Innovation and Design Coordinator

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as with those who remain within their homes and communities. At-work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure.

With the generous support of the MacArthur Foundation’s inaugural 100&Change grant, the LEGO Foundation and the Bezos Foundation, the IRC and Sesame Workshop provide quality ECD programs for refugee and host communities in the countries affected by the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East and North Africa region. Focusing on children in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria over the course of six years, the Ahlan Simsim, Play to Learn and Vroom projects combine a depth of in-person activities and digital content, aiming to reach 1.5 million children and caregivers across the region. Ahlan Simsim’s approach is driven by the unique combination of Sesame’s impactful mass media educational content with universal reach and the IRC’s on-the-ground experience, ECD delivery content, networks, and capacity to work with families, communities, and partners to achieve meaningful ECD outcomes.

Job Overview/Summary

The purpose of role is to lead on program design for ECD solutions that will make up some of Ahlan Simsim’s future strategy and programming in the MENA region, in existing and new geographies and to support with finalization and close out of other Ahlan Simsim ECD assets.

Major Responsibilities:

• Develop design process workplan including design steps, timeline, and roles of relevant staff members.

• Adapt existing and develop new (if needed) design tools.

• Lead the design process from inception to completion, including facilitating design meetings with relevant internal and external stakeholders with support from relevant Ahlan Simsim staff and IRC’s Technical Advisors leading to the development of full-fledged program ideas that are ready to pilot.

• Design remote and field prototypes to test the programs with stakeholders prior to launching pilots.

• Support country programs and growth teams in developing concept notes to fundraise for the designed program ideas.

• Support country programs during piloting and monitoring to adapt as needed.

• Work with the Research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (RMEL) team to create evaluation tools.

• Work with the ECD technical team to adapt the capacity building training based on the program needs.

• Act as a design advisor when needed to consultants contracted to support in design or other related workstreams.

• Work with the Ahlan Simsim regional RMEL team to provide design relevance and recommendations from targeted learning initiatives.

• Work with the Ahlan Simsim regional growth lead to contribute to the strategic growth of the regional ECD portfolio.

• Work with the digital unit to design and prototype products as needed.

• Identify, visualize, and communicate trends, data, technologies, and issues within ECD in the region.

• Provide other design support to technical, digital, research and growth as needed.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Ahlan Simsim MENA Deputy Project Director

Position directly supervises: N/A

Indirect Reporting: N/A

Other Internal and/or external contacts: describe the nature of departments or groups the position influences or requires support from to accomplish objectives.

Internal: IRC Ahlan Simsim ECD Technical Lead, IRC Ahlan Simsim country program and regional staff, IRC Technical Advisors, IRC public and private donors’ fundraisers

External: Sesame Workshop Ahlan Simsim staff, local partners, consultants

Job Requirements:

Education: No preference

Work Experience:

o Demonstrated experience in human-centered design and development, ideally in ECD programming, in MENA is a plus.

o Demonstrated experience is innovation for humanitarian or development.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

o Demonstrated strategic planning capacity.

o Experience in developing work plans and timelines, and working with digital design tools such as MURAL, Miro or others.

o Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with various types of people and business functions.

o Must be a multitasker with strong planning, organizing and strategic thinking skills comfortable working in a fast paced, multicultural environment.

o Well-developed oral and written communication skills.

Language Skills: Excellent English and Arabic skills (written and spoken)

Certificates or Licenses: No preference

Working Environment: Standard office working environment. Travel may be required with potential visits to countries implementing or considering to implement IRC ECD programming in the region (Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Libya/Tunis, Yemen, Palestine).

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.

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