Vacancies at International Rescue Committee

Job Overview / Summary

The Director of Strategy and Learning provides leadership on the VPRU’s strategic priorities and learning agenda, drives strategic business development for the unit and oversees a portfolio of technical innovation projects across all areas of protection. The Director of Strategy and Learning works closely with the Director of Country Support in VPRU, is supervised by the Senior Director of VPRU, and is part of the VPRU senior leadership team.

Major Responsibilities

Strategic oversight and learning

• Lead on strategy planning, innovation and learning by ensuring priorities and learning agenda align and advance
• Regularly lead review of progress against unit priorities
• Enhance and maintain strong coordination with other teams in the Unit to jointly advance on priorities and ensure coherence with country support
• Enhance and maintain strong coordination with other teams across the organization to advance joint priorities and alignment with the IRC Strategy and priorities

Business development and oversight

• Oversee and support business development processes for the unit and ensure alignment with priorities and learning agenda
• Promote uptake of strategic and research projects across the team
• Provide oversight to technical projects housed within the unit and ensure timely delivery
• Build and maintain strategic donor relationships

Team Leadership

• Oversee team of around 25 senior technical advisers, advisers, specialists and officers and promote team culture of inclusion, belonging, learning, and performance
• Directly manage 4 senior technical advisers focused on inclusion and risk mitigation; partnership and movement building; monitoring, evaluation and learning; and information management and technology
• Coordinate the Strategy and Learning team to ensure cohesion and collaboration across projects, monitoring, evaluation and Learning, and information management and technology

Other Responsibilities

• Actively participate in the Unit’s Senior Leadership Team
• Lead on special projects as assigned defined in Senior Leadership Team
• On occasion may take on Senior Technical Director role for interim periods as needed

Key Working Relationships

• Position reports to: Senior Technical Director, Violence Prevention and Response Unit (VPRU)
• Position directly supervises: 4 Senior Technical Advisers who each manages a team of specialists and advisers
• Regular internal (IRC) contact with: VPRU Country Support team. Other Technical Units such as economic recovery and development, education, governance and health. Measurement Unit and Research & Innovation team. Awards Management Unit and External Relations for of across public and private fundraising. Regional and country leadership teams as needed.
• Regular external contact with: Public and private donors.

Education

Job Requirements:

• Degree in gender, international law, social work, public health or related.

Work Experience

• Minimum of ten years progressive protection experience including experience implementing programs in fragile and conflict affected settings
• At least five years experience in leading teams and strategy
• Experience providing technical leadership to multi-year, multi million business development opportunities from institutional donors

Demonstrated Skills And Competencies

• Demonstrated experience and ability managing teams and individuals
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to communicate effectively in a multi-cultural environment
• Solid organizational skills; be flexible and work well under pressure, taking care of competing priorities, in a fast-paced environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Interest in and ability to think and plan the ‘big picture’ level

Language Skills

• Fluent in English; fluency in French, Spanish or Arabic language highly desired

Working Environment

• Some international travel as needed up to 20% - when deployed, will stay in IRC approved accommodation which may include shared guesthouses.
• If home based: This role requires working remotely full time (i.e., telecommuting). Applicants must have a home or alternate workspace they can effectively complete their work during regularly scheduled work hours. Home work location must be in state and/or country where IRC is a registered employer.
• This position is required to have a flexible work-day hours to accommodate varying time zones to complete required tasks and coordination functions.

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Job Description

The Senior WPE Psychosocial Officer will provide technical support and leadership required for the successful implementation of women, girls, children protection and empowerment program in Kakuma. The Officer will support the GBV case worker and Community Health Volunteers in providing comprehensive, timely and quality case management to survivors of GBV, lead implementation of prevention and response interventions including the provision of information on WPE and child protection services, referral mechanisms and coordination. He/she will represent IRC in WPE/GBV/Child protection related partners meeting. The Officer will be responsible for training and mentoring community health volunteers, report and proposal writing, documentation as well as knowledge management. This position reports to the Senior Field Coordinator administratively and technically to the WPE coordinator.

