Economic Recovery & Development (ERD) Cash Manager

The IRC restarted programs in Iraq in November 2007 to assist thousands of internally displaced civilians in northern, central and southern regions. The IRC had extensive operations in Iraq from 2003 through 2005, but deteriorating security forced IRC to leave. Since returning to Iraq, IRC has been providing support to refugees, internally displaced persons and conflict-affected communities in the sectors of protection/access to justice, education/child protection/youth livelihoods, water/sanitation/hygiene, gender based violence prevention. In the current emergency response assisting persons newly displaced in June 2014, a health component has been included.

IRC Iraq is currently looking for a short term ERD Cash Manager, responsible for ongoing leadership of the emergency cash assistance programs in Iraq. We need a person with emergency cash assistance experience, excellent coordination and networking skills, the capacity to innovate and solve problems efficiently – and who can work within the overall context of insecurity and access challenges in Iraq. We offer competitive salary and excellent opportunities for professional and personal growth.
The ERD Cash Manager position is for cash for work, unconditional cash grants and cash voucher programming in emergency response. Cash-based activities are designed to help people to restore their economic assets lost during the conflict

SCOPE OF WORK:
The ERD Cash Manager is the IRC key position working on economic recovery and development. The Manager is the central interface between the Emergency Coordinator and the IRC field team, administrators, beneficiaries, vendors and partners. As the technical lead, the Manager’s first responsibility is overseeing the day to day implementation of cash transfer programming and the Officers who are in the field working with communities and beneficiaries. The Manager is expected to travel to the field frequently for higher level decision making, particularly during the often challenging stages of community sensitization, project selection and dispute resolution.

Position objectives: The main objective of the ERD Cash Manager position is to ensure the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of cash transfer programming activities, specifically cash vouchers, unconditional cash grants as well as the provision of agricultural inputs

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Grant Planning & Implementation
  • Prepare and maintain/update detailed workplan(s) that support and achieve the overall grant timeline and completion date
  • Provide direction and monitor staff in their implementation of the workplan and quality of technical activities, share relevant information and direction to improve quality and achieve timelines
  • Approve expenditures to designated level; manage/monitor monthly expenditures and track budgets to ensure that all spending is in line with approved budgets and timelines, including developing procurement plans, monthly program spending plan and cash forecasts
  • Provide input to the ERD Emergency Coordinator during the process of identifying and hiring Cash and Protection Monitors
• Grant Monitoring & Reporting
  • When possible undertake regular field monitoring visits to assess progress and identify technical quality issues and/or other implementation issues, provide solutions and implement modifications as required.
  • Ensure all monitoring activities are fully documented, including systematic and timely data collection as required under the grant and for IRC M&E purposes
  • Produce/contribute to IRC and donor reports as per set schedules (monthly, quarterly and annually) on grant activities, indicators and achievements.
• Partner Management
  • Serve as the main focal person in the field for the IRC’s implementing partners; maintain respectful and constructive relations, and ensure regular meetings and ongoing coordination
  • Regularly monitor performance of the Partner to achieve the set project’s objectives; provide technical support and guidance; share relevant information and direction to improve quality and achieve timelines
  • Review partner financial and narrative submissions, including M&E data; provide advice and guidance to improve accuracy and quality as required.
• Coordination & Representation
  • Work closely and coordinator with IRC logistics, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and complaint program activities and expenditures; including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings
  • Undertake/participate in liaison, coordination, and information sharing activities with national NGOs, international organizations, donors and government
• Program Development
  • Assist in the collection of data, assessments and proposal development for the sector.
• Human Resources Management and Development
  • Discuss job expectations, set objectives and provide appropriate and timely feedback regarding performance, including timely implementation of the annual staff performance management system.
  • Clearly define the training needs of direct reports and ensure they are able to access training and professional development resources appropriate to their skill gaps/needs.
  • 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 including staff development plans.
  • Provide leadership support for the successful implementation of and adherence to the IRC Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures
  • Lead with commitment, integrity and accountability to the “IRC Way” – Global Standards for Professional Conduct
• Other
  • Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs
  • Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

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.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: ERD Emergency Coordinator
• Position directly supervises: Cash and Protection Monitors

REQUIREMENTS:

• Economy, Business, Management degree
• Experience working in insecure work environments and understanding of personal and team’s safety and security needs
• Minimum 3 years of experience in assessing, developing, management/coordinating Cash Assistance programs in an international setting
• Experience in coordinating with relevant cluster working groups and other stakeholders
• Experience supervising and guiding national and international ERD staff
• Strong management, assessment, project planning, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Fluency in English
• Knowledge of Kurdish or Arabic language a distinct advantage

SPECIFIC SECURITY SITUATION/HOUSING:
Staff in Iraq must comply with all IRC security policies and procedures applicable to international staff. Accommodation will be provided and will be as comfortable as the emergency circumstances allow. The position is unaccompanied.