Interim Deputy Regional Director for Programs (MENAE) at Mercy Corps|Apply by 30 Apr 2026

Senior regional leadership roles in humanitarian organizations are among the most complex positions in the development sector, combining strategic oversight, operational leadership, and high-level donor engagement. The Interim Deputy Regional Director for Programs role at Mercy Corps is designed for an experienced leader to guide programming across the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe (MENAE) region.

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a global organization working in more than 40 countries to help communities overcome crisis and build long-term resilience. Its work spans humanitarian response, climate adaptation, food security, water systems, and economic recovery.

The organization focuses on:

• Supporting communities affected by conflict and climate shocks
• Building resilience through locally led solutions
• Strengthening food, water, and economic systems
• Delivering integrated relief and development programs

Overview of the Interim Deputy Regional Director Role

The Interim Deputy Regional Director for Programs (DRD-P) supports regional leadership in ensuring that programming across MENAE is strategically aligned, technically strong, and operationally effective. The role works closely with the Regional Vice President and senior leadership team.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading regional program strategy and implementation
• Ensuring high-quality program design and delivery across countries
• Supporting development of country-level and regional strategies
• Overseeing technical, evidence, and quality systems
• Managing awards, business development, and crisis analysis teams
• Strengthening evidence-based decision-making and learning systems
• Supporting integration of innovation, climate-smart programming, and local leadership approaches

The role also involves stepping in to provide leadership continuity during emergencies or organizational transitions.

Core Leadership Functions

This position carries broad responsibility across multiple operational and strategic domains.

Key leadership areas include:

• Strategy and Planning
  • Aligning regional programs with global organizational strategy
  • Supporting coherent country-level implementation plans
  • Leading evidence and learning agendas for the region
• Team Management
  • Supervising country directors and regional technical teams
  • Managing awards, crisis analysis, and business development units
  • Ensuring strong performance management and team development
  • Coordinating multi-country office structures
• Program Development
  • Overseeing proposal development and donor engagement
  • Strengthening regional fundraising capacity
  • Improving win rates and proposal quality through data analysis
• Influence and Representation
  • Engaging with donors, governments, and partners
  • Representing the organization at regional and global forums
  • Supporting thought leadership and advocacy efforts

Required Experience and Expertise

This is a senior executive-level role requiring extensive international development experience.

Minimum expectations include:

• At least 10 years of senior leadership experience in humanitarian or development contexts
• Strong background in program implementation in fragile or conflict-affected settings
• Proven ability to manage large, multi-country teams
• Experience working with major donors (US, UK, EU, UN, and others)
• Strong strategic planning and organizational leadership skills
• Experience in business development and proposal management
• Fluency in English (Arabic strongly preferred)

The role is best suited for leaders with both strategic vision and operational depth.

Regional Context and Scope

The MENAE region includes countries facing complex and overlapping crises, including conflict, displacement, and climate stress. Programming spans:

• Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, and surrounding regions
• Food and water security initiatives
• Economic recovery and livelihood programs
• Peacebuilding and governance support
• Climate resilience programming

The role requires adaptability and the ability to operate in high-risk and rapidly changing environments.

Work Arrangement and Conditions

The position is flexible but regionally anchored, with specific requirements for time zone alignment and travel.

Key conditions include:

• Temporary 6-month contract (starting mid-2026)
• Remote or regional-based work (within ~3 hours of Jordan time zone preferred)
• Up to 30% regional travel, including potentially insecure contexts
• High responsibility for budgets and large-scale program portfolios

The role also involves oversight of significant financial resources and multi-million-dollar program portfolios.

Leadership Impact and Strategic Importance

The Interim Deputy Regional Director for Programs plays a critical role in shaping humanitarian response and long-term development outcomes across the region.

Key areas of impact include:

• Strengthening resilience programming across fragile contexts
• Improving coordination across countries and teams
• Enhancing donor confidence and funding stability
• Driving innovation in humanitarian programming
• Building stronger evidence-based decision-making systems

This is a role that directly influences both immediate humanitarian response and long-term recovery efforts.

Final Thoughts

The Interim Deputy Regional Director for Programs position at Mercy Corps is a high-level leadership opportunity requiring deep expertise in humanitarian programming, regional coordination, and strategic management.

For experienced professionals in international development, it represents a chance to shape large-scale humanitarian systems across some of the world’s most complex operating environments.

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