Head of Programs

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries, the IRC aims to restore safety, dignity, and hope to millions uprooted and struggling to endure. In response to the increased refugee arrivals into Europe, the IRC initially established the program in Greece, which was expanded with programs in Serbia, the wider Balkans, and Germany. Following a first assessment conducted in January 2017 in Italy and another in July 2017, several critical protection gaps were identified within assistance provided to refugees in migrants in Italy: mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), assistance to unaccompanied children, information provision, and legal support. IRC established a small presence in Italy to respond to the identified gaps. Programs in Italy include Refugee.Info web-based information platform, child protection programming targeting unaccompanied children and victims of trafficking, mentoring programs for the socio-economic inclusion of refugee youth, WPE, and education (social, emotional learning) healing classrooms).

IRC seeks a dynamic program implementor to fill the role of Head of Programs. If you have experience leading programs for a humanitarian organization that helps immigrants, asylees, and under-served populations,we encourage you to apply!

Job Summary

We are looking for a Head of Programs who will report to the Head of Office and directly handles 7 colleagues, 4 program managers, 2 Senior Officers, and the M&E Officer. This position has close relations with the Grants Manager, HR Officer Manager, Finance Sr. Officer, Supply Chain Assistant, Advocacy and Legal Senior Officer, and Deputy Regional Director.

The successful candidate will play a leading role in ensuring overall program quality and proposal development; as such, they overlook all IRC programs (e.g., MHPSS, WPE, Protection, Legal Information, Livelihood, Safe Hut, Direct, Care etc.

Program Strategy and Design

• Working in collaboration with in-country program specialists and HQ/regional-based Technical Unit staff, ensure that programs are designed according to IRC standard methodologies practices, the IRC program framework, and detailed context analyses.

• Owns the strategic and program initiatives with the program managers and contributes to the regional (Europe) strategic direction.

Program Management – Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation

• Provide overall leadership and management to IRC Italy programs, ensuring strategic program direction and compliance with IRC and donor regulations.

• Ensure that program implementation is handled closely through the development of work plans, indicator tracking sheets and approved monitoring plans. Ensure that monitoring data is used to improve program performance.

• Ensure the financial health of all projects by supervising expenditures within each project monthly and ensuring that well-structured corrective action is initiated and tracked where required.

• Participates in the Steering Groups of programs in which the IRC is a consortium member or leader.

• Provide leadership to the program specialists to ensure – in coordination with the Grants Manager – the development of timely, high-quality, and regulation-compliant reporting per IRC and donor guidelines.

• In consultation with the Technical Unit and the Research, Evaluation and Learning Unit, ensure that evaluations take place around selected programs/program components to contribute to existing evidence bases. Ensure that lessons learned are shared with other actors in Italy.

Proposal development

• Leads proposal development with the grants department and the program’s leads.

• Leads the creation of consortium for proposal development.

• Reviews and signs off proposals prior to the submission.

Staff Performance Management, Learning and Development

• Coach, train, supervise, and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting quarterly performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing detailed semi-annual performance reviews.

• Provide supportive guidance and supervision to program specialists who are charged with implementing programs.

Representation and Coordination

• Ensure that IRC’s contribution to the response in Italy is well-coordinated with other initiatives.

• Represents IRC to authorities, forums, and other relevant the role bodies.

• Position IRC as an inspiring leader and provider of Technical Assistance in IRC Italy’s priority areas.

Education:

• Postgraduate degree preferred.

Experience:

• Excellent professional track record with at least seven years of management-level experience within NGO leadership in program implementation.

• Experience managing programs financed through different institutional and private donors.

• Experience in proposal development.

• Experience in the Italian context is an advantage.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent English and Italian language skills are required.

• Inquisitive problem solver, questioning the impact of our programs and constantly looking for optimization.

• Comfortable to take decisions even when not as much data as desired is present.

• Able to understand M&E for a variety of programs and to design data collection and analysis tools.

• Must be comfortable in being a proactive member of the senior management team. Must seek to identify and communicate potential problems and propose solutions to the level of management appropriate to effect solutions.

• Ability to carry out responsibilities independently with minimal technical support from within the program organization.

• Must be a patient and good communicator who can function in an organizational environment involving a diversity of cultures, languages, and personal interests and agendas.

• Good at the role of facilitator and great teammate in solving problems.

• Committed to staff training and development.

Work Location:

The position is based in Milan, with travels to field locations in Italy and in occasional international travels.

Disclaimer Clause: This job description is not an extensive list of the skills, effort, duties and responsibilities associated with a position.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request an accommodation.

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Qualifications