INGO Forum – Roving Area Coordination Lead

About the Position

INGO Forum – Roving Area Coordination Lead

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization dedicated to helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. In Sudan, where a severe humanitarian crisis is unfolding, Mercy Corps has established the INGO Forum to coordinate efforts among international non-governmental organizations (INGOs). We are seeking a Roving Area Coordination Lead to provide flexible coordination capacity across Sudan, with a focus on emerging humanitarian hotspots and operational gaps requiring immediate support.

Location: Port Sudan but roving over 50% of the time

Position Status: Full-time

Salary Level: Refer to the relevant salary scale

Risk Level: Level 3 (Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability)

Responsibilities

Coordination and Representation

• Support the establishment, strengthening, or temporary facilitation of area-based coordination mechanisms in emerging hotspot areas, with a particular focus on Kordofan and other underserved operational environments.
• Provide surge coordination support to existing Area Coordination Leads during periods of increased operational pressure, leave coverage, or temporary staffing gaps.
• Ensure inclusive gathering of Member positions on topics of discussion to be raised at area-based and national coordination platforms.
• Represent the INGO Forum on Area Inter-Cluster Coordination Groups for assigned regions or when needed.
• Regularly liaise with Members as well as external stakeholders including authorities, UN agencies, data analysis platforms, and donors to promote improved coordination and information sharing.
• Proactively build relationships in support of the Forum’s work including with member NGOs, local civil society actors, and other international organizations.
• Engage with relevant sub-national authorities to facilitate a better understanding of collective positions, humanitarian priorities, and operational constraints.
• Support collective access engagement and analysis in coordination with the Access and Advocacy Advisor and relevant Forum colleagues.
• Facilitate linkages between area-based coordination mechanisms and national-level coordination structures to improve coherence and information flow across the response architecture.

Information Sharing

• Ensure transparent coordination mechanisms and regular information-sharing between the Forum, Members, the UN, authorities, and other stakeholders as relevant.
• Regularly compile and share lessons learned and best practices on strategic or operational issues emerging from hotspot and frontier operational contexts.
• Support context analysis and operational mapping in newly evolving response areas.
• Identify gaps in research and analysis that, if addressed, would support improved collective humanitarian action.
• Contribute to monthly Forum bulletins and other collective publications, including ensuring regular updates of partner presence and operational developments in emerging response areas.

Localization

• Maintain working relationships with national NGO or local actor networks in assigned coordination regions.
• Support state- or regional-level roundtables or events on localization.
• Localization tasks to be further defined following the INGO Forum’s finalization of its localization strategy in 2026.

Administration and Other Tasks

• Complete internal trackers and reporting documents on time and on a monthly basis.
• Contribute to reporting on INGO Forum grants as requested.
• Support onboarding of area-based coordination staff where relevant and provide temporary leadership support to area coordination functions as required.
• Maintain readiness for rapid deployment or temporary reassignment in response to operational developments and coordination needs.

Security

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

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Actively learn about safeguarding and integrate it into their 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.
• Encourage openness and communication in their team; encourage team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Requirements

Essential Requirements

• A graduate degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience with NGOs, the UN system, or other humanitarian/development actors with at least 4 years of leadership and management experience.
• Experience living and working in complex humanitarian or fragile contexts with a strong understanding of humanitarian principles, international humanitarian law (IHL), humanitarian operations, and coordination mechanisms.
• Demonstrated experience in humanitarian coordination, emergency response management, and/or field operations in insecure environments.
• Proven experience managing humanitarian field operations and responding to rapidly evolving crises.
• Experience representing organizations in humanitarian coordination platforms (inter-agency platforms, NGO forums, etc.).
• Experience developing and updating ToRs, SoPs, and other management tools.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, adapt rapidly, and manage competing priorities in highly fluid operational contexts.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken).

Desirable Requirements

• Previous humanitarian experience in Sudan, Chad, or South Sudan.
• Strong contextual understanding of Kordofan and/or other frontline operational areas in Sudan.
• Existing relationships with relevant stakeholders including NGOs, UN agencies, donors, national authorities, and advocacy stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of Arabic highly desirable.

We Offer

• Opportunity to make a significant impact in a critical humanitarian context.
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• Supportive and inclusive work environment.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

About the Company

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization 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. Now, and for the future.

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. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. 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.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).