Country: United States of America
Closing date: 20 Aug 2017
SCOPE OF WORK:
The Program Officer plays a vital role within a regional team that is supervising a regional portfolio of humanitarian relief and post-conflict recovery programs in nine country programs: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone
Candidates should be well organized and self-motivated with demonstrable writing, management, and creative problem solving skills. The successful candidate will liaise with country programs, NY support departments, IRC UK (London), IRC Brussels, IRC Geneva, and our government relations office in Washington DC to resolve country office and/or regional issues.
The Program Officer should be capable of managing multiple and complex tasks; thrive under pressure; have strong people skills; and be capable of interfacing successfully with internal actors, donors and partners to resolve program issues. S/he should also feel comfortable in a representational role, speaking on humanitarian and recovery issues to policy makers, donors and other audiences.
Based in New York, the Program Officer works under the supervision of the HQ-based Regional Unit which includes the Regional Director and the Regional Grants Director (RGD). Directly supervised by the RGD, in coordination with the Deputy Regional Director for Programs (DRDP) the Program Officer also manages the Program Managers and interns for the region.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Coordination and Supervision
- Provide grant management support for all non-European donor grants, including proposal submission, ensuring donor reporting requirements are met and dealing with donor related issues;
- Maintain a strong relationship with the RD and DRDP - reporting on a regular basis and copying them on relevant communications - through an established communications protocol;
- Regularly travel to country offices to provide support and monitoring across the areas of programs and grants.
- Manage interdepartmental relationships with the Policy and Practice Units and NY support departments on proposals, reports, and additional requests for information;
- Work closely with NY and UK departments and units to provide ongoing support to country offices as requested and needed;
- Act as regional or country representative in both internal and external initiatives and meetings;
- Supervise the Program Manager in carrying out necessary functions as they relate to country program support; and
- Coordinate with the Program Officers for other regions for information sharing and to establish a coherent program support and backstopping function between headquarters and the field.
Program Design & Strategy Support
- Review and provide substantive feedback on proposals/reports. Draft proposals when necessary;
- Review budgets and supporting documentation for proposals in coordination with the Grants and Compliance Unit and Regional Controllers, and assist in creating budgets when necessary;
- Remain informed about programmatic issues and security & political developments in the region;
- Stay in regular contact with CD, DDP, and Grants staff on program progress and potential/identified compliance issues;
- Work with DRDP and DDP to inform general programmatic capacity and direction of country program, discuss impact of and capacity to pursue new potential opportunities
- Facilitate follow-up on programmatic issues to ensure accurate and timely financial and narrative reports to donors;
- Negotiation, review and processing of agreements and sub-agreements
Donor Liaison
- Coordinate with the various fundraising departments on fundraising initiatives, proposals and opportunities in the region.
- Maintain contact with donors regarding program amendments or budget realignments.
- Liaise with US-based donors on ongoing/future WASACH programs & strategies;
- Liaise with the IRC UK Regional Program Manager and Regional Grants Officer (London-based) to ensure that the region has a full picture of emerging new business opportunities from donors such as DFID, SIDA, ECHO, EuropeAid and others.
Advocacy
- Support advocacy efforts for the region as requested by the Washington DC office and Regional Director;
- Participate in advocacy and/or representational visits, events and meetings
Other Key Areas of Responsibility
- Provide coverage for key program/support functions in the field as requested, to assist with short-term gaps and emergency support;
- Liaise with communications and external relations staff to inform IRC media products
- As needed, support country program to ensure procurements meet donor requirements
- Review of operating budgets, budget reforecasts, and FM01s;
- Review of and support to creation of country-specific strategic action plans (SAPs);
- Lead in recruitment of grants-related positions for country offices;
- Participate in special projects as needed and other tasks as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Masters Degree in a related field, or at least two years comparable related experience;
- Three years' progressive work experience, ideally with a relief and development NGO;
- Two years' international field experience highly desirable;
- Project management experience, including supervisory experience ideal;
- Program development and/or grants management experience;
- Excellent written and oral communication skills;
- Proven ability to effectively manage relationships (e.g., with internal actors, peers, donors);
- Effective people management skills: ability to lead staff and promote productivity in a pleasant work environment;
- Familiarity with countries in the region ideal;
- Solid organizational skills: ability to be flexible & work well under pressure in a fast-paced multi-task team environment;
- Good Computer skills: facility with MS Word, Excel, and email/internet software; and
- Oral and written French fluency preferred.
How to apply:
Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=a2F0cmluYW1pbGxlci45OTM1OS4zODMwQGlyYy5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20