Location: Any Mercy Corps office location, with a preference for the Africa region
Position Status: Full-time, Regular
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.
Program / Department Summary
The Intake and Investigations Division is is tasked with the intake and investigation of all reports of ethics violations including fraud, corruption, and Code of Conduct and Global Human Resources complaints. The Division is responsible for managing all phases of the investigative process from intake to case closure. The Intake and Investigation Division resides within the Ethics and Compliance Department, which is led by the Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer.
General Position Summary
The Investigator, Safeguarding is responsible for conducting investigations into allegations of violations of Mercy Corps’ child safeguarding, sexual exploitation and abuse, anti-trafficking in persons, and sexual misconduct in the workplace policies. It is the role of the Investigator to ensure that Mercy Corps takes all reports of misconduct seriously and investigates thoroughly and impartially consistent with sector wide best practice, donor expectations and our commitment to a survivor-centered approach. The investigator will plan, conduct and prepare reports for assigned safeguarding investigations. The investigator may be supported by Co-Investigators, who are field-based team members trained to support but not lead investigations. Investigations will be conducted in the field and remotely; working in a variety of diverse cultural contexts and time zones.
Essential Job Responsibilities
- Effectively plan and execute impartial, thorough, timely and survivor-sensitive investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct, sexual abuse and exploitation, child abuse, and trafficking
- Develop and draft timely investigation plans that identify risks and prioritize a survivor-centered approach
- Conduct witness, survivor and subject interviews, both in person and remotely, in a survivor-sensitive manner
- Provide survivor-centered support to survivors and witnesses
- Identify, collect, and review documentary evidence needed for investigations
- Prepare detailed written investigation reports which may be subject to third party (donor) review
- Maintain organized, confidential, and thorough investigation files
- Coordinate with Co-Investigator(s) to support investigation efforts when possible; help build Co-investigator capacity
- Help identify lessons learned from Safeguarding investigations for the agency to consider when revising policies, procedures, and training
- Help build trust and confidence in Mercy Corps’ reporting, investigation, and follow up systems and foster a climate where team members feel confident and comfortable coming forward with issues
- Maintain appropriate confidentiality
Supervisory Responsibility
None
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Investigations Case Manager, Safeguarding
Works Directly With: Investigator(s), Co-Investigator(s), HR Officers and Field Teams
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 Qualification & Transferable Skills
- At least 3 years of experience as a trained and practiced investigator is required.
- Demonstrated knowledge and interest in Safeguarding, a sensitivity to cultural diversity and gender issues.
- Experience working in humanitarian aid or development, either living overseas or spending a significant amount of time in foreign countries is preferred.
- Ability to navigate difficult circumstances with a calm demeanor and in a methodical, analytical manner.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, effective organizational and interpersonal skills.
- Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws.
- English fluency (written & verbally) required; strong preference for additional fluency in French, Spanish and/or Arabic.
Success Factors
The successful Investigator, Safeguarding will have knowledge of the INGO environment; deep knowledge of best practice in conducting safeguarding investigations, including knowledge on how to conduct internal investigations in the context of insecure and opaque environments, with varying cultures, languages and education levels; and an enduring ability to move complex problems forward in a timely yet methodical manner. This person will have an utmost understanding of and appreciation for the confidential nature of this work. This person will have an abiding sense of empathy for the difficulties that INGOs face and an unwavering commitment to improvement in the face of these difficulties. They will have very strong project management skills and will be adept at communicating with and motivating a diverse array of stakeholders.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position requires up to (50%) travel to countries which may be listed as failed or failing states. Travel for investigations is occasionally urgent, resulting in travel departure within days of notice.
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.
Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.
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 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.
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. 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.
