Deputy Director for Programs

Job Description

The Deputy Director Programs (DDP) provides a leadership, decision-making and coordinating role on programmatic issues, including the effective implementation of IRC’s projects in Afghanistan. With a focus on refugees, internally-displaced populations affected by conflict and natural disaster, IRC currently works in the following sectors: Economic Well-Being, Environmental Health (WASH), Education, Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL), Child Protection and Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE), Nutrition and Emergency Response.

As a part of the country Senior Management Team (SMT), the DDP leads on developing strategies and implementing programming in the nine geographic areas/provinces: Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman, Paktya, Helmand, Badghis, Herat, Logar, and Khost.

The DDP line manages the sector Coordinators and reports to the Country Director.

Responsibilities

1. Leadership & Strategic Planning

• Provide leadership and supervisory management to the programs department, as a key member of the SMT, including stewardship of resources, program quality, and performance management.

• Lead on implementing the Country Strategic Action Plan (SAP) and achievement of the plan objectives, universal expectations, regular progress review of plans. Serve as the focal point person for the SAP Monitoring and Reporting Protocol and SAP Implementation Committee.

• Advance program sector strategies, including the integration of cross-cutting issues of gender, partnership, disaster risk reduction and advocacy.

• Work closely with the Senior Grants Accountability Coordinator in ensuring appropriate support and coordination between Program Coordinators, Grants and M&E counterparts.

2. Program Implementation

• Drive effective management of program implementation and support the Provincial /Sector Coordinators through creation of structured work-plans and approved monitoring plans based on project proposals and that expenditures are monitored monthly; rapidly initiate and track well-structured corrective action where required.

• Mitigate risk by collaborating with the Finance Department to ensure that programming staff fully understand financial and administrative processes involved in project budget cycles.

• Provide the Country Director with accurate and up to date advice of developments and opportunities in program and project implementation together with any necessary recommendations for action.

• Support the M&E Coordinator in developing, rolling out and monitoring a country-wide M&E strategy and tools for the collection and analysis of program information (qualitative and quantitative) to inform all stages of the project cycle to increased shared learning internally and externally.

• Review reporting produced by the Grants Unit to ensure high quality and accurate reporting for submission to donors, per IRC and donor guidelines.

• Coordinate donor visits, and support field staff in preparing and conducting these visits as necessary.

3. Business/Program Development & Fundraising

• Effectively collaborate with the Senior Grants Accountability Coordinator to support the Grants Unit and M&E Unit to make sure that high quality and needs-based project proposals are developed, according to the Proposal Flowchart and in compliance with IRC and donor regulations as well as within the parameters of the Strategic Action Plan.

• Provide mentorship and leadership in the rollout and use of the SAP and Outcome and Evidence Framework when developing new projects in coordination with the Senior Grants Accountability Coordinator.

• Support in developing Communication and Advocacy strategies, growing IRC visibility in country and positioning IRC in line with advocacy strategy.

4. Human Resources and Staff Development

• Provide supportive mentorship and supervision to direct reports. Provide appropriate and timely feedback to staff regarding their performance, including timely implementation of the annual staff performance management system.

• Set clear objectives for sector coordinators.

• Support the identification of staff development opportunities for senior staff.

• Assist in developing job descriptions and in the recruitment of senior program staff (national and international). Ensure that regular and quality staff evaluations are conducted for all staff.

• Work with the Country Director, Deputy Director Operations, Senior Grants Accountability Coordinator, Finance Controller and Human Resources Coordinator to review/revise and develop appropriate policies and address issues.

5. Liaison/Representation and Coordination

• Maintain a sound understanding programs to be able to represent the IRC and the IRC’s interests with partners, government, donors and clients.

• Help develop a positive relationship with donors / Government counterparts and local partners to ensure sustainable programs in the portfolio sectors. Encourage and support improved program cohesion through coordination initiatives and information sharing with and between all key country program staff.

• Promote the IRC Afghanistan vision and mission amongst all staff.

• Serve as an active member of the Senior Management Team and deputize for the Country Director as necessary.

Requirements:

• Graduate degree in International Development, International Relations, business; management and administrative science.

• Excellent professional track record with 6-8 years of experience in a conflict/post-conflict environment with program leadership responsibilities. Successful experience working within a complex security environment is preferred.

• Proven ability to think strategically, prioritize and meet deadlines in a complex and challenging environment; must be culturally sensitive

• Excellent leadership, people management, interpersonal and negotiation skills and a demonstrated ability to develop harmonious teams in a multi-ethnic context.

• Strong diplomacy skills; ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with partners, donors, government and clients in a sensitive environment.

• Have fluent spoken and written English

• Strong computer skills: including competency in the use of Windows MS office programs (Word, Excel), email programs, etc.

• Willingness to travel outside Kabul depending on security clearance.

• Willingness to live in strict security protocol environment

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional 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, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation

The IRC is an equal opportunity employer.

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Qualifications