Deputy Director – Program Support at International Rescue Committee

Job Description

• The Deputy Director-Program Support supervises and provides strategic leadership for grants management, partnerships as well as monitoring, evaluation and learning. The DDPS reports to the Country Director and is a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT). The DDPS serves as liaison between the program support sectors and the other sectors within the country program and with the relevant functional leads throughout the organization. The position also will maintain strong relationships with external partners including donors, local organizations and other relevant stakeholders in support of effective implementation of activities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

General Leadership

• Support the implementation of the country program Strategy Action Plan (SAP) in conjunction with Strategy100 (S100), the organization’s strategic plan to guide our work.
• As a member of the SMT, serve as country program representation as needed, particularly in the various humanitarian and development coordination mechanisms.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international/local NGOs, private sector and other relevant actors.
• Coordinate with the various members of the SMT and HQ in the monitoring and development of policies and procedures to ensure the smooth running of program support functions.
• Liaise with finance, operations and programs to assure adequate measures are in place to adhere to necessary rates of implementation and spending (budget vs. actual-BvA).
• Assure awareness of relevant program support function policies, procedures and tools across the organization and coordinate sensitization efforts as needed.

Grants and Compliance Management

• Oversee the Grants team to ensure timely and quality proposal development, compliance, reporting and management of contractual requirements.
• Review and promote understanding of, and adherence to, standardized grants planning and monitoring structures.
• Assure that Project Cycle Meetings are carried out effectively as a key grant monitoring mechanism throughout the life of each grant.
• Provide necessary guidance to sector leads to facilitate the timely and high-quality implementation of projects and promote regular reviews - both internal and external - and other learning events.
• Conduct regular spot checks and field visits to all project sites to work with and support heads of project and their teams in the effective implementation of PCM tools.
• Review major compliance issues on grants and contracts, identify and implement appropriate solutions as necessary in coordination with the relevant Country Program and HQ focal points.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Provide leadership to the MEAL team to ensure the effective implementation, documentation and use of indicators for the effective monitoring and capitalization of learning through the different projects to inform decision making.
• Oversee client feedback mechanisms and provide guidance to program team on improving effectiveness as well as the usage of feedback to guide programming decisions.
• Support multi-departmental tracking/monitoring tools and processes to improve and streamline operational and project tracking systems.
• Oversee the development of practices around best use of resources, working with the team to improve efficiencies in implementation of activities.
• Ensure that ethical and sound data collection and information management systems are in place. Identify relevant MEAL advocacy points to enhance monitoring practices.
• Support HQ and regional learning efforts, exchanges of information and measurement initiatives. Collaborate with relevant internal and external stakeholders on the development of research and learning opportunities.

Partnerships

• Champion robust partner relationship management characterized by the core partnership principles from IRC’s Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS – responsibility, results-oriented, equality, transparency and complementarity).
• Monitor partner country program engagement with partners to ensure sufficient partner support, adherence to partner agreements and engagement in program development initiatives.
• Identify partner capacity development needs and, in collaboration with finance, supply chain, programs, etc., support necessary training and/or sensitization efforts.
• In conjunction with the programs team, meet with existing and prospective partner leadership as needed to strengthen relationships and develop strategies for future programming.

Staff Management

• Supervise and mentor program support team (Grants, Partnerships and MEAL technical leads), including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Lead and model successful adherence to IRC’s Global HR Policies and Procedures.
• Coach direct reports with the aim of strengthening their technical and management capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team, identifying and providing/arranging professional development.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being.
• Conduct ongoing staff leave planning for PS team to ensure adequate coverage and avoid gaps in critical program support.
• Champion IRC safeguarding policies in the workplace at all levels and for our clients.

Qualifications

• At least five years of experience in international development, with at least two years’ experience in a related position.
• Familiarity with management of large-scale, multi-donor programs. Previous experience working with European and US public donors, as well as UN agencies.
• Understanding of key elements of managing partnerships, M&E, accountability, research and grants management in a protracted crisis setting.
• Demonstrable understanding of project planning and management cycles, and strong program design skills.
• Degree in international development or related field, advanced degree preferred.
• Experience working in a developing country setting, protracted crisis or conflict zone.
• Demonstrable high-level performance management and team-working skills; well-developed negotiation skills and ability to communicate effectively in internal and external settings.
• Experience managing teams.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and express complex ideas coherently and succinctly.
• Ability to handle many projects at the same time and to be organized and efficient.
• Ability to effectively work independently within the framework of a larger team.
• Excellent inter-personal, cultural and diplomatic skills.
• Fluency in English.