Youth & Livelihoods Manager

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.

The IRC has long-term programs based in Baghdad and Erbil, as well as emergency response programs supporting Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons.

SCOPE OF WORK:
This position is responsible of the management and oversight of both IRC’s youth focused livelihoods pilot program and caregiver focused savings groups (RoSCA). The position is responsible for overall implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the above mentioned livelihoods projects as well as the management of up to four other staff members, The position will also contribute to the strategy development and design of future livelihoods programming.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Program Management and Implementation
  • Develop an overall project work plan as well as monthly work plan for project implementation based on the logframe
  • Ensure that all project components are in compliance with the IRC’s program framework, best practices in livelihoods and youth focused programming and national policies
  • Oversee program quality and promptly identify and recommend solutions to technical issues
  • Conduct an initial assessment and market survey identifying potential private sector partners, growth sectors, existing livelihoods service providers and skills gaps with support from the technical unit
  • Refine (based on assessment data) and conduct a training of trainers on business skills, life skills, business mentoring for entrepreneurship, and other related topics
  • Lead the identification and set up of youth business centers
  • Train relevant staff and support ongoing monitoring and data collection of savings group programming
• Staff Management and Development
  • Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions;
  • Line manage the Youth & Livelihood officers
  • Discuss job expectations, set objectives and provide appropriate and timely feedback regarding performance, including timely implementation of the annual staff performance management system
  • Provide tools and resources, mentoring, capacity building and staff support as necessary
• Grant Monitoring, Evaluating, and Reporting
  • Conduct regular monitoring visits to project sites to monitor progress of implementation
  • Support the development of youth center database tracking clients and services
  • Compile and submit monthly narrative and progress reports based on the logframe to the Child and Youth Protection and Development (CYPD) Coordinator
  • Develop donor reports for submission to the Grants Unit, with support from the CYPD Coordinator
  • Participate in project evaluation with technical support from CYPD Coordinator
  • Develop project spending plan with support from CYPD Coordinator
• External Relations
  • Represent IRC at relevant coordination meetings
  • Collaborate closely with other stakeholders including, NGO and donors

Professional Standards
The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the 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:

• Preferred advanced degree or Certification in Business Management, Community/Social Development, Social Sciences
• Minimum of 3-5 years of work experience working in livelihoods/employment programming with a focus on youth, preferably with refugee/displaced population and community development skills, previous international experience required.
• Experience in working directly with and training youth and/or business/career development related training topics  
• Previous supervisory or team management experience
• Experience with private sector partnerships
• Knowledge of displaced/refugee livelihoods
• Excellent written and verbal English skills – in the ability to write high quality proposals and reports in English is required

OTHER:

• Excellent inter-personal skills; demonstrating diplomacy and tact
• Values learning and takes a strong interest in new developments in the field of livelihoods
• Proactive and self-motivated approach to work, with an enthusiasm for learning
• Willingness to spend 40%-50% of time in the field

Note: List of responsibilities, professional and personal skills are considered indicative and not exhaustive; actual duties may differ or change depending on office and agency priorities at the time.

Security Situation / Housing
This position is based in Erbil. The majority security concerns are the presence of armed men across the spectrum of regular armed forces, volunteer militias and armed opposition groups. Staff in Iraq must comply with all IRC security policies and procedures applicable to international staff. Shared housing in a guest house will be provided. The position is unaccompanied.