Crisis Analysis Data/GIS Specialist

"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 they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds,
perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long-term impact.


The Program / Department / Team (Program / Department Summary)
Mercy Corps has developed a Crisis Analytics function to support our programming in the most complex contexts,
including throughout the Middle East, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ukraine, and others. The Crisis
Analysis-Syria (CA-SYR) supports Mercy Corps’ in-country programming as well as the wider humanitarian
response in the region through the provision of quality, timely, and relevant analytical products.
Mercy Corps’ crisis analysis teams aggregate and analyze quantitative and qualitative data to improve
decision-making and access in complex crises. The teams directly contribute to data-driven decision-making by
layering information from primary sources, open sources, and responders’ programmatic data, which subject
matter experts and data scientists analyze. This analysis is grounded in Mercy Corps’ status as an operational
NGO, keeping our products constructive and relevant for humanitarian responders and donors within a given
crisis. Crisis analysis also serves as a real-time information hub; vets potential partners; assesses programmatic,
partner, and operational risk; identifies and maps stakeholders; and works with internal partners to better enable
data-driven decision-making.


The Position
The Data/GIS Specialist is a key position with the CA-SYR team, responsible for multi-thematic quantitative and
geospatial analysis. The Data/GIS Specialist will be expected to quickly develop and maintain a real-time
understanding of multidisciplinary topics with a focus on multidisciplinary trends across the Middle East, inclusive
of economics, climate change, agriculture, security, social cohesion, and humanitarian trends. Leveraging
primarily quantitative data analytical skills, s/he will identify and manage quantitative data, execute statistical and
geospatial analysis, create data visualizations and maps, and provide written narratives describing and explaining
the findings for non-technical audiences within the humanitarian community. S/he will work with other
qualitative-oriented analysts and specialists to provide analyses that feed into decision-making for Mercy Corps’
Middle East programming and strategy. S/he will leverage these analytical products to forecast humanitarian and
economic needs and anticipated knock-on effects of crisis and conflict. S/he will be responsible for delivering
outputs for monthly reports, in-depth reports with a thematic focus, dashboards, and other quantitative products.


Essential Job Responsibilities
Analysis & Reporting
● Leads the design and development of visual interpretations of analysis, primarily (but not limited to)
thematic maps, graphs, and infographics. Experience creating online dashboards preferred.
● Provides high-quality quantitative and geospatial analysis for CA-SYR reports focusing on
socio-economic, political, and geopolitical events with a high degree of expertise, autonomy, and
creativity.
● Run, improve, and develop quantitative data processing scripts in the R language.
● Identifies Syria-specific and regionally relevant topics to explore and creatively attempts ways to test
hypotheses. Specifically, the application of existing quantitative indicators to describe economic, security,
climate/environment, and agriculture-related dynamics. Creative data analysis is preferred but the ability
to create new quantitative indicators is a bonus.
● Application of remote sensing techniques to measure environmental indicators; specifically, the ability to
use satellite imagery to calculate commonly-used remote sensing indicators such as NDVI and NDMI
using Sentinel-2 and Landsat satellites. Familiarity with more advanced remote sensing indicators and
other satellites (Sentinel-1; Sentinel-3; Sentinel-5; GRACE) is preferred.
● Lead on specific sections of CA-SYR monthly reports.
● Leads on or contributes to thematic outputs and reports led by the CA-SYR Lead Analyst.
● Ensures minimum quality standards for quantitative and geospatial analysis, in terms of both
validity/reliability of analysis as well as visual representation/aesthetics.
● Build and maintain an updated database of secondary quantitative data sets related to humanitarian
conditions and contextual dynamics in Syria


Contextual Expertise and Representation
● Maintains a strong understanding of regional economic issues (for example, monetary policy, trade,
poverty, migration) of interest to the humanitarian and development community
● In both writing and verbal, provide briefings to internal and external stakeholders of the context in the
Middle East (political, economic, climate/environment, social, and conflict) by leveraging quantitative and
geospatial analysis
● Articulates complex analysis to non-technical audiences, ensuring understanding of methodology,
findings, and relevance
● Proactively and autonomously engages within Mercy Corps and with peer organizations relevant to
quantitative and geospatial analysis of the Syrian context
● Provides technical methodological and design specifications for research and analysis, both for
existing/planned products as well as concept notes and proposals


Strategy & Culture
● Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are
welcomed. Contribute to the development of strategies.
● Understand and express complex crises in terms of humanitarian needs, access restrictions, and threats
to the humanitarian community.
● Support the overall continuation of a culture of a team, which is highly aware of the context.
● Contributes to a culture of collaboration and curiosity driven by humanitarian principles.


Safeguarding Responsibilities:
● Actively learn about safeguarding and integrate it into their work, including with external stakeholders and
direct reports if applicable.
● Practices the values of Mercy Corps as detailed in the Code of Conduct and safeguarding policies,
including respecting the dignity and well-being of community participants and fellow staff members
● Holds themselves accountable for making appropriate decisions that impact community members and
team members
● Takes responsibility for their personal and professional behavior
● Encourages openness, transparency, and communication in their team; encourages team members to
make any reports if they have any concerns using internal reporting mechanisms (i.e. Integrity Hotline,
HR, etc.)
● Demonstrates a high level of integrity and treats others with respect


Supervisory Responsibility
Up to 1 junior team members and/or interns


Accountability
Reports Directly To: Lead Analyst
Works Directly With: CA-SYR team members, Technical Advisors, Program Staff


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
● Masters Degree in Economics, Political Science, Data Analysis, Geography/GIS or a related field is
required.
● Excellent written and verbal communication in English and Arabic.
● At least 4 years of analytical experience within a think-tank, UN, or NGO experience; experience
analyzing crises in the Middle East is a plus
● At least 2 years of experience processing and analyzing quantitative datasets.
● Proven experience with geospatial analysis using GIS tools/platforms such as ArcGIS, CartoDB, and
QGIS.
● Experience using web-based satellite imagery analysis platforms, such as Google Earth Engine, Living
Atlas, or similar, for implementation of remote sensing analysis in ArcGIS Pro
● Experience downloading, managing, and utilizing satellite imagery (USGS, NASA, EOSDIS WorldView,
etc.).
● Primary and secondary research/academic experience in political science, sociology, economics,
geography, or conflict analysis.
● Experience in environmental and economic analysis and reporting is an asset.
● Proven experience in statistical programming for quantitative analysis using software/platforms–primarily
in the R script and/or Python.
o Experience producing dashboards using PowerBI or other tools (R Shiny) is an asset
● Experience with visualization design, with tools such as Adobe Indesign and/or Illustrator is an asset.

How to apply:

Preferable to receive CVs before Thursday March 14 ,2024.

*If you are interested, kindly apply as soon as possible, since resumes will be reviewed on rolling basis. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted before the submission deadline.

“Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision, and we encourage people from all backgrounds, especially women, to apply.”

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.


Success Factors
The role requires a high level of attention to detail, creativity to investigate multiple datasets and willingness to test
multiple hypotheses, a strong sense of discretion, and excellent research and writing skills, preferably in English
and Arabic. In addition to having a strong technical background and research experience, the role requires
someone with a can-do attitude who is able to multitask, communicate effectively, and prioritize responsibilities in
a fast-paced environment. Competitive candidates will showcase a willingness to creatively solve problems and
work on multiple priorities under tight deadlines.


Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Amman, Jordan or Beirut, Lebanon and it can include up to 20% travel to support country
programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where
amenities are limited.


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. 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.
"