Key Responsibilities

• Under the supervision of the Snr. Field Coordinator and WPE Coordinator, provide technical oversight and capacity-building through training, mentorship and on-the-job support for Case Worker and community health volunteers (CHVs) on GBV/WPE/Child protection program implementation.
• Provide project leadership and ensure the implementation of the program meet standard operating procedures, child protection guidelines and GBV case management guiding principles.
• Monitor group therapy sessions and one-on-one support to women, girls, care givers and children-survivors of gender-based violence.
• Work with health staff to provide timely and quality clinical care to SGBV survivors and monitor activities, when requested or advised.
• Provide psychosocial support to care givers, children, and survivors of violence.
• Strengthen and maintain networks with community leaders, opinion shapers, women groups and service providers to improve communication, collaboration and coordination among partners.
• Set up an active and functional feedback mechanisms, referral pathway and document referral directory.
• Ensure GBV coordination partners and CHVs understand and are able to utilize the referral system effectively.
• Participate in development of monthly outreach plans with community workers, based on case trends and ongoing needs of women, boys and girls, include strategies to reach women, boys and girls who are more isolated/have special needs.
• Collect and collate data about gender based violence and child protection, monitor trends and emerging issues.
• Assist with identification of relevant actors offering services against gender based violence in Kakuma. Visit partners, conduct interviews, and compile responses.
• Assist with the identification of potential local partners. Provide input into capacity assessment and associated recommendations.
• Assist with developing adequate project monitoring systems and help to ensure that GBV volunteers and community workers utilize these systems accurately and consistently.
• Assist with preparing all relevant reports regarding the IRC’s activities.
• Develop concept and proposals for the projects.
• Ensure timely implementation of program activities.
• Provide administrative and logistical support to the program.
• Fulfill any other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Key Result Areas

Program

• Quality program planning and implementation with partner organizations.
• Desire to achieve program objectives.
• Quality reports are produced and submitted on time.
• Take lead in monitoring and evaluating activities.
• Coordination with other partners including government agencies is strengthened.
• Take lead in implementing activities on adolescent girls and boys programming.

Partnership

• Good coordination with partners in the WPE/GBV/Child protection program area in particular Kakuma.
• Actively participate in WPE working group forums and other relevant forums.
• Work closely with MoH in coordination meetings.

Case Management and Information Management

• Implement a simple case management system for the health centers that is linked to the work and activities of the CHVs in the community.
• Implement an effective referral system at the interagency and community level to ensure survivors can access quality services in a timely manner.
• Monitor internal referral system within IRC between the health and WPE program.

Qualifications

• Degree in counseling and/or psychology. A Social Science or related degree is preferred.

Required Experience & Proficiencies:

• Minimum 3 years of direct psychosocial/counseling experience with a reputable agency; experience working with survivors of violence preferred.
• Clear understanding of gender, abuse of power, and issues surrounding violence against women.
• Relevant experience in child protection and related areas, program/project development and management are an asset.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, medical ethics, and respect for clients at all times. Experience in participatory techniques and community mobilization
• Strong ability to lead, train, facilitates and motivates others in their respective tasks in a professional, respectful, and supportive manner.
• Positive, highly motivated, innovative, with good organizational and inter-personal skills.

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Job Description

The HR Systems Associate will maintain the Human Resource Systems supported by the HRIT team and provide operational support to the users of the Employee Directory system.  As the first point of contact with the HR community, this role requires good interpersonal and analytical skills. The successful candidate will be able to complete and track multiple concurrent activities with accuracy and timeliness.

Major Responsibilities: 

• Update shared reference data (i.e.: cost centers, department / location hierarchies) in HR systems including Workday, Cornerstone and the IRC developed People Directory
• Build or run standard reports
• Develop standard operating procedures for the collection and maintenance of employee data supplied by the IRC user community
• Manage the intake of data from feeder systems and ensure data extracted from HR systems is processed successfully by receiving systems
• Create and maintain data uploads into HR systems
• Provide operational training to new HR users
• Periodic audits of employee data and ad-hoc support to users as they correct employee data
• Resolve assigned Tier 1 issues / questions across all HR systems 
• Configure and test system improvements
• Complete ad-hoc tasks in Workday or other HR systems as needed

Job Requirements: 

• Education: Bachelors or equivalent
• Work Experience: Human Resources background with experience updating HR systems

