This is a part-time (0.45 FTE) role, requiring schedule flexibility that includes weekend hours.

About Mercy Corps
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.

Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps Northwest (MCNW) is the assumed business name for the 501(C) 3 non-profit, which is the domestic arm of Mercy Corps.  The organization was established in 1998 as a program of Mercy Corps, the Portland-based international relief and development agency that assists all low-income populations, including people of color, women, refugees and immigrants, incarcerated and previously incarcerated people in Oregon and Washington.  MCNW helps marginalized people increase their economic self-sufficiency and community integration through self-employment and small business development services. For more information about Mercy Corps Northwest, visit www.mercycorpsnw.org

General Position Summary
LIFE (Lifelong Information for Entrepreneurs) Inside is a 24-32 week MCNW entrepreneurial program at two institutions in the Portland area, Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) in Wilsonville, OR and Columbia River Correctional Facility in Portland, OR, build their own resiliency though entrepreneurial and life skills training.

Mercy Corps Northwest is currently in the process of launching LIFE Outside, which will provide employment opportunities in two distinct industries: retail and production/manufacturing.

This role is a key member of the LIFE Outside team and will oversee a pilot and set a strategic growth plan for two initiatives of Mercy Corps Northwest: Coffee Cart and Herbal Tea. This role is the manager of all business operations and procedures. While providing strategic vision and implementing project objectives are a priority, this role will be responsible for overseeing and being present for retail sales each weekend through mid-December 2019.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Ensure that all administration tasks, personnel, payroll, and financial duties and reporting are completed accurately and in compliance with MC procedures.
• Collaborate with team to define project objectives, set key performance metrics, and establish project approach.
• Plan and develop analyses and assessments grounded in deep understanding of the business, industry & market trends, consumer behavior, customer segments, and competitive strategy.
• Create and implement an inventory management system, ensuring all necessary parties are trained sufficiently.
• Provide strategic oversight and guidance to ensure all project deliverables remain on track, striving to reduce expenses and increase efficiencies across both businesses.
• Perform competitive analysis and identify gaps and opportunities in the marketplace.
• Create and implement a strategic sales strategy.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and foster an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and is consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
• Participate in necessary, on-going, diversity, equity and inclusion training in addition to all other trainings deemed necessary to the position.

COFFEE CART BUSINESS OVERSIGHT

• Advise and direct all necessary stakeholders to bring the coffee cart concept from ideation to implementation including supporting Start Up Consultant with all necessary licensing standards and permits to enable it to be ready for retail service.
• Oversee day-to-day operations of coffee cart, including troubleshooting when equipment errors occur, responding compassionately. This includes overseeing the lead barista/supervisor at any given time.
• Provide coffee cart lead barista/supervisor with constructive criticism and make recommendations on how processes can be more efficient/streamlined.
• Ensure that all standards, guidelines, and procedures are communicated and followed by staff at all times.
• Model all rules and policies, maintain and enforce safety standards of the coffee cart.
• Determine movement of products and supplies from the Learning Lab (Catholic Charities) to Saturday Market/MC building.

HERBAL TEA BUSINESS (Launched post coffee cart)

• Plan, create and organize production schedules while ensuring all necessary health and safety regulations are met.
• Work with Start Up Consultant to aid in advising and directing all necessary stakeholders to bring our “learning lab”, hosted by Catholic Charities, up to necessary licensing standards and permits to enable it to be ready for small scale production.
• Support and maintain production schedules, strategic plan for growth, and day-to-day operations.

INFLUENCE AND REPRESENTATION

• Work with MCNW team members to create building a buzz about the coffee cart and tea business and help to effectively communicate externally about these stories for external stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

SECURITY

• Ensure compliance with security and safety procedures and policies.
  Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO PARTNERS

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our partners and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging participant communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility
Lead Barista/Supervisor

Accountability

• Reports Directly To: Prison & Reentry Services Program Manager
• Works Directly With: All members of the Prison & Reentry Services team

Preferred Knowledge and Experience

• Must have experience operating a small business, preferably in the food and beverage industry.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff and being a positive and supportive supervisor.
• Preferred 2 years of experience working with incarcerated or previously incarcerated individuals.
• BA/S in business administration (or equivalent lived experience).
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate and build collaborative agreements with diverse groups of people, including staff, clients, the public and interested stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to track, measure and report out on key business metrics.
• Superior written skills and proven experience utilizing these skills professionally.
• Ability to speak another language is a plus.
• Ability to travel to other locations in Oregon infrequently.
• Ability to gain access into prison institutions.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will be a strong problem-solver with ability to work both independently and in collaboration with a team, be able to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, and manage a variety of diverse details.  Candidate must be able to work collaboratively with low-income vulnerable populations on issues relating to self-efficacy, self-care, and education. They must have the ability to work weekends.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in (Portland, Oregon) and it requires up to (20%) travel to (Wilsonville and Salem)

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision.  Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.