From: Christopher Maclay <christophermaclay@gmail.com> We're looking for an Innovation and Digital Coordinator in Nairobi. Please see posting here: http://reliefweb.int/job/1870559/innovation-and- digital-coordinator Mercy Corps is a leading global relief and development agency saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. We are powered by the belief that a better world is possible. Across the more than 40 countries in which we operate, we are working to address root causes of poverty head on, and helping those caught in crisis not only meet their immediate needs, but build a brighter future. In taking on these challenges, Mercy Corps does not act alone nor are we satisfied with business as usual. In our work, we strive to innovate for greater impact – often through increased take-up of technology and investment in market-driven models. In our work, we see technology as an enabler to improve scale, access, efficiency, engagement, and effectiveness in our global work. Mercy Corps is looking for committed and dynamic individual to take up the following position. *TITLE: INNOVATION AND DIGITAL COORDINATOR* *LOCATION: NAIROBI* *PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:* Youth Empowered for Success (YES!) is a partnership with the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation (TCCAF) and Harambee which seeks to enhance employment for 25,000 young people in six African countries by 2018, and 500,000 by 2022. Mercy Corps is the lead implementer in Kenya, Uganda, Liberia, Nigeria, and Tunisia. The program has three work streams: - Core YES! Model: Localizing the YES! model in 6 countries to improve the employment and entrepreneurship of 18,000 youth; - Innovation and Digital: Driving innovation in youth employment in Africa through the identification, incubation and scaling of breakthrough business solutions for youth employment; - Thought leadership: Research and learning on youth economic empowerment in Africa, building an evidence base enabling partnerships to scale to reach 500,000. *GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:* YES!’s Innovation and Digital work stream was approved in December 2016, which seeks to identify, incubate and scale breakthrough solutions for youth employment in YES! target countries. Through the Innovation and Digital Coordinator, the program seeks to support two types of initiatives: 1) Core investments, which support the development and scaling of products and services in the Human Resource, training or job match sector, whose businesses are directly geared towards facilitating and enhancing employment and employability; and 2) Ancillary investments, which develop of new methods sales or business which have the ability to enhance youth employment and/or create jobs. The YES! Program will support these initiatives through project-based financing, technical support, convening, and connection to youth within the program. *ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:* *Strategy Development* Lead the development of YES! Digital and Innovation Strategy, including pipeline development, contracting, technical support and more. Revise strategy in line with emerging opportunities, including new funding and fundraising opportunities. Work with Results, Learning and Research Coordinator to establish methods for measuring and evaluating investment impact. *Pipeline Development* Develop a pipeline of potential partnerships, covering a breadth of organizations including job matching, training and more. Maintain strong connections with the regional start-up scene, maintaining responsiveness to opportunities. Work creatively with target partners to ideate and co-develop concepts for new products and services. Conduct Due Diligence, vet, and prepare documentation on longlisted and shortlisted partnerships. Take a collaborative and supportive approach when working with private sector partners. *Contracting and Partner Administration* Work with Mercy Corps legal teams to develop suitable contracting mechanism and contracts for YES! Innovation and Digital partners. Function as focal point for contracting and partner management. *Partner Support* Provide technical support to YES! Innovation and Digital partners, including on market research, product development, and human-centered design. Convene different actors and stakeholders for collaborations, where appropriate. As required, bring in external expertise to support partners. *Research & Thought Leadership* Work with the Results, Learning and Research Coordinator to ensure effective learning from YES! Innovation and Digital partnerships. Participate in, and generate insights, for Thought Leadership events on innovation and business solutions to youth employment. *Other* Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission. Other duties as assigned. *Organizational Learning:* As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves. *ACCOUNTABILITY:* 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 RESPONSIBILITY: *None *REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: *YES! Program Director *WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: *YES! Results, Learning and Research Coordinator, YES! Innovation and Digital Partners, YES! Program Managers in 5 countries. *KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:* Minimum of 4 years of experience in a combination of strategy and business consulting, impact investment, product design, or relevant areas; BA/S or equivalent in Information Technology or related field of study. An MBA is an added advantage; Experience in Management/Development consulting firms or business incubators/accelerators working with start-ups and SMEs on business modelling, strategy and/or product development is required; Experience working in/with start-ups is required. Experience related to employment generation is an added advantage; Experience working with impact investment is an added advantage; Demonstrated ability to design and implement strategy; Exceptional writing skills, and ability to present complex concepts and/or analysis clearly; Willingness to travel to YES! Country programs in Uganda, Tunisia, Nigeria and Liberia; Experience and passion working in youth employment is a plus. *SUCCESS FACTORS:* The successful Innovation and Digital Coordinator will show flexibility, a can-do attitude, and a willingness to test, adapt, learn and improve. S/he will be a self-starter and a doer, capable of driving the Innovation and Digital work stream with minimal supervision. S/he will have a creative mindset, with ability to generate new ideas, coupled with attention to detail and ability to get things done. S/he will have strong social and collaborative skills, with an ability to maintain an extensive network of partners and professional connections. *Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit a cover letter and detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to ke-hrkenya@mercycorps.org <ke-hrkenya@mercycorps.org> on or before Monday 6th February, 2017 by 4.00pm. The email subject line must clearly indicate the job title and location being applied for.* *Applications without an appropriate subject heading will be automatically disqualified. Please do not attach any certificates.* *Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.* *NB: Mercy Corps does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.*