Yemen: Deputy Director Programs

ORGANIZATIONAL 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 22 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.

COUNTRY BACKGROUND:

Yemen is the poorest country in the Arab world and has been plagued with internal conflicts in recent years. The humanitarian conditions in Yemen deteriorated rapidly since 26 March 2015 with the beginning of Saudi-led air campaign to stop the expansion of Houthi militias and their supporters towards the south of the country. Currently, an estimated of 80% of the population lack access to safe water or sanitation; 12.5 million people are food insecure, of whom about 6 million are severely food insecure; 1.6 million people are suffering from acute malnutrition; and about 8.4 million people are in need of health services.

The IRC began its Health, Nutrition and Waster, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programs in response to the impact of conflicts in Abyan and Aden Governorates in October 2012. Health interventions are aimed at increasing access to curative and preventive health services; while the nutrition intervention is to ensure children under five have access to inpatient and outpatient treatment for severe and moderate acute malnutrition. WASH interventions are aimed at reducing the risk and spread of environmental health related diseases, including provision of safe and dignified access to improved water supply and sanitation facilities to disaster affected communities and health facilities; the promotion of safe hygiene practices and the strengthening of community institutions, including health facilities to support and sustain WASH services. To address the recent and ongoing conflict, the IRC has initiated emergency Health and WASH interventions to war affected populations, IDPs and host families. In November 2015, IRC initiated protection mainstreaming activities within health, nutrition, and WASH programming. Currently IRC Yemen is operating in eight governorates in the south and north of Yemen.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The Deputy Director for Programs (DDP) position will lead the program unit in the areas of strategic programming and planning, ensuring program quality, promoting strategic growth and strong external and internal representation and advocacy. S/he must be able to motivate and lead a diverse staff as well as effectively manage programs, partnerships and budgets. Particular emphasis will be placed on responsiveness to beneficiary needs and evidence of impact. In coordination with the Country Director, the DDP builds and sustains strong donor relationships.

Based in Sana'a, the position reports to the IRC Yemen Country Director and is a member of the Senior Management Team. The DDP directly supervises the Technical Coordinators/Managers, Grants Coordinator, M&E Manager, as well as well as overseeing the mainstreaming of protection activities for women, girls and children in all sectors overseeing. This position has close working relationships with the Deputy Regional Director, Regional Advocacy Coordinator, Regional Measurement Action Coordinator and other members of the regional support team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES :

Ensure quality program design and implementation according to IRC's Outcomes and Evidence Framework (OEF) and best practices

• Ensure programming is significantly aligned with the OEF i.e. program planning, project design, communications with staff, orientation.
• In collaboration with Technical Coordinators, take the lead in proposal design & development in participatory ways, ensuring that projects are data-driven and align with the OEF, the country program Strategy Action Plan (SAP), and the global IRC 2020 Strategy.
• Work with Technical Coordinators and Program Managers to ensure ongoing monitoring of progress and accurate data collection are being practiced regularly by field program staff.
• In conjunction with the CD, liaise with the IRC HQ-based Technical Units to ensure regular flow of communication between field and headquarters, appropriate implementation of Technical Unit recommendations, and to facilitate technical oversight of programs.
• In conjunction with the CD, develop learning initiatives that support the generation of new evidence.

Advance Strategic Plans

• Provide overall leadership and management to all IRC Yemen programs, by protecting and enforcing strategic program direction and growth.
• Lead implementation of the Country Strategic Action Plan (SAP) through committed investment in achievement of the plan objectives, regular progress review of plans, and discussions with the SAP Implementation Committee, by serving as the focal point person for the SAP Monitoring and Reporting Protocol.
• Serve as the SAP focal point in-country to lead the roll-out of IRC Yemen's Strategy Action Plan (SAP) - including the development and careful monitoring of progress against country program priorities.

Oversee Program Development, Fundraising and Grants Management

• Oversee the Grants & Compliance Coordinator to coordinate the development of quality concept notes and proposals for all IRC Yemen programs.
• Development of a funding strategy, widening and strengthening donor base.
• Active participation in Grant Meetings, including all Budget vs Actuals Meetings, Grant Opening, Mid-Term, and Closing Meetings, ensuring follow up on action items identified
• Stay abreast of donor regulations and compliance information, updating the CD and Grants Unit as necessary. Support the Grants & Compliance Manager to ensure that all IRC Yemen programs are compliant with their respective donor regulations.
• Coordinate with CD, Technical Coordinators, operations leads, and Grants Unit to recommend and/or work through approaches to grant/budget amendments.
• In coordination with Technical Coordinators and Grants & Compliance Coordinator, ensure the development and tracking of budget management tools such as spending plans per grant.
• Collaborate with the Health, WASH and Nutrition coordinators, as well as protection leads, to ensure a holistic approach in line with IRC's OEF
• Training of staff on identified areas- technical and program management issues.

Oversee Monitoring & Evaluation:

• In coordination with Technical Coordinators and Grants & Compliance Coordinator, lead the roll out and implementation of the measurement initiative in-country, including the Monitoring for Action (MfA) tools and COMET data platform across all current and future projects.
• Oversee M&E and Grants staff to identify and address needs for project monitoring and reporting strategies/templates; as well as to design/improve upon and implement processes related to data quality (including qualitative) and documentation/communication of program learning.
• Oversee partnership staff to ensure that IRC implementing partners' projects are tracked and evaluated, and that updates on partners/sub-grants are communicated in a timely and professional manner to appropriate stakeholders.
• Support multi-departmental tracking/monitoring tools and processes where relevant to contribute to overall improvements to and streamlining of IRC operational and project tracking systems.
• Monitor all programs through periodic field visits and review sessions and ensure that program implementation strategies are compatible with overall program goals and objectives.
• Ensure program assessments are conducted timely in accordance with donor specific requirements, information is analyzed and shared with all stakeholders; and appropriate actions are taken by program technical staff in collaboration with clients, and partners.
• Work with the Regional Measurement Action Coordinator to ensure that appropriate monitoring structure/system is in place and functions fully.

Coordination and Representation

• Ensure that IRC Yemen's interventions are planned and coordinated within the broader humanitarian effort.
• Represent the IRC to UN, international and national NGOs, donors, and Ministries as needed at the national and Governorate levels as necessary

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS :

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

REQUIREMENTS :

• Excellent English writing and spoken skills are mandatory and the most important qualification for this position.
• Experience writing and coordinating high-value proposals for major donors (USG, UN, EU, etc).
• Experience developing budgets for major donors (USG, UN, EU, etc).
• Program development experience mandatory, including development of key project documents such as logical frameworks, monitoring tools, etc.
• Experience directly supervising diverse teams.
• Master's degree in relevant field from a recognized university.
• Minimum of five years' experience in an international NGO in similar role/with similar responsibilities.

Personal specifications:

• Ability to work in unstable security environment and abide with the security policies.
• Ability to work under pressure, long work hours, and high workload.
• Ability to independently organize work and prioritize tasks.
• Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Security level orange, insecure environment high criminality, presence of armed troops, open fighting and looting. There is active conflict in many parts of the country and a possibility for further expansion of the conflict and violence into other areas and other states. The situation in Sana'a is tense at the moment and remains unpredictable.

HOUSING :

Lodging in Sana'a is in a private bedroom, with a shared bathroom, in a shared IRC guesthouse. In field sites, accommodation similar to the Sana'a office. All IRC sites have electricity and internet all day through. Food is the individual's responsibility.

Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=a2F0cmluYW1pbGxlci4xNTM1MS4zODMwQGlyYy5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20