Trainee – Program Support

Job Description

POSITION: Trainee – Program Support

WORKSITE LOCATION: Kathmandu with field visits as and when required.

LENGTH OF TRAINEESHIP: Six Months

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. Mercy Corps has been operating in Nepal since 2005, implementing programs in food security, agriculture, market development, financial services, girl’s education, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We take a systems-based approach in our programming, with the aim of improving the lives and potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY

The Trainee – Program Support position is a structured learning opportunity designed to build professional skills in day-to-day program operations, logistics management, and financial coordination. This role offers dual benefit: the trainee gains hands-on experience in administrative and operational backbone of humanitarian and development programs, while the organization benefits from the trainee’s proactive support in ensuring the smooth implementation of activities and operational management. While mentorship is provided, the trainee is expected to take initiative, manage their learning journey effectively, and maintain full accountability for the documentation, procurement workflows, and event coordination tasks they oversee.

LEARNING AREAS:

Program Administration and Operational Logistics

• Professional Documentation: Mastering the standards for drafting official memos, meeting minutes, and routine correspondence to ensure clear organizational communication.

• Information Management: Learning to implement and maintain systematic filing (physical and digital) and data entry protocols to ensure program accountability and easy retrieval of information.

• Reporting and Analysis: Developing the ability to synthesize activities into concise reports, summaries, and trackers under supervisory guidance.

• Event and Field Management: Gaining hands-on experience in the end-to-end logistics of workshops and training sessions—from material preparation to equipment setup—as well as understanding the complexities of field-based program implementation.

Procurement Systems and Financial Compliance

• Software Proficiency (ProSource): Developing technical competency in organizational procurement software to manage Purchase Requisitions (PRs).

• Financial Processing: Understanding the lifecycle of a payment, including expense settlement, vendor payment requests, and the verification of supporting documentation (invoices, receipts, and quotations).

• Pipeline Tracking: Learning how to monitor and track the status of approvals and payments to ensure operational continuity.

• Regulatory Compliance: Understanding the importance of adhering to specific procurement and finance policies (specifically Mercy Corps standards) to mitigate risk and ensure audit readiness.

Interdepartmental Coordination and Communication

• Stakeholder Liaison: Learning how to effectively communicate and bridge the gap between field teams and headquarters to provide routine updates.

• Cross-Functional Synergy: Understanding the interdependent relationship between Program, Operations, and Finance teams and learning how to facilitate the smooth flow of information between them.

• Professional Networking: Building the interpersonal skills necessary to coordinate with diverse teams and external vendors.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports Directly to: Program Quality and Partnership Manager

Works Directly with: Programs and Operations Team members

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Strong willingness to learn, and professional growth.

• Fresh graduates who have completed a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in management, development Studies, or any other relevant fields within last two years.

• Good written and spoken English and Nepali to handle professional documentation and meeting minutes.

• Good communication skills and interpersonal skills.

• Basic computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint).

• Previous experience in a formal office setting, internship, or volunteer work within an NGO is advantageous.

• Experience with or a quick ability to learn digital procurement or financial management systems is advantageous.

• Basic understanding of livelihood, food security, climate change, DRR, resilience, and humanitarian actions are an advantage.

• Attention to detail and organizational skills.

• Preference will be given to female, persons with disabilities and applicants from the marginalized communities.

SUCCESS FACTORS

Success in this role is defined by a proactive learning mindset and the initiative to turn on-the-job opportunities into professional growth within a dynamic development and humanitarian context. A successful trainee will transition from assisted tasks to the independent management of assignments, bringing creative ideas to knowledge management and communication while remaining strictly accountable for the quality of their results. By demonstrating resilience, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to planned professional development, you will help spark innovative ways to share information and contribute to the overall success of high-quality, collaborative programming.

The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/short-term assignment to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

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.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

SAFEGUARDING AND 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 Misconduct Disclosure Scheme — SCHR. 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 must complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and annually.

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]).