Consortium Coordinator - BPSI Project

Job Description

SUMMARY

The IRC is seeking a qualified Consortium Coordinator for the anticipated five-year FCDO-funded Building Peace and Stability in Iraq (BPSI) programme. The Consortium Coordinator will be responsible for the overall coordination and delivery of the project, working in close collaboration with the consortium partners and project team. The Consortium Coordinator will be based in Erbil, Iraq, with frequent travel to project locations. They will report to the IRC Iraq Deputy Director of Programs. This position is contingent on the IRC being awarded funding; we anticipate that the project will begin in late 2022 / early 2023.

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

A lead responder in Iraq since 2003, the IRC is providing robust programming across five governorates through women’s protection and empowerment, child protection and protection and rule of law programming; economic recovery and development programming; governance; and integrated early childhood development programming. The IRC is focused on strengthening social cohesion, with the aim of strengthening connectedness and cohesion among actors at different levels, from community groups to CSOs, to national authorities.

The IRC - along with its partners – is planning to bid as an NGO consortium for the upcoming FCDO-funded Building Peace and Stability in Iraq (BPSI) programme. The BPSI aims to enhance social relations within selected communities in 5 governorates. The NGO consortium will focus on peacebuilding and conflict resolution activities, legal aid, civil documentation, and transitional justice support to address barriers to return and reintegration of displaced Iraqis, including reducing the ostracization of returnees and ensuring their right to work, services and legal protection.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Consortium Coordinator will provide overall strategic, technical, and operational leadership of the consortium to achieve the BPSI project’s goals and objectives. They will oversee the project team and manage the consortium partnerships, maintaining excellent relationships with all partners and ensuring that the partners are actively involved in achieving the project objectives. The Consortium Coordinator will oversee the review and monitoring of implementation progress in coordination with key project staff based on workplans and performance plans to ensure that long-term and short-term priorities are on track. They will report to FCDO through both formal and informal debriefings, monthly, quarterly, annual, and semi-annual reports, ensuring timely submission of high-quality narrative and financial reports to the donor. The Consortium Coordinator will be the primary liaison for the project with the FCDO and key stakeholders.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Management

· Provide overall leadership for the technical, financial, and operational management of the programme.

· Primary representative of the project to all key stakeholders, government officials, and the donor.

· Ensure that the project achieves the expected results and is implemented in accordance with the donor agreement, donor regulations, and internationally recognized quality of assistance standards.

· Hold overall responsibility for the oversight and delivery of outputs and results of the programme and will ensure that the programme is implemented as per the contract and in compliance with donor requirements.

· Lead on preparation, facilitation, and follow up for project Opening, Review and Closing Meetings

· Coordinate narrative and finance reporting processes, including review and feedback.

Consortium Coordination

· Lead facilitation and coordination of partnership management processes to ensure well planned, timely, coordinated, and coherent partnership management.

· Facilitate and lead the development of the structure and approach to individual partner relationships – including the selection of the appropriate funding mechanism and the development of appropriate reporting, monitoring, and advance terms - based on the findings of the pre-award due diligence and in line with IRC policy, appropriately analyzing and mitigating risks, in collaboration with ESMT.

· Ensure and champion robust partner relationship management grounded in collaborative, humble and principled approaches

· Facilitate systematic partner feedback on IRC’s management of the partnership relationship, including the documentation of, and response to partner feedback.

· Monitor for opportunities to improve IRC’s overall performance as a partner and make periodic recommendations to SMT.

· Coordinate and co-lead Partner's Project Capacity Review (PPCR) processes, including contributing to and facilitating the collaborative risk analysis and management.

· Determine appropriate partnership agreement type and draft agreement, considering the due diligence outcomes and specific project and donor requirements, liaising with HQ for review and approval (and obtaining donor approvals as necessary).

· Coordinate and participate in timely and effective partner program, finance, and compliance review and reflection (monitoring)

· Liaise with finance team to achieve timely funds transfers and proper financial follow up and support for partners;

Staff Management and Development

· Direct oversight of the BPSI project team, ensuring that the team is appropriately resourced and structured. Work with HR staff to identify and implement recruitment and retention strategies.

· Coach, train, mentor and supervise direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting quarterly performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews. Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth. Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team, and providing guidance on career paths.

· Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.

· Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Position reports to: Deputy Directors of Programs (DDP)

Position directly supervises: Consortium management staff, including partnerships, finance, and monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning positions.

Other internal: Technical/Program Coordinators, Partnerships Coordinator, Deputy Director of Finance, Grants Coordinator, MEAL Coordinator, Regional Partnerships Advisor, Supply Chain Coordinator, Policy, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator

Other external: Consortium partners, other Iraqi NGOs as well as donors and relevant government stakeholders.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

· BA degree or equivalent in International Development or Affairs or related field; advanced degree an asset.

· 5-7- years of progressively responsible professional experience managing a partnership or grants portfolio in development or humanitarian context required.

· Experience and proven ability to work effectively with national and local civil society organizations required; experience working in local or diaspora CSOs is highly desirable.

· Experience working in the Middle East, with Iraq response experience highly desired.

· Demonstrated knowledge of key donor compliance regulations (U.S. Government, FCDO, ECHO, UN agencies, etc.). Experience working on FCDO projects highly desired.

· Proven experience in project proposal development with partners

· Experience and skills in reading and reviewing financial reports.

· Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes.

· Excellent oral and written communication skills, with ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders.

· Demonstrated capacity to deal with ambiguity in stressful situations.

· Proven ability to work well in and promote teamwork, thrive in a multi-cultural environment, be flexible and handle pressure with professional grace. Experience managing staff and a commitment to team building, mentoring and staff development.

· Strong commitment to IRC’s vision, mission, and core values.

· Professional fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic required

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of 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, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons, and several others.

Gender Equality****: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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Qualifications