Deputy Project Director, EQUAL Maternal and Newborn Health Research Consortium at International Rescue Committee

IRC is the lead organization in the Ensuring Quality Access and Learning (EQUAL) for Mothers and Newborns in Conflict-Affected Contexts Consortium funded through an FCDO Commercial Contract. The objective of this project is to produce rigorous, operationally relevant research and evidence to improve Maternal and Neonatal Health (MNH) in low-income, conflict-affected contexts. This project will produce evidence that is accessible to decision-makers influencing strategic investment, policy and programming to improve MNH, at the national and global level.
 
We are seeking a highly experienced manager of FCDO commercial contract implementation, compliance, and operational oversight to join the EQUAL team as Deputy Project Director. As a critical operational leader and in-house expert on commercial contracts, you will drive effective implementation and risk management, support and mentor staff, and create a work environment that promotes teamwork, trust, mutual respect, and empowers staff to take ownership.

Major Responsibilities:

Provide operational, financial and contractual oversight to the EQUAL Project, including:

• Serving as the primary liaison for FCDO contractual compliance and contract management.
• Ensuring sound financial management, including forecasting, monitoring budget vs actuals, cash flows, and financial risk.
• Conducting financial analysis to ensure value for money and adequate funding to achieve results.
• Supporting the EQUAL team and Consortia partners to deliver on project targets in compliance with FCDO and IRC requirements, policies, and best practices.
• Lead oversight and management of sub-contracting with consortium partners, including development of partner budgets, scopes of work, and special conditions.
• Collaborate with the Project Director to develop, review and monitor annual workplans and performance plans to ensure that priorities are on track.
• In coordination with the Project Director, liaise directly with the donor to provide project updates, discuss obstacles, performance plans, and progress against targets.
• Support the preparation and submission of donor reports through both formal and informal debriefings, as well as consolidating and editing annual and quarterly reports.
• Build and evolve systems and processes to ensure strong risk management and mitigation.
• Ensure institutional capacity strengthening for project sub-contractors on key issues such as governance, key policies, human resources, transparency, safeguarding, and finance.
• Lead processes for consultancies and commissioned work.

Manage the contracts finance function and staff for the project, and provide training and support to team members and partners to build commercial contracts knowledge and capacity across the consortia.

Requirements

• Minimum 6-8 years progressive experience, including significant experience in leading FCDO commercial contracts.
• Demonstrated experience delivering large, complex projects, including financial leadership and management, and supporting contract compliance.
• Strong expertise in budget development, forecasting, spending plan development and tracking, and supervising the financial health of projects.
• Experience leading risk assessment and mitigation, due diligence assessments and/or audits for high-compliance projects.
• Extensive experience supporting local partners and subcontractors, including contracting, due diligence, capacity building and relationship management.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: able to successfully and effectively partner with a variety of people in a multi-cultural environment and work on a virtual team.
• Excellent written and oral fluency in English is required. French language proficiency preferred.