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Strong proficiency in MS Office; Excel ability to build macros, pivot tables, VLOOKUP, analytical capabilities and workbooks required
• Self-motivated
• Able to work independently and in a team environment 
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills
• Ability to work discreetly with confidential information
• Experience working in a globally distributed environment 
• Flexibility in daily schedule and ability to understand and react quickly to changing priorities
• Experience working with a helpdesk ticketing system

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The health and nutrition teams are composed of program managers (2 Health managers, 2 RH/CHP Managers, 2 Nutrition Managers), 2 medical officers in charge of hospital, 7 medical officers, 2 Clinical officers in charge of Clinics, 20 Clinical officers, 2 Nursing officers in charge, 70 nurses, 4 pharmacists, 8 Lab technologists, 1 radiologist, 12 nutrition officers, and 11 Community Health officers). IRC engages 370 refugee incentive staff to support the qualified staff in various health facility departments and at the community level (271 CHWs, 99 Nutrition assistants).

The Field operations is led by the Senior Field Coordinator and the programs are supported by the administration/logistics team comprising of HR and Supply Chain team.IRC Kakuma program is grappling with a pediatric surge with an increase in pediatric admissions and mortality at IRC Ammusait Hospital (Level 4 facility), both at Pediatric and Stabilization Centre Wards. This is worsened by the drought, reduction in food rations, gaps in WASH and seasonal flu transmission. Most of the deaths reported occurred within 48 hours of admission with some cases being too critical/very ill before by the time of admission. A total of 585 children have been admitted and managed for the month of May, with 24 mortalities reported in both wards. The surge in admission has caused a strain to the existing health facilities especially in the main hospital inpatient unit. In Dadaab, the Stabilization center and pediatric wards have also seen an upsurge in admissions in the month of May. A total of 263 children have been admitted into the Pediatrics and SC during the month of May. The total number of deaths is 7.

Objective of the consultancy

• Assess the IRC capacity to respond to the current surge crisis of increase in number of patients, both at the IRC operated health facilities and the community level.
• Review the program management, skills, and competencies for the field management team in relation to crisis response and routine program management.
• Support the IRC Kakuma team in the development and implementation of surge preparedness and response plan, based on comprehensive data review and needs including required resources.
• Facilitate management capacity and good governance at the field and Nairobi levels to lead health development, strengthen the different pillars of the health.

Expected outcome

• Submit a report to IRC SMT on Medical Services Management at Kakuma and Dadaab highlighting the staff capacity/competencies, key management strengths/challenges and recommendations
• Improved Management of Health services at IRC Kakuma and Dadaab field operations.

Tasks to be performed

Acting independently but with full consent to access of resources from the Kakuma and Dadaab team, the consultant shall review the IRC Health and Nutrition program regarding the current surge crisis and health services preparedness and planning. He/ She will:

• A ssess the clinical services management at OPD and inpatient departments of the hospital with respect to capacities and gaps in operational sufficiency to provide timely and accurate clinical care for patients,
• Determine and execute immediate interventions to address the current gaps particularly to mitigate mortality trends and improve the quality of care at OPD and IP for the current surge.
• Monitor the functioning of the OPD and IPD providing advice on the organization of the clinics and wards including consultations, admissions, transfer, and discharge.
• Provide advice on the procedure for referrals and support in the timely referrals as required.
• Contribute to data analysis, monitoring and reporting aiming at improving the quality of care.
• Provide a report on the status of IRC medical services surge response outlining the actions undertaken and key recommendations for IRC SMT to provide immediate support.

Health services preparedness planning

• Conduct a Services Availability and Readiness Assessment of IRC medical/ clinical and community health services to respond to morbidity surge crisis and provide recommendations.
• Assess the Health Workforce (HW) profile and proficiency for outbreak/ surge preparedness and response and recommend HW learning and development activities that are relevant to clinical care.
• Assess the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) needs for the current seasonal morbidity trends and provide recommendations for RCCE interventions.
• Develop a health facilities readiness/ preparedness action plan outlining all relevant actions to be taken at all stages pre, during and post emergency crisis.
• Develop an implementation plan for rolling out the preparedness plan at IRC health facilities.