Technology for Development (T4D) Senior Director - UK, NL, Kenya, or Colombia in London

The Senior Director of Technology for Development (T4D) leads the T4D team and is a senior program-facing technology leader. Working closely with both Programs and Information Technology (IT), the Sr. Director works in partnership with the global, regional, and country-level counterparts while ensuring that proposed applications can be well supported by and integrated with Mercy Corps’ enterprise technology architecture. The Sr. Director also leads the determination of processes to identify, vet, pilot, and assess the effectiveness and affordability of technology solutions to advance innovation aligned with program impact and efficiency ambitions.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Vision, Leadership, and Influence: Drive Mercy Corps’ influence and thought leadership agenda regarding how innovative digital technology and data solutions can enhance the performance and impact of the sector, both externally and internally. Play a leading role in exploring and articulating how AI can enhance Mercy Corps’ work and the broader sector, working closely with program teams, IT, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) and other relevant counterparts. Develop annual or multi-annual strategies for innovative program technology uptake and scale within the organization. Continuously elaborate and improve T4D’s strategic approach and ways of working.
• Proposal and Partnership Development: Build and execute on a shared vision for how technology can amplify impact and efficiency, and unlock new potential, throughout our work. Embed communication, knowledge management, and learning about program-facing technology at Mercy Corps into our program models and organization-wide Evidence and Learning Agendas. Build external partnerships, particularly with private sector technology partners, ensuring that these partnerships advance Mercy Corps’ technological improvement and program impact aims.
• Product and Program Implementation Support: Manage T4D-related support requests from program and global/regional program support teams, ensuring responsive and customer‑centric service provision. Manage product ownership for the development of program-facing technology applications vis‑à‑vis program or portfolio‑specific technologies or enterprise technologies required by global program support teams. Ensure that Mercy Corps maintains a principled position that protects all program participants through ethical decisions in the use of technology and data.
• Team Management: Manage T4D team members and financial resources, prioritizing workload in line with strategic priorities. Supervise, hire, and orient new team members, consultants, and interns as necessary. Provide team members with information, tools, and other resources to improve performance and reach their objectives.
• Safeguarding Responsibilities: Actively learn about safeguarding and integrate it into T4D’s work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work. Practice the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well‑being of participants and fellow team members.
• Personal Leadership: Demonstrate exceptional leadership by consistently delivering expectations and maintaining composure, even in challenging situations. Embrace a growth mindset, actively seek diverse perspectives, and welcome feedback to drive continuous improvement.

Success Factors

The Senior Director of T4D must be able to envision and implement a strategic vision, translate this vision into practical actions, and lead the organizational changes required to build momentum around this vision. The Sr. Director must have a demonstrated track record of leading technological and organizational innovation, be a self‑starter who demonstrates exceptional ability in leading collaborative initiatives, and understand Mercy Corps’ highest-level strategic plans and objectives.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or relevant field preferred.
• Experience as a senior technology leader at an international organization, leading diverse technology teams with global delivery models and geographically dispersed employees highly desirable.
• 12+ years’ experience in technology and related business; increasing levels of responsibilities preferred.
• Demonstrated track record of building powerful external partnerships and fundraising/sales.
• Fluency in English required; working proficiency in French, Spanish, or Arabic preferred.

Living and Environmental Conditions

This position requires up to 25% travel to support programs and engage with donors and partners, 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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

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.