Position Description

Location: Kathmandu (with travel to field as required)

Position Status: Full-time, Regular

Salary Level: O1

Current Team Member: N/A

Department Summary

The Operations Department is committed to implementing and maintaining the highest standards of efficiency and integrity in daily Procurement, Administration, Logistics, Asset Management (PALM) and Information Technology for all offices in MC-Nepal. The overriding objective for all Mercy Corps operations activities are the prompt and effective provision of on-time solutions Mercy Corps’ beneficiary populations in compliance with Mercy Corps’ and donor policies, procedures, regulations, and specifications.

General Position Summary 

The Liaison Officer (LO) will be responsible to facilitate interaction with government and local authorities on behalf of Mercy Corps Nepal. They serve as primary direct contact- under the supervision of Head of Operations for Mercy Corps Nepal to all government bodies. They are responsible for coordination and correspondence with government bodies on matters that include but are not limited to visas, NOCs, permits, custom, tax certificates and meetings. This position is also responsible to support for documentation of semi annual reports. They will be responsible for coordination and communication for the safety and security. They will be responsible to coordinate and work closely with Operations, Finance and Program Department to provide support on event management, emergencies and other tasks related with government, documentation, and follow-up. 

The position will ensure compliance with donor regulations as well as Mercy Corps’ internal policies and procedures and updates local manuals and policies and builds the capacity of local logistics/SFPs team members

As gender and social inclusion (GESI), governance and environmental compliance are cross-cutting and core components of the all-MC programs, the Liaison Officer is required to own these components and ensure GESI sensitivity and integration, governance practices and environmental compliance are integrated into their work area.

Essential Job Responsibilities 

The specific duties and responsibilities of the Liaison Officer include, but are not limited to, the following:

Government Liaison

• Develop good relationships and communication with Government Departments and Ministries. 
• Facilitate interaction with government and local authorities on behalf of Mercy Corps Nepal.
• Develop new methodologies to improve the liaison processes. 
• Keep abreast of the latest data/ developments/ structures, necessary for Government Liaison Implementation in context of changing Government structure in Nepal affecting MCN.
• Organize orientation to Program Managers and Senior Management to about the new changes in Government structure and their implication to MCN and its programs.
• Pro-actively liaise with government bodies and other government stakeholders, and support MC in securing approvals and submitting reports to relevant government ministries. 
• Ensure regular meetings with various government officials at central, province and district level are held during project planning and implementation, including DPAC and CPAC meetings.
• Coordinate and correspondence with government bodies on matters that include but are not limited to visas, NOCs, permits, project agreements, project amendments, custom, tax certificates and meetings. 
• Responsible for support for documentation of semi-annual reports.
• Be responsible to ensure MC personnel develop and interact with Province, Municipal and DCC level government network for smooth functioning of MC Programs
• Develop required 1-2 pager documents as a communication tool to the relevant stakeholders in collaboration with the MCN Team.
• Coordinate and work closely with Operations, Finance and Program Department to provide support on event management, emergencies and other tasks related with government, documentation, and follow up. 
• Represent Mercy Corps, as advised by Country Director, to government and authorities and assist in coordinating meetings with government bodies as required

Operations Support 

• Deal with outside visitors who appear in search of organization information, data and other information. 
• Support Administration for the renewal of vehicles and obtain no pollution certificate at the Department of Transport.
• Support Administration for the annual vehicle insurance. 
• Support Finance Department to collect and submit tax related documents, banking procedures and liaise with Citizenship Investment Fund and Provident Fund Office.
• Support Administration and Logistics and Program Support for the logistics arrangements for events and meetings.
• Obtain customs and duty exemption certificates from the relevant authorities as and when required. 
• Support Program Team during the emergency response for the logistics arrangements. 

Documentation and Compliance

• Ensure MC programs follow all relevant government guidelines.
• Help plan and conduct M&E visits to field sites with government agencies and stakeholders.
• Be responsible to ensure all project agreements in MCN are designed in line with the Social Welfare Council and Government of Nepal’s requirement. 
• Ensure mid-term and final evaluations are carried out as stipulated in the project agreements.
• Ensure all necessary project documents are in line with SWC’s requirement
• Be responsible for preparing data-base for visa, registration, and other legal documentation for Mercy Corps expatriate staff.
• Ensure MCN finance and compliance requirement are fulfilled during the process

Safety and Security 

• Collect and prepare daily security updates from AIN and Government Authorities and share with staff. 
• Advise staff on alterations to security concerns, when necessary. 
• Ensure all property has adequate first aid kits, fire extinguishers etc. 
• Assist Head of Operation in conducting or arranging for training to increase security and safety awareness.
• In coordination with the Head of Operations (Security Focal Point) review, and, update all security systems and protocols as required.
• Assess security situation on day-to-day basis and formalize line of action in consultation with the Head of Operations. 
• Conduct threat assessment for all MC offices and operations.
• Support Head of Operations to conduct and arrange training to increase security and safety awareness. 
• Ensure all MC staff at central and field offices are oriented and trained on safety and Security 
• Management Plan, Sops, and contingency plan. 
• Update Phone Tree and other required communication activities for the safety of the staffs

Influence & Representation 

• Represent MC at security meetings and with local governments and authorities.
• Disseminate security information to all staff in a timely manner; facilitate Security Management Team meetings. 
• Provide security briefing to all new staff.
• Assist Country Director and Head of Operations, as required, in developing and implementing strategies to continue work in times of heightened security
• Participate in regional security dialogue and information sharing. 

Security 

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership. 
• Proactively ensure that team members and community operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Others 

• Mercy Corps as a humanitarian agency is expected to respond as and when a crisis and humanitarian situation engulfs. As an MC employee all staff are expected to be part of humanitarian and emergency response in addition to their regular roles and responsibilities.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Conduct themselves both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor and or Country Director.

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 toward 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.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values always and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A

Reports Directly to: Head of Operations 

Works Directly with: Country Director, Head of Operations, Department Heads, Managers, and Regional Team Members

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in law, social science, political science, philosophy, or related subject. 
• 1-3 years of experience in humanitarian interventions/ programs preferable in the field of liaison with Government.
• Good understanding and knowledge of government settings/ functioning in Nepal is required.
• Demonstrated understanding of complex emergencies, related security concerns and appropriate responses with experience in insecure environments. 
• Demonstrated attention to detail, following procedures, meeting deadlines, and working and problem solving independently and cooperatively. 
• Knowledge of Mercy Corps systems and procedures desirable. 
• Proven skill in negotiation, representation, communication, and public relation management.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required; proficiency in local languages is a plus.

Success Factors:

A successful Liaison Officer would facilitate interaction with Government and local authorities of Mercy Corps Nepal to pursue comprehensively on-going projects and to be able to launch new projects in Nepal. The Liaison Officer would advise the field and central team on local/ central government coordination issues raised and facilitate the required plan of action. They would build healthy professional relationships with key influencers in the Government across primary and secondary stakeholders. The position holder should be capable of critically problem solving and have the ability to work independently. They should have the ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel and be able to work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment and be willing to travel regularly to MC Nepal field offices and project sites as required.

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. 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.

Shortlisting will be done on the basis of your answers while applying, please answer the questions carefully. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Telephone enquiries will not be entertained.