United States of America: Vice President, Head of Field Management

The Vice President, Head of Field Management will lead the IRC’s international field programs, with responsibility for an annual budget in excess of US $500 million and a team of over 11,000 employees and 15,000 auxiliary staff around the world. Reporting to the Senior Vice President, this individual is a key member of the International Programs Department leadership team and Senior Leaders Group, and will collaborate closely with the full range of partners across the technical excellence, operations, finance, fundraising, awards management, advocacy, communications, compliance and legal functions.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Programs

• Drive IRC’s efforts to deliver lasting impact for crisis-affected people through programs which support them to survive, recover and gain control of their future.
• Lead implementation of IRC’s strategy across the international portfolio, ensuring resources and HQ departmental priorities are optimally aligned to support its execution.
• Oversee the development and execution of ambitious country Strategy Action Plans which guide programming decisions and ensure balance between direct response to humanitarian needs and building local capacity for long-term recovery and empowerment.
• Exercise overall responsibility for successful delivery, management and growth of international programming. Implement a system to monitor and improve the performance of country programs.
• Champion IRC’s transition to becoming an evidence-based, outcome-focused, responsive and adaptive organization.
• Lead IRC’s efforts to put programs and clients at the center of our work, empowering field staff and taking a ‘field first’ approach to decision-making.
• Lead the strengthening of program measurement and monitoring systems to support delivery of outcomes for clients and results for donors.
• Ensure good stewardship of IRC and donor resources, and compliance with applicable internal and external laws, policies and requirements. Build capacity to ensure grant portfolios are implemented on time and on budget, and can flexibly respond to growth or contraction.
• Support regional teams in developing networks of local civil society and government partners, wherever possible empowering those entities to take the lead in service delivery.

· Monitor and analyze global and regional political trends and ensure that IRC is positioned to nimbly adapt to changing contexts. Ensure that our global footprint is consistent with our mission and strategy through timely and well-managed program expansion and closure as appropriate.

Functional Leadership & Development

• Ensure a consistently high level of team performance across international field programs; lead, mentor, and empower the Regional Vice Presidents (RVPs), inspiring and modeling healthy, collaborative intra and inter-departmental working relationships. Work with RVPs to provide timely, quality support to Country Directors.
• Identify and implement accountability mechanisms for managerial excellence at all levels of field management.
• Continuously expand and deepen internal and external talent pipeline through leadership development and networking to robust recruitment, succession planning and long-term retention of high-caliber staff.
• Create and foster cross-functional partnerships throughout International Programs and other IRC units to cultivate coordinated implementation of broad organizational initiatives
• Lead measurable efforts to ensure IRC’s workforce – including at leadership levels – reflects the diversity of the places we operate and the people we serve; nurture employee engagement, inclusion, nationalization, and gender equality in all facets of work.
• Support regional and country teams to adopt a learning and development mindset, reinforced by tangible action and investment.
• Cultivate a safe and protective working environment for all staff, and sponsor wider organizational efforts related to Duty of Care and Safety & Security.

Financial, Operational & Risk Management

• Cultivate a diligent approach to risk management across all international field programs: ensure that the IRC fully meets our obligations, including compliance, to donors and governments while supporting staff to take necessary and appropriate risks in the service of our humanitarian mission.
• Ensure that all field operational support functions are resourced and managed in accordance with IRC and donor policies and standards.
• Exercise oversight of international operating budgets and the financial health of programs. Ensure adequate and balanced resource and staffing levels across regional units.
• Actively partner with the Ethics & Compliance Unit to strengthen IRC’s efforts to prevent, detect and respond to issues of fraud and misconduct. Ensure staff (and partners) are aware of our expectations and their obligations under the ‘IRC Way’ and our corporate policies.

Representation, Influence & Partnership

• Identify and pursue opportunities to influence the policies and behaviors of the humanitarian system, consistent with the organizational values and humanitarian principles which underpin our work
• Ensure strong representation of the IRC to local, regional and global partners – including governments, donors, and civil society organizations.
• Ensure IRC remains a partner of choice for major donors and implementing agencies. Support IRC’s business development and fundraising efforts through cultivating a strong network of donor contacts, engaging with the HQ fundraising team, and ensuring that regional and country teams build and maintain strong donor relationships.
• Identify priority policy issues which affect our beneficiaries or our ability to deliver our programs; develop creative, impactful approaches to address these, both locally and in concert with the global advocacy team.
• Raise IRC's profile through inventive and appropriate engagement with diverse forms of media, working closely with the global communications team.

Qualifications

Education

• Relevant university degree required, graduate degree strongly preferred.

Work experience

• Extensive field experience leading humanitarian, protracted and/or post-crisis development programs with ability to lead in complex and often insecure working environments.
• Minimum of 15- 20 years of professional experience with 10 or more years in leadership with increasing levels of responsibility. Experience in leading and growing very large scale portfolios in a diverse range of donors and program areas.

Technical skills

• Excellent ability to build personal networks at a senior level, resulting in securing new opportunities and strategic growth for the organization.
• Strong experience of program design and management, and commitment outcomes-focused, evidence-based approaches.
• Strong financial and operational analysis and management skills, including a robust understanding of award management and compliance.
• Commitment to and understanding of building local capacity and ownership in programs, and inclusion of client voice in management decisions.
• Strong aptitude in applying a holistic risk management approach.
• Ability to represent program context, constraints, and successes to media, government, civil society and boards in a compelling manner.
• Excellent presentation, written and verbal communication skills; commitment to open and transparent communication.
• A keen understanding of global political complexities and experience employing international political analysis.

Leadership & managerial competencies

• Collaborative leadership approach that contributes to positive team environment, and builds strong relationships with people from all backgrounds, genders, cultures and viewpoints
• Effective at delegating appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority.
• Skilled at creating a climate where high performance at all levels of the organization is recognized with opportunities for challenging assignments and professional growth.
• Ability to act judiciously and confidently in ambiguous or critical situations, often under acute time pressure and with limited information.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion; experience in incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Capability to work in high-pressure and insecure environments, while simultaneously exhibiting resilience, and leading with a staff care lens.

Languages Required/Preferred:

• Professional fluency in written and spoken English. French, Arabic and/or other language relevant skills a definite advantage.

Ability to Travel: approximately 25 - 40% internationally for site visits, representation and conferences.

Diversity, Inclusion and Gender Equality

IRC acknowledges and honors the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status or disability. IRC is also committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits.

https://rescue.csod.com/ats/careersite/jobdetails.aspx?site=1&c=rescue&id=4214