International Rescue Committee
Position Title: Deputy Director of Programs
The IRC has been active in The Central African Republic (CAR) since 2006 and has been implementing emergency response programs since early 2013. The IRC has four sub-offices (Bocaranga, Kaga Bandoro, Zemio and Ndele), in addition to a central office in Bangui. Since 2007, it has built close relationships with local communities, community leaders, local authorities, and other local and international actors. Today, the IRC is one of the leading humanitarian actors working in the prefectures Ouham Pende, Nana Gribizi, bamingui-Bangoran and Haut Mbomou, implementing programs in health, Women Protection and Empowerment, Child protection and Access to justice and Early Recovery and Development. The IRC has demonstrated its ability to successfully implement health and protection programming, improving beneficiaries' access to healthcare and providing survivors of violence with safe, confidential services to help them recover and reintegrate into their communities. The gained technical expertise, logistical abilities, and local knowledge and understanding has laid the foundation to expand and deepen these services to reach more people and respond to the emergency need at a greater scale as additional funding is secured.
Scope of work
As a member of the Country Program Senior Management Team, the DDP will be responsible for the strategic oversight of IRC programs in the Central African Republic and will take a lead role in the implementation of the country Strategic Action Plan. S/he will ensure program design and management (Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation), program quality and development, donor and IRC compliance, staff development, and representation. The DDP supervises the Program Coordinators and M&E and Grants departments. S/he will work closely with HQ based Technical and Regional Unit colleagues.
Strategy & planning
• Ensure effective and timely implementation of programmatic objectives of the SAP and its regular reviews in collaboration with the Senior Management Team.
• Ensure that the Strategic Action Plan is disseminated to all new IRC staff.
• In collaboration with the Country Director, lead the planning, development, implementation of IRC program initiatives with technical coordinators, in accordance with the strategic plans and liaise with IRC’s Technical Units for technical guidance on implementation and new program design.
• Ensure that all staff and partners understand the importance of gender equality, diversity and inclusion (GDEI) in programming and working environment and that all programmes are designed to reduce gender inequalities.
• Ensure that respect for humanitarian principles is applied in IRC programming on a daily basis.
• Maintain an up-to-date contextual analysis to ensure pertinence of all programming.
• Support the development/updating of the Country Strategies by leading the development and integration of data analytics derived from programs among all portfolios, ensuring the IRC CAR mission is driven by an evidence-based strategy.
Program quality and program technical excellence
• Ensure the country program delivers high quality, multisectoral programming in both humanitarian and development contexts
• Monitor and advance technical and operational quality of programs, including development of quality benchmarks, soliciting inputs for design of new programs, and cultivating ideas for innovation
• Monitor program impact indicators and, in partnership with other teams, initiate improvement toward the quality programming platform to meet relevant standards and to advance IRC's Global Vision and Mission and Regional and Country Office priorities.
• Lead on developing and ensuring quality framework standards are met and procedures are followed throughout the project cycle and across the portfolio.
• Build and lead a team of program technical coordinators needed to successfully deliver against the Country Program Strategy.
• Conduct regular visits to program sites to monitor program quality and provide action-oriented feedback and recommendations.
• Provide technical guidance on the design and implementation of assessments and evaluations, including their reports.
Business Development and Grants Management
• Identify new funding opportunities by monitoring and analyzing donor strategies and funding trends. Research and advise the CD on the benefits and challenges of pursuing different funding streams in line with the country program’s Strategic Action Plan.
• Provide leadership in the development of new program design. Manage the development and review of concept notes and proposals. Guide the grants department to lead and facilitate effective cross-departmental coordination for all proposal development and project revision processes.
• Ensure all proposal outputs are accurate, complete, and of high quality prior to submission.
• In collaboration with the Grants Coordinator, ensure relevant, responsive, and donor-compliant support to program delivery and operations departments in the post-award management of grants.
• Track, monitor and supervise all external reporting to ensure timely delivery of high-quality reports which meet donor and IRC requirements.
• Oversee the organizing, preparation, and follow-up of Project Cycle Management meetings.
• Facilitate open communication with headquarters-based and regional- based focal points during the proposal development phase and throughout the grant management cycle.
• Maintain a strong working relationship with donors. Participate in donor meetings together with the CD as required.
• Create and maintain systems to ensure efficient and transparent capture of program data for management decision-making and timely and informative internal and external reporting.
Partnerships
• Support the Partnerships Coordinator to facilitate successful partnership management processes across technical sectors.
• Collaborate with technical coordinators to proactively identify potential strategic partnerships with NGOs, government bodies, and the private sector.
