INTERN WORKSITE LOCATION: Edinburgh, UK or the Hague, NL
DATES OF INTERNSHIP: Starting as soon as possible, 2 - 3 months depending on hours per week
HOURS PER WEEK: Flexible, ideally a minimum of 20 hours up to full time
INTERNS SUPERVISOR (TITLE): Compliance Advisor
WORK CLOSELY WITH: Senior Director of Compliance, Governance & Risk, compliance team, programmes and finance colleagues
FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THE INTERNSHIP: The Living wage (currently £10.90 per hour for Edinburgh and stipend 50 EUR per day for the Hague)
Please apply with a CV before March 31st.
Candidates must hold the independent right to work for NL or Uk at the time of appointment.
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organisation powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Team description
The Compliance, Governance and Risk team ensures that Mercy Corps fulfils its responsibility to donors, the NGO community, implementing partners and other stakeholders, and is in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
The Internship
This internship will involve supporting the Compliance, Governance and Risk team with:
Understanding compliance with European donor regulations and Mercy Corps policies and procedures;- Researching donor requirements and supporting with developing internal guidance and training as required, including on potential new European donors and funding opportunities;
- Developing and updating compliance resources, including comprehensive best practice guidance and training materials;
- Document management;
- Support for upcoming new business opportunities;
- Quality control, including proofreading and reviewing complex documents;
- Research tasks related to compliance issues that arise; and
- Thematic research or projects, depending on candidate interest and opportunities. For example, such projects could include in relation to climate resilience, data protection and/or cyber security, localisation / equitable partnerships and others.
The role will involve engaging with other teams across Mercy Corps departments (Programmes, Finance, country offices, etc.) throughout the internship. The role will have the opportunity to join meetings (primarily calls) with colleagues across various Headquarters and Country office departments.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Understand Mercy Corps approach to compliance - grants and contracts and partnerships / subawarding
- Gain an understanding of how a compliance team works in a global humanitarian and development organisation
- Develop document review and research skills
- Be exposed to contracts and grant agreements, as well as projects, in a not for profit / humanitarian setting
- Build communication, planning and organisational skills
- Gain experience in a multicultural work environment, coordinating and communicating with a global team across different time zones and geographies, many of whom operate in complex, challenging environments.
DELIVERABLES:
- Contribute towards compliance support for new business opportunities and existing programmes
- Update and improve internal guidance on donor requirements - current and new
- Produce research reports
- Update and refresh training materials
IDEAL CANDIDATE SHOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:
- University degree in progress or recently completed, ideally in Law or a related subject
- Some experience with contracts and / or working with policies and procedures would be beneficial
- Excellent writing skills in English. French or Spanish language skills a plus
- Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members
- Strong multi-tasking, organisational and prioritisation skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Highly developed computer skills and strong familiarity with Microsoft Office
- Demonstrated sensitivity to people and cultures globally
Mercy Corps interns represent the agency both during and outside of work hours and are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Candidates interested in this internship should submit a CV and a short statement of interest (no more than one page) prior to the closing date of 31 March 2023. In your statement, you are encouraged to discuss any experiences relevant to the role. You may wish to describe your career interests (specifically as they relate to humanitarian and / or development) and discuss your previous work and educational experiences demonstrating these interests.
All applicants should be able to demonstrate the ability to work in the UK or the Netherlands by the start date of the internship.
Mercy Corps Diversity Statement
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organisation 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 Statement
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, colour, 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 elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.