TeachWell Deputy Project Director

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 at the request of Albert Einstein, 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 and 28 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Position Summary

IRC is seeking a Deputy Project Director (DPD) for TeachWell, a private foundation-funded five-year project that will start in September 2023 and aims at strengthening children’s holistic skill development through improvement of teacher professional development in refugee counties in Kenya. The DPD will be responsible for supporting the project Director (PD) in project management, consortium management, and operations. S/he will support the PD in strategic and annual work planning, management, and monitoring of project operations and key deliverables, and s/he will liaise with relevant stakeholders from different sectors. S/he will coordinate with the project Technical Lead and the MEAL Advisor to ensure the Crisis Modifier activities are well integrated with the other components of the project. The DPD will be directly responsible for management of partners and their performance, and s/he will closely collaborate with the IRC Kenya partnerships and grants teams. S/he will deputize for the PD.

Job Responsibilities:

• Support the PD and the Technical Lead in defining and implementing activities to achieve the greatest impact toward project goals and objectives; serve as Acting PD in the PD’s absence.

• Support the PD in strategic and annual work planning, management, and monitoring of project operations and key deliverables.

• Closely monitor spending and deliverables and ensure timely achievement of objectives.

• Oversee partnerships’ management in full compliance with IRC policies and in cooperation with the Kenya’s partnership team. Maintain collaborative partner relations, ensuring that all partners are aware of the project’s expectations and are actively involved in achieving the objectives.

• Actively cooperate with the Technical Lead and the MEAL Advisor to ensure the project is implemented organically and the different components are well integrated.

• Support reporting to donors through both formal and informal debriefings and reports; lead review of periodic programmatic reports and their ensure timely submission to the PD.

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

• Work closely with project staff and partners to identify, document and disseminate best practices.

• Recruit and onboard staff as required by the project and based on workplan.

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

• Represent the project and the organization in public, as assigned, and support the distribution of information about project achievements and lesson learned.

• Conduct other activities as assigned by the PD.

Requirements:

• Advanced degree from an accredited university in education, international development, or related field.

• 6 to 8 years of experience managing programs and partnerships portfolios for refugees or crisis-affected populations.

• Experience managing large-scale, complex, multi-partners portfolios; substantial experience managing diverse sub-grantees/sub-contractors. Experience with IRC PEERS is an asset.

• Grants and partnership technical background preferred. Experience with private donors and foundations

• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to develop relations with local counterparts, donors, and other stakeholders.

• Supervisory experience and demonstrated success in staff capacity-building and in participatory, flexible, and gender-sensitive people management

• Demonstrated innovation and success in staff capacity-building and in participatory, flexible, and gender-sensitive programming and implementation

• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.

• Fluency in English required.

Reports to: TeachWell Project Director

Direct Reports: Crisis Modifier Senior Manager, Grants and Partnership Manager and Urban Support Coordinator

Working Environment: Standard office environment, based in Nairobi. 25% travel to project location.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, 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.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

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