Deputy Director of Programs

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees delivers lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In early 2014, IRC opened a field office in Mubi town of Adamawa state in NE Nigeria followed by offices in Yola (Adamawa state) in November 2014 and Maiduguri (Borno state) in October 2015. IRC has ECHO, OFDA, and Gates funds to respond to humanitarian, nutrition, GBV, and WASH activities. In late 2014 and early 2015, IRC received additional funds from SV, SIDA, USAID, and UNICEF to carry out education, child protection, general protection, emergency food distributions, shelter support, and NFI distributions to newly displaced IDPs. In late 2015 into early 2016, IRC received Swiss and UNHCR funds for additional emergency response humanitarian-focused programming in NE Nigeria. In July 2016, a nutritional and food security crisis emerged in Borno state and IRC began a rapid scale up of its program intervention in that area including startup of programming outside the state capital, Maiduguri. IRC anticipates continued expansion beyond Maiduguri which requires additional security monitoring and management to ensure that IRC teams remain safe as they go into newly accessible areas of NE and NW Nigeria.

Job Overview

The Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) is a member of the senior management team (SMT) (along with the Deputy Director of Operations (DDO), Deputy Director of Finance (DDF), Snr. HR Coordinator, and OTL Chief of Party. The DDP is responsible for leading and managing the program sectors, grant management, M&E and Consortia teams in the Country Program. The DDP is expected to contribute to high levels of teamwork and inter-departmental and cross-sectoral collaboration. Through the DDP’s leadership the IRC Nigeria country program will develop and implement high quality programs based on the principles of results, data-driven analysis, problem identification and problem solving. The DDP will also be the focal point for strategy development, review, and monitoring. The position is based in Abuja with frequent travel to all field locations.

Major Responsibilities

Ethics, Integrity and Safeguarding

Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Way (code of conduct) and other Global HR Policies and Procedures, and communicate through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations. Ensure that programs are designed in ensure integrity and safeguarding are central to all interactions with clients.

Security

Contribute to the highest possible standard of security management through SMT level security and risk analysis and planning and the integration of security principles in program design and implementation, grant management and M&E.

Management and Strategy

Actively contribute to and participate in management and leadership platforms such as the senior management team and the country leadership group. Be a champion and focal point for the development, periodic review and implementation of the Nigeria Strategic Action Plan and ensure quality and meaningful participation of programs, grants and M&E teams in strategy and research related activities and initiatives.

Strategy 100

• Champion IRC’s Strategy 100, ensuring that all country program colleagues are familiar with the Strategic Action Plan (SAP) and that all programs are in line with IRC Nigeria’s strategy.

• Lead the development, follow up and progress review of the SAP – implementation plan (SAP-IP) and associated budget in collaboration with all departments and key resource persons identified in the SAP-IP, in line with organisational guidelines and country program needs.

• Lead the SAP reporting in line with organisational guidelines, through a participatory process across key staff to monitor progress.

• Chair the SAP country team, ensuring close monitoring of actions and timely reporting.

• Supervise the roll out of program related SAP initiatives, such as the Outcome and Evidence Framework and IRC’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning handbook.

• Ensure that all staff and partners have a clear understanding of the importance of gender equality and protection mainstreaming in programs and that all programs are designed to reduce the gender gap.

Program Design and technical oversight

•Ensure the highest level of quality in program design through robust and in-depth context analysis, development of theories of change and sector level strategies. Through rigorous M&E processes and results-based management, periodic and systematic learning is informing program design and adaptation.

•In partnership with the SMT ensure efficient and effective delivery of program quality commitments through overseeing the development and implementation of tools such as program oversight management plans, budget versus actual reports, work plans and in collaboration with Project management teams, lead project reports and etc.

•Oversee appropriate technical assistance for all sectors ensuring that programs are reaching a high quality through use of best practice, evidence base and up-to-the-minute learning.

Postholder will be responsible for all consortium projects, having responsibility for relevant consortium leads.

Business Development and Grant Management

•In conjunction with SMT colleagues, lead the development, implementation and review of IRC’s country program business development strategy to ensure that individual sector programs, overall strategy and operations are adequately funded.

Lead the grant management team to ensure IRC Nigeria are meeting all institutional donor and internal reporting and compliance requirement.

Representation, Advocacy and Communication

•In conjunction with the CD and DDO, ensure that the IRC is effectively represented in relevant coordination fora and networks and with relevant stakeholders. This representation should aim to bring to bear IRC’s learning and experience to improve the overall humanitarian and development response in Nigeria.

•Drive an advocacy strategy that advances the strategic aims of the country program.

Ensure that the IRC has an appropriate range of communication products to highlight the work of the country program to various audiences.

Human Resources Management

Lead teams under the supervision of the DDP in all human resource management activities including workforce planning, leave planning, recruitment, professional development and performance review in line with IRC policies. Ensure Duty of Care considerations are central to human resource management and decisions for technical team.

Training and Capacity Building

• Identify learning and development needs across the country program for the Technical Heads of Departments

• Develop and implement training and capacity development plans, and prioritize initiatives based on the needs of the country program and the evolving context.

• In collaboration with the HASST, build the capacity of the Program Technical team to operate in volatile contexts with limited supervision.

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to: Country Director

Position directly supervises: Sr Program Development & Quality Coordinator, Cash Specialist, Consortium Program Team Leads , Governance Coordinator, Partnership Coordinator, Senior Grants Coordinator and Senior MEAL Coordinator

Other key contacts:

Country Program: Senior Management Team members, Security Coordinator, Field Coordinators, Senior Supply Chain Coordinator, Senior HR Coordinator

Organizationally: Deputy Regional Director, Technical advisors and the Award Management Unit.

Job Requirements

• At least seven years of international experience with two years of experience in the management of emergency, post-conflict, and development programs.

• Demonstrated skills and experience in program design and delivery, including proposal development.

• Proven capacity in staff management, multi-tasking, time management and diplomacy.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills

• Must be an innovative and creative problem solver, and a team player, with experience working with multi-cultural teams.

• Fluent in English

Working Environment: This position is fully accompanied based in Abuja and accommodation will be in individual house.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.