Mercy Corps’ strategic business needs.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

We are seeking a high energy individual who is an exceptional relationship-builder and has a creative approach to sourcing talent. The Senior Talent Acquisition Advisor (STA) will work as part of the high-functioning Global Talent Acquisition team to strengthen our presence in the European and African diaspora market and our reputation as an employer-of-choice aligned with the European growth strategy. S/he will also initiate and maintain talent pipelines and other strategic initiatives to improve Mercy Corps’ talent acquisition process. Additionally, this role would provide input to ensure Mercy Corps has diverse global talent that performs at a high level and is sensitive to the changing strategic and technical needs of the organization. S/he will handle a recruitment portfolio during peak seasons and emergency responses ensuring we are able to meet the talent needs as quickly as possible. S/he will implement industry “best practices” that ensure the timely selection of top talent, and recruit for talent that will support Mercy Corps’ organizational culture, while perpetuating Mercy Corps’ position as an employer of choice.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Strategy

• Contribute to the development of “people” within the agency by actively participating in initiatives led by LOE team.


• Advance the agency’s aim to have a global team that is representative of the places where we work, focusing on leadership positions.


• Develop and implement a strategy to expand our employment brand in Europe with focus on French speaking talent


• Track and identify cutting edge trends and best practices in Global recruitment practices.

Influence (Outreach) and Networking

• Build key relationship with talent sources in Europe


• Coordinate closely with Mercy Corps Europe team and leverage their outreach effort to support TA


• Assist in promoting Mercy Corps’ brand as an employer of choice by attending events as appropriate, promoting through social media, and developing talent communities


• Strengthen Mercy Corps employment brand in Europe, as employer of choice in new markets with European face-to-face representation at talent networks, key industry events, and strategic institutions.


• Identify and attend targeted talent and recruitment events to stay atop of trends and influence thinking in the development sector (ie specific relief and development industry and donor related events).


• Leverage other Mercy Corps globalization efforts in Europe to incorporate talent outreach specifically leverage existing on-going representation efforts through coordination

Strategic Initiatives

• Develop and manage talent pipelines in support of future business needs with designated internal stakeholder


• Coordinate closely on the University Talent Strategy.


• Support Talent Management efforts in career discussions with internal talent.


• Lead several projects designed to improve the efficiency and impact of the TA function.

Surge/Emergency Response Recruitment

• Engage in the recruiting, sourcing and identification of talent including proactive discussions with regional and country management for succession planning, retention and recruitment for proposals.


• Provide responsive, high-quality service to candidates with additional care for internal or former team members.


• Execute full lifecycle talent acquisition activities to support the TA team during peak seasons, (summer, emergency response) across 40+ countries, multiple disciplines and levels within the relief and development field as needed.


• Work collaboratively within the TA team and ensure candidate activity is current in weekly reports and the Applicant Tracking System.

Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve – we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Senior Director, Global Talent

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Talent Acquisition Team, LOE, Program Team, Senior Leadership Team, MC Europe Senior Team

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in human resources, business administration, social science or relevant field.


• At least 5 + years of experience with recruitment/talent acquisition with a minimum of 2 years in the relief and development context strongly preferred including senior level searches.


• Advanced experience with successful sourcing strategies including social media for globally representative and diverse candidates.


• Success in design and implementing employment brand initiatives and building talent pipelines.


• Demonstrated experience and ability to create, implement, maintain and improve recruitment strategies and systems in a high-volume context.


• Ability to communicate effectively across diverse cultures and geographical distances with sensitivity.


• Experience with an Applicant Tracking System.


• Experience managing/leading projects preferred.


• Understanding of employment laws, practices and concepts.


• Excellent English and French language skills, both oral and written required.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful Senior Talent Acquisition Advisor will be proactive in developing and maintaining productive professional relationships with a broad spectrum of stakeholders within the organization and throughout the international relief and development community. S/he will possess the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously, while remaining focused on the quality of internal and external relationships. S/he will be able to work effectively as a member of a highly visible team whose performance is key to the enduring success of Mercy Corps. S/he will be flexible, resilient, possess sound judgment and have a good sense of humor.

LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

This position is based in Europe (location tbd) work on weekends and evenings may be required. Up to 30% travel is anticipated primarily within Europe but also to countries where we operate. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency 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 local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.