Deputy Chief of Party

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee’s mission is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded over 80 years ago, the IRC is a leading humanitarian and development organization with presence in more than 40 countries. Across contexts, the IRC is committed to delivering innovative, high-impact programs tailored to the needs of communities affected by crisis.

IRC’s Education Unit works across the globe to ensure that children, youth and adults in crisis and conflict contexts have access to safe, relevant, quality learning opportunities. We support government as well as community-based, non-formal or alternative education that provides sufficient spaces for all out-of-school children, including those in remote or difficult to reach areas, and that promotes learning outcomes according to children and youth’s development potential.

Scope of work

The IRC seeks a Deputy-Chief of Party (D COP) for an anticipated five-year USAID Basic Education activity in Lebanon. This $50-99 million activity will improve reading, writing, math and social and emotional learning skills for primary school aged children in Lebanon.

The DCOP will be responsible for supporting the Chief of Party (COP) in management of staff, capacity building and stakeholder engagement, and overseeing the project’s operations. S/he will coordinate the development, implementation, and reporting of operational management activities (e.g. procurement, grants management, and finance). The position is based in Beirut, Lebanon.

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

Responsibilities

• Ensure project delivery meets best practice standard operational policies and procedures for impact and compliance.

• Provide financial and operational management that optimizes resources through sound budgets, consistent financial tracking, and timely submission of reports to the donor.

• Create and cultivate efficient relationships with consortium partners.

• Ensure overall consortium coordination and information of partners.

• Oversee development, delivery, capacity building, and monitoring of subgrants.

• Oversee management of all procurement activities to ensure smooth and efficient implementation of project activities.

• Provide oversight of administrative teams.

• Manage consortium partnerships and maintain collaborative partner relations.

• Support reporting to USAID through annual and semi-annual reports, formal and informal debriefings, etc.

• Assist the COP in maintaining active and cooperative relationships with all key stakeholders, including Government officials, project partners, other implementing agencies, and related institutions.

• Represent the project and the organization in the public and ensuring the dissemination of information about project achievements and lesson learned.

• Support project staff by creating and maintaining a work environment that promotes teamwork, trust, mutual respect, and empowers staff to take responsibility.

Requirements

The Deputy Chief of Party, full time, must have a minimum of seven years of relevant experience in the field of capacity development and/or institutional strengthening, with a master’s degree in education, social sciences or a related discipline.

The DCOP must have experience working in the Lebanese public education sector and an understanding of the Lebanese context.

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, International development, Business, or related field required; Master’s degree preferred.

• Significant previous experience working in the MENA region is required. Lebanon is preferred.

• Previous experience as DCOP of USAID-funded programs is preferred

• Substantial experience managing subgrantees required.

• Experience with projects aimed to provide access to learning opportunities (including literacy, numeracy, social emotional learning (SEL)/soft skills), particularly to those affected by conflict and crisis.

• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to develop relations with local counterparts, donors, and other stakeholders (including parents, caregivers and community leaders).

• Demonstrated experience scaling up activities of similar scope and in similar contexts.

• Demonstrated success incorporating innovation and participatory, flexible, and gender-sensitive programming into project implementation.

• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.

• The candidate must be fluent in English; Fluency in Arabic preferred.

• Lebanese candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

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, Equality 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.

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