Regional Technical, Evidence and Learning Director (TEQ)- Africa

Role Overview

This position anchors the technical quality, evidence generation, and learning agenda for Mercy Corps' programs across Africa. You will lead a team of regional advisors, working alongside country teams to ensure that program design and delivery are grounded in solid evidence, aligned with global standards, and responsive to the realities of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. Your work will shape how technical resources are deployed, how lessons are captured and applied, and how Mercy Corps positions itself as a credible, locally-led innovator in the region.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct the regional technical team, including advisors focused on market systems development, gender equality and social inclusion, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning, fostering a collaborative culture of accountable, high-quality support.
• Partner with country leadership to shape country strategies, annual implementation plans, and program designs that reflect regional priorities and Mercy Corps' programming frameworks.
• Coordinate the provision of technical assistance from global and regional support teams, ensuring that country programs receive timely, relevant, and practical guidance throughout the program life cycle.
• Lead or contribute to the technical design of concept notes and proposals, ensuring that business development efforts draw on robust evidence and reflect lessons learned from past programming.
• Strengthen quality assurance and technical review mechanisms across the portfolio, monitoring program performance and identifying targeted improvements where gaps emerge.
• Drive the regional evidence and learning agenda by connecting technical advisors with MEL functions, promoting adaptive management, and supporting the documentation and dissemination of promising practices and research findings.
• Represent Mercy Corps externally with donors, UN agencies, research institutions, and private sector partners, building relationships that advance the organization's technical credibility and thought leadership in Africa.
• Develop and maintain systems for tracking technical support requests, advisor costing, and regional planning so that resources are allocated effectively and transparently.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in international development, political science, social science, public administration, business management, or a related field is required; a master's degree is strongly preferred.
• At least seven years of senior field experience leading technical advisory work, program development, or direct implementation in complex, multi-country settings.
• Demonstrated experience managing and supervising geographically dispersed teams, with a clear commitment to mentoring, professional development, and succession planning.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex organizational challenges and support decision-making at multiple levels.
• Solid understanding of the financial, operational, and administrative systems that underpin grant and project implementation, from start-up through close-out.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, including confidence in donor engagement, prepositioning, and inter-agency coordination settings.
• Proven ability to integrate evidence, learning, and technical rigor into program design and business development, while balancing multiple priorities, especially in emergency contexts.
• Willingness to travel across the region as needed and to step in for regional or field leadership during transitions or gaps.