GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY
The Crisis Analysis Team (CAT) Director leads the strategic vision, coordination, and delivery of complex humanitarian and crisis analysis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). They oversee a multidisciplinary team responsible for producing high-quality, timely, and contextually grounded analysis to inform evidence-based programming, advocacy, and decision-making.
As a core member of Mercy Corps DRC’s senior leadership, the CAT Director aligns analytical products with internal and external priorities, coordinates with donors and humanitarian actors, and ensures that Mercy Corps’ interventions remain informed by evolving local dynamics. The Director also manages the capacity, performance, and professional development of the CAT team, ensuring the application of rigorous methodologies and fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.
The CAT Director will lead a team that equips Mercy Corps DRC’s senior leadership with a comprehensive picture of local trends related to access, conflict, emergency response, and humanitarian needs—merging granular field data with geopolitical analysis to anticipate changes in the conflict and humanitarian landscape.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSABILITIES
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND PLANNING
● Articulate and refine the evolving vision for crisis analysis within the DRC context, based on Mercy Corps’ programmatic and analytical needs and the NGO’s broader strategic priorities.
● Develop, update, and implement an effective strategy that reflects the added value and strengths of the ongoing crisis analysis work within Mercy Corps’ DRC portfolio.
● Build strategic relationships with donors and partners to position DRC-CAT as a preferred analysis partner and promote Mercy Corps DRC programming,
● Proactively identify fundraising opportunities for DRC-CAT and lead proposal development.
● Collaborate and ensure alignment with key internal stakeholders, including Program Directors, Technical Units, Policy and Advocacy teams, HQ-based teams, and the Global Crisis Analysis Team.
● Participate in the global Crisis Analysis community of practice to support cross-learning, impact monitoring and efficient use of resources.
● Contribute to the DRC country strategy and, where relevant, to the regional strategy.
● Identify and develop opportunities for the growth and advancement of the CAT in DRC.
● Oversee the measurement and analysis of key performance indicators for CAT to inform strategic decision-making.
TEAM LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
● Supervise and coordinate the work of the senior analysts, research senior officer, technology for development officer, and stakeholder management specialist.
● Develop and manage workplans and ensure timely delivery of analytical products aligned with audience needs.
● Coordinate with other departments and programs in the mission to ensure strong reporting.
● Build team capacity in writing, research methodologies, analysis, and contextual interpretation.
● Support team members in defining professional development goals and provide opportunities for capacity-building.
● Ensure team members operate in a secure environment, comply with Mercy Corps’ security protocols, and apply safeguarding and data protection standards across the research cycle.
● Ensure team members adhere to the Crisis Analysis guidelines, have access to and actively use available agencywide Crisis Analysis resources and tools, and participate in community of practice initiatives as appropriate.
ANALYSIS AND TECHNICAL OVERSIGHT
● Plan and oversee the production of analytical products, including periodic, flash, economic, areabased, and thematic reports.
● Guide the identification of emerging themes and ensure CAT’s work remains responsive to shifts in the humanitarian context.
● Serve as a technical expert and final reviewer, ensuring analytical outputs are insightful, actionable, and methodologically sound.
● Uphold rigorous quality assurance standards across data collection, analysis, and dissemination, fostering consistency and credibility.
● Integrate gender, diversity, and inclusion considerations into methodologies and outputs.
CONTENT DELIVERY AND EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT
● Ensure CAT products are delivered on time and in accessible formats for diverse audiences, including senior leadership, donors, and coordination bodies.
● Distill complex findings into concise and digestible briefings, dashboards, or visual summaries.
● Represent CAT in high-level briefings and external meetings; support the Country Director and program teams with context briefings and strategic updates.
● Maintain partnerships with peer analysis units and humanitarian actors to promote collaboration and joint analysis.
PROGRAMMATIC AND OPERATIONAL INTEGRATION
● Maintain a strong understanding of Mercy Corps’ programming priorities and field operations.
● Work closely with program teams and partners to understand their information needs and codesign tailored methodologies or products.
● Participate in scenario planning, risk assessments, and crisis response structures to ensure CAT provides timely, strategic inputs to operational decision-making.
BUDGET AND COMPLIANCE
● Lead the management and implementation of the CAT budget, ensuring alignment with donor and internal compliance standards.
● Ensure effective use of resources and adherence to Mercy Corps policies, safeguarding principles, and ethical research practices.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSABILITY
Senior analysts (02), Reasearch senior officer, Technology for development officer, Stakeholder management specialist ACCOUNTABILITY
Reports Directly To: Director of programs
Works Directly With: DRC Program Teams; Country Director, Security team, Global Crisis Analysis; Technical Support Units; HQ Emergency and Response Teams; Regional Team; Policy and Advocacy 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
● Master’s degree in a relevant field
● At least five years’ experience in security and/or conflict analysis
● At least two years field experience deployed in an active conflict environment
● High-level written and analytical skills
● Experience in liaising with diplomatic and multi-national organizations as well as international NGOs, other non-governmental organizations, donors and academic institutions
● Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills
● Experience leading, training, and coaching a team
● Competency in Internet and Microsoft Office systems including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and other database/mapping systems
● Fluency in English and French, both written and spoken is required
● Academic, practical, and professional knowledge and experience in the DRC is an asset
Applications will be received until this position is filled.