• Assist in ensuring that strategic partnership considerations are incorporated in program design, including in Go / No-Go funding discussions.
• Ensure the proactive engagement of partners in program development efforts.
• Serve as a leader in building a culture of effective and respectful partnerships. Promote attitudes and values conducive to collaborative partnerships across the country program.
• Promote and apply the IRC’s PEERS approach. Contribute to building a strong understanding of PEERS throughout the IRC CAR offices.
Representation
• Assist the CD in representing IRC and IRC’s interests with Government officials, donors, UN, and other operating and implementing partners when required or applicable.
• Assist the CD in developing a strong relationship with donors to ensure sustainable funding of programs
• Represent IRC in lieu of the Country Director as necessary
• Support program coordinators in their representation roles in technical meetings
Policies / Compliance
• Actively participate and Support Grants Coordinator and program coordinators to hold efficient and effective Opening, Review, and Closing Grants Meetings
• Support the Grants Coordinator to ensure that all donors policies are followed by programs and operations
• Support the Grants Coordinator and program coordinators to ensure that quality donor reports are generated and submitted to donors and headquarters in a timely manner. Oversee budget re-alignments and amendments when necessary.
Staff Development
• Facilitate the conceptual, managerial, organizational, and technical capacities of IRC staff to effectively contribute to the achievements of the program objectives.
• Directly supervise program, grant and M&E coordinators
• Build capacity of program/grants staff to foster staff retention and enhance program quality
• Coordinate the recruitment of program staff and recommend promotions and performance action plans for program staff with direct supervisors, Human Resources, and the CD.
• Ensure the Performance Management System for all program staff is followed.
• Ensure regular communication between field program teams and program department staff.
• In coordination with the Country Director and the management team ensure effective communication mechanism is in place to facilitate access to information by all staff to enhance inclusive participation and empowering work environment
• In coordination with the Country Director and Program Coordinators liaise with IRC’s Technical Units for technical guidance and support.
Gender and Safeguarding
• In collaboration with the Senior HR Coordinator, provide management in partnership support to the Gender Equality & Safeguarding specialist on program quality issues.
• Promote the application of gender equality principles in all program policies and practices.
• Monitor and support the rollout of IRC’s safeguarding strategy across programs.
Key working relationships
• Position reports to: Country Director
• Direct reports: WPE and Access to Justice Coordinator, CYPD Coordinator, Health and Nutrition Coordinator, Grant Coordinator, Partnerships Coordinator, EU/Bekou Consortium coordinator, Nutrition Research Coordinator, MEAL Coordinator.
• Other internal contacts: Deputy Director of Finance, Deputy Director of Operations, Roving Field Coordinator, HR Coordinator, Humanitarian Access, Security and Safety Coordinator, Chain Coordinator, Great Lakes Regional Program Support Team,
Job requirements
• Postgraduate degree in International Development, Management, Social Works, or similar relevant degree
• Excellent professional track record with five – seven years of international management level experience within (NGO) leadership working in emergency/post conflict environment
• Skills and knowledge in at least two out of the following expertise areas: project management, M&E, protection, health, and food security/ERD.
• Proven technical writing and budgeting skills with strong proposal writing and budgeting skills, IT proficiency, excellent communication and writing skills, good interpersonal skills, ability to work in a team setting, ability, and willingness to travel to remote areas,
• Ability to prioritize and multitask high volume of work to meet tight deadlines and prioritize activities according to missions’ needs.
• Experience of grants management and coordinating with donors including BHA, EU, ECHO, foundation donors, UN (WHO, UNICEF, OCHA), BMZ, GFFO, SIDA etc.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Knowledge of best practices in project design, implementation, and community participation.
• Ability to take initiative and proven ability to work creatively, innovatively, and effectively to make decisions with limited direct supervision.
• Culturally sensitive, with the ability and interest to work with a multi-ethnic team.
• Fluent in French and proficient in English essential.
The Work Environment
The DDP will be based in Bangui, in CAR, and will travel throughout the country to field program locations (30%). The security situation in CAR is still unstable but there are different sources of hope for the country to return to peace. The security level remains at 3 (orange phase). The candidate must be prepared to work in insecure environments. This is an unaccompanied position.
Housing: individual housing. All IRC sites have electricity and internet although some interruptions can be experienced.
Returning national candidates: IRC strives to attract, motivate, and retain qualified national staff in our programs. We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a national of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the IRC has introduced an attractive remuneration package.
CVs to be submitted in English or French We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request more information.
Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.
Diversity, Inclusion and Gender Equality: IRC acknowledges and honors the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status or disability. IRC is also committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits
How to apply
https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/37611?c=rescue