Global Surge Team Roster: Emergency Cash Coordinator

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.

The IRC’s Global Surge Team (GST) is a roster of esteemed and highly qualified humanitarian professionals who deploy on short notice to non-emergency and emergency contexts to support the IRC’s mission. Members of the GST provide specialist support where talent is most needed for short-term deployments of up to three months. The GST is a flexible employment opportunity for staff, requiring members to be available for deployments only 50% of the year (with opportunities for additional deployments if incumbent is interested). Members of the GST that focus on emergency responses must be prepared to be deployed within 72 hours, as needs arise.

Job Overview:

The Emergency Cash Coordinator will work under the direction of IRC’s Emergency Country Director or designated country emergency lead to comprehensively support Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) in the assessment, design, and implementation of high quality programs to meet basic needs and food security outcomes, most often through cash and voucher (CVA) programs. The Emergency Cash Coordinator will support or lead basic needs and food security interventions, and support other IRC sector teams to incorporate CVA approaches into their programming following the IRC’s global “Cash First” approach. The position will also play a critical role in enhancing operations of CVA programs by strengthening practice and procedure between IRC’s program, finance, and supply chain teams.

Major Responsibilities:

• Be prepared to be deployed within 72 hours.

• Provide strategic direction and overall technical and management support to ERD programs in IRC country programs, focusing on emergency response with considerations for early recovery, and economic development.

• Assist in the assessment, design, set-up, implementation and monitoring of CVA programs. The position is expected to be heavily involved in supporting program delivery, assisting country teams in trouble-shooting implementation challenges, and using monitoring data to improve program designs.

• Undertake, when necessary, feasibility assessments for CVA programming, includes leading field-level data collection and analysis for needs, market functionality, risks, payment mechanisms and transfer modalities; and use that information to support appropriate program design.

• Advise and assist in designing new programs, including identifying business development opportunities, supporting the conceptualization/design of program activities, drafting or providing substantial input into technical proposals, concept notes, designing M&E systems, and budgets for international donors, and responding to any requests for additional information as needed.

• Lead in collaboration with operations colleagues, the tender and contracting process for Financial Service Provider (FSP) identification and selection.

• Manage grant/program implementation including staff recruitment and training, workplan development, procurement and inventory planning, and budget management.

• Prepare high quality and timely donor and management reports on grants and sector activities.

• Ensure compliance with IRC policy and procedures throughout the program team and activities.

• Support the development, adaptation and standardization (if appropriate) of operating procedures for CVA implementation, and support linkages with regional finance and supply chain teams to deliver high quality programming.

• Develop tools, resources and program guidance materials as needed in order to support assessments, program implementation or monitoring efforts, including cross-sectoral collaboration around CVA, in close conjunction with program staff and regional M&E and ICT Coordinators.

• Develop and implement a capacity building plan to ensure all program, finance and supply chain staff involved in CVA programming have appropriate knowledge and skills related to market-based programming.

• Support the design, development, piloting and roll-out of measurement and data management systems in close collaboration with monitoring and evaluation and ICT staff at both regional and country levels, to ensure harmonized M&E approaches and efficient data collection and management systems are in place.

• Represent and coordinate with other agencies, local government, donors and other stakeholders to promote deliver of best practice humanitarian assistance.

• Support media and communications activities as requested by the ERT Field Director/CD/in-county emergency lead.

• Provide a comprehensive handover to successor, including ensuring transfer of all related documentation, program monitoring data and staff performance information.

• Support CVA research initiatives lead by country teams and/or regional research/advocacy positions.

Job Requirements:

• Ability to commit to deployment within 72 hours of notification of assignment for a maximum of 12 weeks.

• Undergraduate degree, in international affairs, humanitarian work, food security, agriculture, logistics or related field and technical accreditation or equivalent experience; Master’s degree seen as an asset.

• Shown experience in the humanitarian or development sector with progressive management and decision-making responsibility, including substantial international experience implementing livelihoods activities. Experience working in diverse emergency, recovery post-conflict or development contexts across countries and regions preferred.

• Experience in direct implementation of programs, including CVA and food security.

• Experience in supporting partner organizations in implementing programs.

• Demonstrated skills in effectively running and building programs and/or operations in high-pressure, fluid environments. Leadership and team management skills are crucial.

• Prior success managing in an emergency environment and/or start-up environment as part of a multinational team.

• Excellent communication skills including delivering presentations to professional, lay and donor audiences.

• Shown writing and editing skills, including writing, and editing grant proposals and reports.

• Effective people and program management skills: the ability to train, lead and manage staff productively under stressful circumstances.

• Flexible, focused, and reliable in an environment of changing demands.

• Good digital literacy: Facility with MS Word, Excel, and email/internet software.

• Fluency in English. Working knowledge of French, Arabic, and/or Spanish strongly preferred.

• Excellent interpersonal skills involving listening to, interacting with, and communicating clearly with people from diverse nationalities and backgrounds with a high degree of professionalism and pro-activity.

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.