Southeast Humanitarian Coordinator (National Position)

Job Description

Background/IRC Summary:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. The IRC has been operating in Thailand since 1975 and in Myanmar since 2008, assisting crisis-affected people to meet their health, protection, women’s protection, and livelihood needs. Due to the ongoing conflict in southeast Myanmar, people have been displaced within the country and sought refuge in Thailand. IRC provides humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected people in the southeast states of Myanmar and along the Thai-Myanmar border.

Job Overview/Summary:

Leveraging its operations in Myanmar and Thailand, IRC provides humanitarian assistance to crisis-affected populations directly and through partners in southeast Myanmar. The Southeast Humanitarian Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring this assistance is well-coordinated, effective, and timely. This position will be based in Thailand and will have a shared reporting line to IRC Thailand and Myanmar Deputy Director of Programs.

Major Responsibilities:

Information Management and Sharing: 1. Develops and oversees the information management protocols for IRC’s programming in southeast Myanmar. This includes real time information where IRC is delivering humanitarian assistance, directly or through partners. 2. Oversees the stakeholder analysis for SE Myanmar and is responsible for keeping this information up to date. This information will be accessible to key stakeholders responsible for making decisions on program delivery and implementing programs. 3. Collaborates with MEAL, sector focal points, and partners to gather and maintain information on needs and gaps in the SE. Provides an analytical interpretation of best available information to benchmark progress of the emergency response over time. 4. Coordinates with program focal points and communication focal points to develop program updates that will be shared with internal and external stakeholders. 5. Work with the respective country program’s communication coordinator and regional communication advisor to ensure all external facing communication is in line with IRC’s communication strategy.

Risk Monitoring and Management: 6. Maintains IRC’s risk register and consults with country program SMT to employ risk mitigation strategies.

Internal Coordination: 7. Closely working with Sr. Grants Coordinators to initiate the new funding call meetings and bring in SMT of both IRC Thailand and Myanmar to make decisions about grants management responsibilities. 8. Develop a joint emergency response activity plan in southeast with clear actions, roles and responsibilities to be reviewed regularly so as to develop common understanding of the ongoing and any new activities, follow up on any delays, develop remedial actions to mitigate any risks and provide each other with support as needed. 9. Chairs the monthly SE pipeline and partnership meetings between IRC Thailand and Myanmar country program focal points. 10. Keeps track of progress and the challenges of project implementation, cooperation with partners (in coordination with partnership managers), changes in the context in Myanmar and Thailand and any government coordination related challenges and risk. 11. Consolidate and gather information from stakeholders, analysis of the information and suggest possible implementation plan for both countries with regard to supporting programming within the southeast. 12. Facilitate monthly coordination meetings between IRC Thailand and Myanmar. The Southeast Humanitarian Coordinator will take the responsibility of leading this coordination mechanism. 13. By cooperating with the IRC MM and TH Grants and Program teams, facilitates proposal design discussions across two CPs; uses information available on needs, stakeholder mapping, and IRC’s value add to inform program design. Contributes to proposal writing and budgeting. Involves relevant partners in program design discussions. 14. Coordinating across the two country programs, collaborates with functional departments from respective country programs to remain informed of project progress and any implementation issues and gaps. 15. Organizes bi-annual program review meetings.

External Coordination: 16. Maintains a network with key stakeholders operating in SE Myanmar. Maintains two-way information flow with IRC’s Field Coordinators, safety and access focal points and sector leads to remain apprised of the changing conflict dynamics. 17. Participates in the SE Working Group and other appropriate coordination mechanisms; gathers information from relevant colleagues ahead of the meeting and shares appropriate information from the coordination meetings with relevant IRC stakeholders. 18. As appropriate, participates in donor meetings to keep them informed of context, program progress, challenges and existing needs. Supports SMT in preparation for meetings with donors and key stakeholders.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) IRC Thailand and DDP for IRC Myanmar

Position directly supervises: No direct supervision responsibilities

Other External Contacts: Representatives from implementing agencies and other actors, Inter-Sectoral Coordinator and other Sector Coordinators (WASH, Food, Shelter, NFI, etc...) in Thailand and in Southeast Myanmar

Qualifications

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor of Arts or Science in Social Science, Public Health, Humanities, Social Work or other related field. • At least 5 years of experience managing projects in similar contexts. • Extensive experience working in SE Myanmar, with partners, and in conflict contexts. • Strong understanding and relationship with local networks in southeast Myanmar • Excellent written and oral communication skills, strong interpersonal skills • Fluency in English and Myanmar language

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies: Capable of the following in a complex and dynamic context:

- Formulate strategies, concepts and comprehensive/evolving plans, - Applying technical expertise to complex problems - Make well informed and timely decisions and promptly initiate action - Communicate well with a range of different stakeholders with sometimes competing priorities, maintaining productive relationships. - Fostering integration and teamwork.

Language Skills: Fluency in English and Myanmar (verbal and writing) required. Proficiency in Kayin or Karrenni language is preferable.