Technical Director

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 50 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 deliver 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 began working in Afghanistan in 1988, launching relief programs for people displaced by the invasion of the Soviet Union. IRC continued to provide aid under Taliban rule and expanded its community development projects after the Taliban was ousted. IRC now works across nine provinces. The IRC works with local communities to identify, plan and manage their own development projects; provides safe learning spaces in rural areas; provides uprooted families with basic necessities; and helps people find employment.

Scope of work

The IRC seeks a Technical Director (TD) for an upcoming FCDO Health activity in Afghanistan called ‘Health and Education in Afghanistan – Response and Transition (HEART)’. The project will support and strengthen the service delivery of basic health and education services to Afghans.

The Technical Director will be responsible for overall technical and program management, oversight and technical guidance to the HEART project team, in accordance with IRC, FCDO, and international best practices. S/he will work closely with the Project’s Team Lead, IRC Country Director, Project Management Unit (PMU) and the project team to ensure successful execution of the program design as agreed by the donor to achieve the impact targets and objectives.

Recruitment is contingent upon successful award of the project, and selection of final applicant is subject to FCDO’s approval.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute overall project work plan to successfully achieve all project objectives as agreed with the donor.

• Lead overall strategy, management, and operations for the project making key decisions, mitigating risks, and ensuring the integrity of the project’s timely implementation.

• Lead and supervise the project’s senior team across all consortium members, including providing leadership and building capacity across core project staff.

• Lead technical and operational planning and strategic communications for the project.

• Provide technical direction for the development and adherence to the MEAL and CLA plans for the successive phases of the project to capture expected performance and results.

• Lead regular reviews of deliverables, project practices, tools and achievements against programmatic targets and quality standards; integrate learning and adaptation for continuous performance improvement informed by an effective use of data.

Requirements:

• An advanced degree in public health, or a relevant discipline. Pharmaceutical management experience preferred

• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in leading or advising complex health care service or public health programs in developing countries.

• Previous program implementation experience in Afghanistan will be preferred.

• Demonstrated technical knowledge and experience managing and overseeing national level/country-wide public health programs in one or more of the flagship areas of maternal, neonatal, adolescent and child health, family planning, nutrition, infectious diseases, and health systems strengthening

• Demonstrated diplomatic, leadership and management skills and the ability to coordinate a diverse team to a common goal.

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with donors, project stakeholders, in-country collaborators, and staff at all levels of the organization.

• Experience working with FCDO-supported projects is required.

• Familiarity or experience with the Afghanistan health system is required.

• Appropriate computer skills necessary to conduct research, and analysis of study data.

• Ability to multi-task and keep track of concurrent activities and deadlines.

• Willing to travel within country, as appropriate and allowed.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English is required. Proficiency in at least one local language is strongly preferred.

Please note that the JD is high level and indicative only at this stage and may be subject to change once the Terms of Reference for the programme is released and as the opportunity develops. This position will be contingent on the outcome of the bid.

**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.