Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Deputy Director of Programs at the International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
Scope:
IRC seeks a Deputy Director of Programs with a background in protection to provide overall strategic guidance and support to its programming in Iraq. This includes providing the leadership required to ensure that IRC is in a position to respond to the increasing protection needs of IDPs and returnees in Iraq and that IRC’s three main program areas, protection/rule of law programming, child protection and development (CYPD), and women’s protection and empowerment (WPE) are strategically coordinated to complement each other.
Responsibilities:
• Provide leadership to the country program as a key member of the Senior Management Team.
• Develop an overall program strategy that is responsive to the dynamic needs of IDPs, refugees and returnees and other vulnerable populations in Iraq and built on the programming strengths of IRC in Iraq and globally.
• Coordinate the design and development of new programming that is relevant and technically sound.
• Oversee the quality implementation of ongoing programming based on robust grant management and monitoring and evaluation systems and the facilitation of Technical Unit support.
• Supervise senior program and grants unit staff.
• Ensure program staff compliance to security, procurement, HR and financial 
management protocols.
• Represent the program to donors, UN and partner INGOs, and national and local government officials.
Strategic Leadership
• Work with the Regional Unit and Country Director to provide leadership to the development and maintenance of a comprehensive needs-based program strategy for IRC programming in Iraq
• Provide guidance to the program team regarding tools and strategies to ensure that programming is based on input from communities, a thorough understanding of the context, and technical best practices.
• Lead the development and implementation of integrated programming initiatives so that technical sectors compliment the programming of one another to promote the “mainstreaming” of protection principles, child protection and gender in all programming.
Program Design
• Proactively identify new programming opportunities and lead the development of new program designs and proposals coordinating the efforts of the grants unit, program managers and coordinators, and technical unit.
• Ensure that all new budgets accurately reflect program activities and required staffing.
Program Implementation
• Ensure that program implementation is managed closely through the development of structured work plans, indicator tracking sheets and monitoring plans.
• Ensure that donor compliance for program, reporting, and financial grant requirements are met.
• Coordinate programs to ensure technical and program support across sectors.
• Ensure that monitoring and evaluation of programming informs quality implementation.
• Ensure the professional development of program staff in order to maintain a high standard of capacity for the implementation of 
quality programming.
• Work with senior program staff to ensure that protection information is used effectively for advocacy and for the development of new programming.
Operations and Finance
• Coordinate closely with Deputy Director of Operations and Finance Controller to ensure that security, procurement, HR and financial protocols are designed to support quality programming.
• Closely monitor program spending and follow up spending plans with sector heads
• Perform Head of Office duties in Baghdad and Erbil offices coordinating finance, operations, and program efforts to ensure the smooth implementation of activities.
This position reports to the Country Director.
Requirements
• Postgraduate degree in International Development, International Law or similar relevant social science or related field
• Excellent professional track record with at least five years of international management level experience within NGO leadership including working in protection program implementation
• Previous experience managing programs financed through US, EU, UN and private foundations, with previous competitive RFA/P experience a plus
• Demonstrated understanding of international law, refugee law and humanitarian principles preferred
• Strong coordination, communication and advocacy skills and demonstrable capacity for working effectively in a close, multi-disciplinary cooperative team environment
• Proven ability to live and work in an unstable, insecure environment and maintain sense of humour
• Understanding of the Iraq context and the current situation preferred.
Specific Security Situation/Housing :
Must comply with all IRC security policies and procedures applicable to international staff. As of posting, field access and travel is feasible but limited, and candidates should expect periodic further limitations on movement. Shared housing of good standard is provided.

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