Deputy Director of Programs

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 50 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is one of the most complex and long-standing in the world, driven by armed conflict, recurrent climactic shocks, disease outbreaks, and weak governance structure, all of which contribute to persistent and pervasive poverty. Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, economic and political instability has resulted in the deterioration of basic service provision across the country, increased prices of staple foods and fuel, reduced household purchasing power, and negatively impacted the ability of Afghan households to meet basic needs.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has worked in Afghanistan since 1988 and now works with thousands of villages across thirteen provinces. As Afghanistan deals with decades of conflict, natural disasters, and economic crises, the IRC helps affected communities to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. IRC supports Afghans in remote and hard-to-reach areas with vital support, such as community-based education, essential health services, emergency response, protection interventions, environmental health, economic recovery, and extensive resilience programming. IRC has also increased it’s partners and localization strategy with a forecast of 40% of its funds and programs will be implemented through partners national and internationals.

Scope of Work:

The Deputy Director Programs (DDP) provides a leadership, decision-making and coordinating role on programmatic issues, including the effective implementation of IRC’s projects in Afghanistan. With a focus on populations affected by conflict, economic catastrophe and natural disaster, IRC currently works in the following sectors: Economic Well-Being, Environmental Health (WASH), Education, Protection, Health, Cash, Nutrition and Emergency Response.

As a part of the country Senior Management Team (SMT), the DDP leads on developing strategies and delivering programming in the geographic areas/provinces where IRC and IRC partners are operational including Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman, Paktya, Kunduz, Helmand, Badghis, Herat, Logar, Bamyan and Khost.

Responsibilities:

1. Leadership & Strategic Planning

• Provide leadership and supervisory management to the programs department, as a key member of the SMT, including stewardship of resources, budget management, program delivery and performance management.

• Lead on the development/review and implementation of the Country Strategic Action Plan (SAP) focusing on achievement of the plan objectives, universal expectations, and regular progress review of plans. Serve as the focal point person for the SAP Monitoring and Reporting Protocol and SAP Implementation Committee.

• Advance program sector strategies, including the integration of cross-cutting issues of gender, partnership, protection, climate change, and disaster risk reduction.

• Work closely with the Deputy Director for Program Quality, the Deputy Director for Operations, and Deputy director for Program development and Awards and Partnerships in ensuring appropriate support and coordination between technical Coordinators, Grants, partnerships and MEAL counterparts.

2. Program Implementation

• In charge of thet the PCM unit for an effective management of program implementation and support the Provincial /Sector Coordinators in through creation of structured work-plans and approved monitoring plans based on project proposals and that expenditures are monitored monthly; rapidly initiate and track well-structured corrective action where required.

• Support the Project Cycle Management (PCM) team and working ensuring that every project has an Indicator dashboard tracked under the Program Indicator Dashboard (PID).

• Mitigate risk by collaborating with the Deputy Director of Finance and the Deputy Director for Operations to ensure that programming staff fully understand financial and administrative processes involved in project budget cycles and lead regular program implementation meeting and budget versus actuals routines. The DDP is accountable for effective management for all programming budgets.

• Provide the Country Director with accurate and up to date advice of developments and opportunities in program and project implementation together with any necessary recommendations for action.

• Work with Deputy Director for Program Quality in developing, rolling out and monitoring a country-wide MEAL strategy and tools for the collection and analysis of program information (qualitative and quantitative) to inform all stages of the project cycle to increase shared learning internally and externally.

• Ensure timely and high quality programming reports and updates from the Technical Coordinators are shared with the Grants Unit, and review draft program reports to enable accurate reporting for submission to donors, per IRC and donor guidelines.

• With the Deputy Director for Program development, awards and partnerhsips support the coordination of donor visits, and support field staff in collaboration with the Senior Area coordinators in preparing and conducting these visits as necessary.

• Ensure high quality program implementation in line with the IRC IMPACT standards and the sectoral standards of each outcome area, and support consistent engagement between Technical Coordinators and HQ and regionally-based Technical Advisors

3. Business/Program Development

• Guide new program design processes in coordination with Technical Coordinators, Technical Advisors, Deputy Director Programs Quality and Deputy Director for Awards and Partnerships, in order to ensure that funding proposals are high quality, innovative, needs-based and designed using the best evidence possible in compliance with IRC and donor regulations as well as within the parameters of the Strategic Action Plan (SAP).

• Provide mentorship and leadership in the rollout and use of the SAP and Outcome and Evidence Framework when developing new projects in coordination with the Deputy Director Awards and Partnerships.

4. Human Resources and Staff Development

• Provide supportive mentorship and supervision to direct reports. Provide appropriate and timely feedback to staff regarding their performance, including timely implementation of the annual staff performance management system.

• Set clear performance objectives for sector coordinators clearly stating key deliverables and timelines.

• Support the identification of staff capacity gaps and capacity development opportunities for senior staff. Ensure gender balance across all sectors and across all the program team with special attention to identifying, supporting, and mentoring female staff to take on senior roles.

• Assist in developing job descriptions and in the recruitment of senior program staff (national and international). Ensure that regular and quality staff evaluations are conducted for all staff.

• Work with the Country Director, Deputy Director Operations, Deputy Director for Program Quality, Deputy Director for Awards and Partnership, Deputy Director for Finance and Human Resources Coordinator to review/revise and develop appropriate policies and address issues.

5. Liaison/Representation and Coordination

• Maintain a sound understanding programs to be able to represent the IRC and the IRC’s interests with partners, government, donors and clients.

• Lead effective representation of IRC as assigned by the country director

• Per CD request can act as country director in his/her absence

• Help develop a positive relationship with donors / Government counterparts and local partners to ensure sustainable programs in the portfolio sectors. Encourage and support improved program cohesion through coordination initiatives and information sharing with and between all key country program staff.

• Support and promote alignment between the IRC Afghanistan mission, vision, and strategy among all staffamongst all staff.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to DDP: Sector Technical Coordinators, SGBV Cluster Co-Lead, Cash working group cluster Co-Lead

Position reports to the Country Director and member of the Senior management team

Internal stakeholders: in country: SMT, Deputy Director for program development, awards and partnerships, Program quality/MEAL Deputy director, Deputy Director of operations, Senior advisor for Gender, Ethic and PSEA

IRC other stakeholders: Sectors regional technical advisors, Deputy regional director, Award and management Unit

Professional Standards

• All IRC staff are required to adhere to THE IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies.

Requirements:

• Graduate degree in International Development, International Relations, business; management and administrative science.

• Excellent professional track record with 6-8 years of experience in a conflict/post-conflict environment with program leadership responsibilities.

• Successful experience working within a complex security environment is preferred.

• Proven ability to think strategically, prioritize and meet deadlines in a complex and challenging environment; must be culturally sensitive

• Excellent leadership, people management, interpersonal and negotiation skills, and a demonstrated ability to develop harmonious teams in a multi-ethnic context. Must have a strong Passion for gender equality and equity.

• Strong diplomacy skills: ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with partners, donors, government and clients in a sensitive environment.

• Have fluent spoken and written English

• Strong computer skills: including competency in the use of Windows MS office programs (Word, Excel), email programs, etc.

• Willingness to travel outside Kabul depending on security clearance.

• Willingness to live in strict security protocol environment

Work Environment:

The position will be based in Kabul, Afghanistan with frequent field travels to IRCs field offices. Shared housing will be provided.

**Standard of Professional Conduct:**The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.