Project Director at International Rescue Committee

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the EPD team in deploying technical assistance to address policy, legal, and implementation challenges. Provide overall strategic, programmatic, and administrative leadership and direction, overseeing all technical, operational, and financial aspects of the programme.
• Manage the programme's performance against objectives and key performance indicators(KPI) to ensure FCDO receives full payment based on good performance.
• Responsible for monitoring KPIs to ensure contract deliverables are delivered efficiently and effectively.
• Oversee project risk, compliance, duty of care, and security and supervise the EPD programme staff.
• Supervise and shape the TA process, ensuring clear policy/influencing opportunities are identified and addressed in collaboration with FCDO and government and counterparts.
• Oversee the recruitment, contracting, and performance management of consultants, ensuring alignment with programme objectives and country needs.
• Manage the strategic flexible fund, overseeing activities such as analysis, convening, and planning to support EPD aims in alignment with FCDO priorities.
• Oversee the development, review, and monitoring of yearly work plans, project strategy documents, implementation measures, knowledge management, and sustainability efforts to achieve long-term and short-term goals.
• Manage consortium partnerships and maintain collaborative partner relations, ensuring that all partners are aware of the project’s expectations and are actively involved in achieving the objectives while using the project management tools developed or adapted for the consortium.
• Support the Deputy Project Director in managing partners and providing operations support that optimizes resources through sound budgets, consistent financial tracking, and timely submission of reports to the donor.
• Report to FCDO through both formal and informal debriefings, annual and semi-annual reports, ensuring timely submission of high-quality content.
• Maintain active and cooperative relationships with all key stakeholders, including government officials, project partners, other implementing agencies, and related institutions.
• Represent the project and the International Rescue Committee in national, regional, and international fora, including technical conferences and policy briefings, and share information about project achievements and lessons learned within the organization and wider development community.

Project Director Profile & Qualifications

• Advanced degree (or equivalent experience) in health, public administration, or related field.
• A minimum of 10 years experience managing large-scale, multi-million-dollar, complex, multi-partner projects, ideally experience leading FCDO Health programs.
• Experience and ability to provide leadership and direction and harness the multi-disciplinary skills of technical personnel and consortium partners.
• Deep understanding of and experience in programming addressing critical issues related to health system strengthening; human rights, gender, and equality, including sexual and reproductive health and rights; and healthier environments, including WASH, climate and health, nutrition, and air pollution.
• Experience and ability to work with and build effective partnerships between a broad range of stakeholders, including government, civil society, the private sector, multilaterals, and donors.
• Prior experience in operating effectively within complex and high-risk environments and managing the needs of multiple stakeholders; experience with at least one of the EPD countries is strongly preferred.
• Excellent leadership, representation, organisational, and interpersonal skills.
• Prior experience in managing large FCDO commercial contracts.
• Strong analytical communication and writing skills, with the ability to articulate complex information backed with evidence to promote and persuade influential stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Proficiency in English is required. Proficiency in French is ideal.