WPE Manager

Job Description

The mission of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933, the IRC has a presence in over 40 countries and 27 offices in the United States; the IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Earlier this year, IRC launched its newest country program in Moldova to respond to the Ukrainian crisis in collaboration with local civil society organizations. With a population of only 2.64 million, Moldova has seen over 600,000 refugees cross its borders in search of safety. While most refugees transit onward toward Romania and other European countries, the number of nearly 100,000 Ukrainians and expected to increase in the coming months. Given its small size and limited resources, Moldova's capacity is already under strain with pressures on energy supplies and high inflation. The IRC envisages a humanitarian program in Moldova targeting both refugees and Moldovans, with interventions designed to save lives and relieve humanitarian suffering, with a focus on education, gender-based violence prevention and response, and protection services along with support for integration.

Job Summary: The Women’s Protection & Empowerment Manager will lead the program team in Balti to respond to and prevent GBV including the provision of outreach and prevention interventions in response to the current humanitarian needs. With direct management support from the Head of Office, the WPE Manager will ensure that the goals and objectives of the projects are met in a timely and effective manner. Specific responsibilities include oversight of service delivery, monitoring and evaluation, professional development and training of national staff, project cycle management of grants and budgets. They will provide appropriate mentorship to the Protection Officer, social workers and psychologists and promote coordination with partner organizations such as civil society entities, the municipal authorities and services along with the GBV task force and UNHCR and other local stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Human resource development and management:

• Lead staff recruitment in consultation with the supervisor and in collaboration with the Human Resources Department.

• Maintain updated job descriptions, conduct interviews, and orient new staff to the IRC and the WPE program.

• Provide ongoing supervision, mentoring, training, and technical support and guidance to WPE staff, and ensure all adhere to best-practice principles in all aspects of program implementation.

• Ensure Performance Management System documentation for all staff is in place and followed up regularly.

• Build staff capacity in work plan development and reporting to ensure accurate monitoring and documentation of activities.

• Ensure WPE staff understand and follow IRC and donor Policies and Procedures.

Communication and reporting:

• Compile and prepare quality periodic project progress reports, as well as final reports, and feed in other information as required by donors, the Regional Office, and the Technical Unit.

• Prepare quality weekly updates and monthly reports that meet standards and timelines.

• Ensure proper program and donor visibility in the project sites

• Lead data analysis and interpretation exercises with the project team to inform programming and advocacy

• Ensure the project team understands, maintain, and follows ethical practices in data sharing and communication with external audiences in accordance with the existing Information Sharing Protocol

Partner engagement:

• Develop and maintain effective working collaboration organizations such as civil society partners delivering services and service mapping, along with municipal service providers.

• Ensure regular monitoring of partners to achieve set WPE component objectives.

• Ensure technical support and guidance to partners in accordance with partnership agreements.

• Coordination with peer agencies, government, and other stakeholders to promote inclusive and high-quality response service delivery.

Coordination and networking:

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders including donors, government, international and local NGOs and other relevant collaborators.

• Represent WPE at regular working group meetings, reviews, and strategic planning; and assist in the preparation of new initiatives for the SGBV program in Balti.

• Ensure regular communication with internal departments regarding the project’s progress and processes. Ensure updated GBV referral pathways are available for and adequately shared with staff, volunteers, and community members.

Program design and implementation:

• Assume primary responsibility for project management and implementation and ensure compliance with the donor agreement and project proposal, proactively notifying the Head of Office if issues arise.

• Lead project planning and supervise program implementation and budget expenditures to ensure effective use of resources against planned activities and expected outputs.

• Ensure adequate project monitoring and evaluation systems are in place to collect information and consolidate data on a regular basis to demonstrate impact and advise ongoing program design.

• Assist in the program development and design process through assessments, assisting in proposal writing and budget development.

• Develop and deliver the provision and quality of trainings on GBV basics, basic counseling, case management, life skills, and other key GBV resources for WPE staff, GBV actors, community members, and service providers.

• Actively contribute to the revision and implementation of a WPE sector strategy to meet the needs of GBV survivors, including response to emergencies as they arise.

• With support from the supervisor, lead the development of the program tools and keep them updated i.e., work plan, procurement, and spending plans.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years experience in the field of gender-based violence response, preferably working with refugees or conflict-affected populations

• At least 2 years experience working directly with survivors or developing, implementing, or supervising shelter programs for survivors

• Strong understanding of GBV prevention and response strategies including case management, psychosocial support, and life skills programming to promote survivor healing and recovery

• Proven leadership, program management and staff development skills

• Excellent communication and analytical skills and ability to present ideas effectively, in both oral and written form.

• Good budget skills including preparing financial forecasts and spending plans for effective resource use.

• Experience working with donors like UNHCR, BPRM, ECHO in past experience while programming for GBV response projects.

• Ability to communicate sensitively and without judgment, good diplomatic and persuasion skills.

• Good communication skills including the ability to communicate sensitively and without judgment, good diplomatic and persuasion skills.

• Ability to handle multiple tasks; confirmed self-initiative and problem-solving abilities.

• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Excel, Access, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required; fluency in Romanian, Russian, and/or Ukrainian is preferred.

Working Environment:

• Standard office work environment coupled with regular travel in and around the service delivery area.

• Flexible scheduling to provide services outside of traditional work hours (evenings and weekends).

Standard of Professional Conduct

IRC and IRC employees are required to abide by the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct which are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity

We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified women professionals to apply.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Join our dynamic team!

Deadline to apply: November 30, 2022.

LI-GR2

Qualifications