GBLCAREERS

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Ethiopia, seeks a dynamic, highly qualified individual for its Deputy Director for Programs (DDP). The DDP reports to the Country Director (CD) and is responsible for overall leadership in the design, implementation, and management of IRC Ethiopia’s complex program portfolio. She/he manages and has direct oversight of the Program Department’s Technical and Accountability & Learning Units, and is expected to help conceptualize and promote program innovation and strategic direction and growth. The DDP assists the CD in the planning and implementation of activities crucial to the success of field programs, including government and donor relations. This includes senior-level, internal and external coordination and stakeholder engagement, including with donors, government and non-government partners, and IRC technical and regional support teams; overseeing multi-sector project design, implementation, and management staff to propose, coordinate, and deliver quality programs aligned with strategic priorities and beneficiary needs; and leading strategic funding opportunity tracking and partnering decisions.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Programming

• Provide overall leadership and management to IRC Ethiopia programs, leading and promoting strategic program direction and growth and ensuring programs align with strategic priorities.
• Work closely with others in senior management to ensure timely strategy action plan delivery, monitoring, and reporting, including the rollout of related strategic initiatives; and lead strategic action plan review processes.
• Liaise with key donors on funding opportunities, program priorities and strategies, and ongoing program successes and/or support needs.
• Ensure program meetings are held regularly, encouraging a holistic approach and ensuring that cross-sectoral collaboration and innovative strategies appropriate to the context are introduced/implemented.
• Oversee and facilitate decision-making related to project design, pursuance of funding opportunities, and partnership/consortia development.
• Ensure that program/technical staff provide required input to proposal development and grants management teams in the process of new funding proposals, grant and budget revisions, and cost modifications, as well as donor reports.
• Investigate opportunities to expand existing programming and to develop new programming relevant to IRC capacities and strategic priorities, and provide senior-level, strategic direction and direct support as needed to the proposal development team to ensure cross-departmental inputs are timely and of high quality standards.
• Oversee Accountability & Learning staff to ensure coordinated monitoring, evaluation, and learning support across program teams at the field and main office level.

Project Management

• Work with program teams and operational departments (e.g. Finance, Supply Chain) to strengthen and ensure consistent, accurate use of planning and tracking tools and systems.
• Ensure that budget versus actual analysis is carried out regularly by program teams; that the budget holders and all relevant program staff review BVAs each month and take an active role in managing the budgets according to donor and IRC requirements; recommend interventions to correct any deviations that impact budget adherence.
• Take a lead in identifying inter-departmental issues; facilitate process of finding solutions and follow up on implementing agreed steps.
• Promote, and participate in regional coordination and program learning exchange efforts, and identify key program learning could be applied to enhance quality and inform program design/management.
• Serve as an IRC focal point for large strategic projects (e.g. large-scale USAID-, EU-, DFID-funded resilience/development programs), including oversight of and support to IRC project directors where applicable.

Human Resources & Capacity Building

• Directly supervise up to nine senior technical/project staff: WASH, Health, Child and Youth Development, Community Wellbeing, Accountability & Learning, as well as project-based coordinators and directors/DCOPs.
• Provide complementary oversight of Emergency Response and Grants Units with the CD.
• Promote positive and productive teamwork and overall working environment.
• Recommend to the CD promotions, disciplinary action and termination of program staff in consultation with direct supervisors.
• Work with the relevant program teams to review program staffing structure, identify gaps/excesses, propose and implement steps to address identified gaps.
• Support Technical Coordinators in HR management of the staff they supervise, and ensure timely, quality performance review and feedback among program teams.
• Assess and identify capacity building needs of the program/technical staff and match them with the available capacity building opportunities within and outside of IRC; where necessary develop and follow up on individual capacity building plans.

Liaison and Special Tasks:

• In coordination with the CD and DDO, liaise with national and district authorities, donors, NGOs, and other operational partners, including attendance at scheduled and ad hoc meetings, and represent IRC and IRC interests by maintaining positive, constructive relations.
• With the CD, take a lead in donor relations, representing the IRC at various donor and other internal and external stakeholder forums.
• Ensure IRC participation in sector-specific coordination forums and help foster exchanges of program information and lessons learned with partners, client communities, and other IRC country programs.
• At the request of the CD, assist with hosting delegations affiliated with IRC, donors, or other parties visiting IRC; ensure that IRC ongoing programs are presented accurately and well, with particular focus on achievements and learning.
• Supervise and complete special projects as assigned by the CD.

Requirements

Professional:

• Five to eight years of overseas experience, preferably in relief/development work with management and supervisory responsibilities in program administration at senior management level; Ethiopia and/or Horn of Africa experience considered an advantage.
• Experience working and coordinating with US, EU and UN donors, other INGOs, national NGOs and government agencies.
• Proven ability to manage complex teams and work collaboratively with programs and operational departments, particularly in a multi-cultural environment.
• Exceptional writing and communication skills, with fluency in English, is one of the most essential skills for the position.
• Strong multi-tasking and time management skills are essential, as are flexibility and adaptability.
• Knowledge and understanding of the full project cycle, including project design and M&E systems and procedures required.
• Innovative and creative problem solver.
• Master’s degree in relevant field from a recognized university.

Personal:

• Ability to work under pressure, long work hours, and with a high workload.
• Ability to independently organize work and prioritize tasks.
• Works well both independently and as part of a team.
• Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual.
• Willingness for extensive travel.