IRC’s International Programs focus on various relief and rehabilitation programs for refugees, internally displaced persons and communities affected by conflict in different regions worldwide. Each region is managed by a Regional team that oversees the region’s country programs, headed by a Regional Director (RD) and Deputy RD for Programs (DRDP). IRC has programs in the following sectors: health & environmental health; child & youth protection & development; women’s protection & empowerment; economic recovery; and governance & rights.
SCOPE OF WORK:
The Deputy Regional Director for Programs in the Asia region will provide a range of strategic, management and programmatic support to the countries. The DRDP focuses primarily on program quality, in all aspects, including design, implementation, monitoring and budgeting. The DRDP liaises closely with other members of the regional team, as well as country management and HQ staff in NY, London and European offices. The DRDP supports the RD in advocacy and management initiatives to ensure strong, consistent, and high quality management of the region as a whole. The DRDP is required to travel regularly to country offices to provide management support and monitor program quality, as well as to participate in strategic planning sessions and regional meetings. The DRDP reports to the Regional Director.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy
- Work closely with the Regional Director to ensure that the IRC’s global strategy is understood and guides decision-making throughout the region.
- Drive institutionalization of the Outcomes and Evidence Framework, IRC’s program design tools.
- Support delivery of country-level Strategy Action Plans (SAP). Facilitate and coordinate regional participation in global strategy discussions, initiatives and pilots.
- Oversee implementation of SAP monitoring mechanism and review process, including leading annual SAP reviews and reporting.
- Build consensus around a common vision of what shared success in Asia looks like, including developing and tracking appropriate indicators.
Leadership & Coordination
- Supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and leading documented semi-annual performance reviews.
- Provide leadership to increase country programs’ coordination, collaboration, communication and harmonization of programming.
- Facilitate close and efficient coordination of regional staff’s support to the country programs, and with headquarters departments on common programming, and funding issues.
- Coordinate with regional INGOs, Donors and UN representatives in Asia.
Innovation & Program Quality
- Manage the region’s relationships with the Technical Units (TUs), and support TU-country program collaboration to optimize impact on program quality within and across country programs.
- Strengthen the region’s readiness to respond to new emergencies in line with global IRC emergency response and preparedness guidelines.
- Facilitate sharing and learning across countries, and support country programs to incorporate learning from other regions into project design and operations management.
- Coordinate the region’s engagement with IRC’s R&D lab.
- Engage the regional team and country programs in on-going context analysis to ensure IRC programs are continually adapted to the evolving contexts across the region.
- Ensure that programs are designed and implemented in support of IRC’s vision of cost-effective, outcomes-driven and evidence-based interventions that are responsive to the local context and the priorities of our beneficiaries.
- Where applicable support country teams to adopt and use industry-standard remote management practices and maximize program quality and controls.
Business Development & Partnerships
- In coordination with the IRC’s Awards Management Unit, provide focused business development support to country programs, building country capacity to win multi-year and high value projects.
- Take go/no-go decisions regarding pursuit of regional funding opportunities. In coordination with Regional director and Country Directors, engage in strong regional-level representation with governments, donors, international and local NGOs.
- Ensure timely submission of competitive, responsive and high-quality proposals that align with country priorities identified in Strategy Action Plans, and support country program colleagues in negotiations with donors.
- Oversee the design and implementation of IRC’s work in partnership to support and build capacities of local civil society and other key stakeholders, positioning IRC as a valued INGO partner.
- Participate in shaping policy positions and advocacy messages pertaining to the overall humanitarian situation and IRC’s response in Asia.
- Advise country programs in networking and alliance-building activities, promoting cross-sectoral engagement with the private sector, universities, research institutions, and other potential “non-traditional” partners.
- Support the development of country business development plans which marry the priority outcomes identified in each country SAP with the priorities of existing and new donors.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Regional Management Action Coordinator; Co-supervise the Regional Grants Director, the Regional Gender Advisor, the Regional Emergency Preparedness Coordinator,
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Internal: Regional Director; Asia Country Directors , Chief of Parties and staff; other Asia regional staff; HQ and UK colleagues in various departments
External: Donors, NGO representatives & UN officials
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
IRC and IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.
Qualifications
- 7-10 years in senior program management roles, with several of these being in an international NGO.
- Post-graduate qualification or equivalent relevant experience in a relevant discipline.
- A diverse background in programs, with strong understanding of DM&E, strong analytical skills, and experience leading strategic planning processes
- Demonstrated ability to influence peer agencies, local government and community leaders to work effectively towards a common and agreed upon result.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate and implement best practices and processes affecting multiple technical specialties to achieve rapid, consistent and high quality outcomes.
- Demonstrated expertise in representation and negotiations, resulting in securing significant new opportunities for the organization
- Highly-developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching. Must be able to give direction from a variety of management styles and roles.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently with limited supervision
- Strong commitment to the IRC’s mission, purpose and values
- Fluency in French is highly preferred;
- Previous experience with IRC is desirable
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