Senior Capacity Building Manager, Protection

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (www.rescue.org) is a world leader in relief, rehabilitation, protection, post-conflict development, resettlement services and advocacy for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression. The IRC has long-term programs based in Baghdad and Erbil, as well as emergency response programs supporting Syrian refugees.

Working in coordination with the humanitarian community, the IRC currently addresses the needs of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Baghdad and other centre governorates and war-affected Syrians from several operational bases in the region. In response to the IDP situation, the IRC in partnership with the UNHCR – has been running the Protection Assistance and Reintegration Centres (PARCs) since 2009 in the central governorates. The centres provide a variety of community and protection services including protection monitoring, referrals and the provision of legal assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR. Since 2012, the PARC programme has also supported a local partner to provide psychosocial support and legal assistance for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). In 2013, as part of a broader program to provide sustainable community-based protection to persons of concern, the IRC provides training and mentorship to local NGOs and community structures in order to achieve their identified technical and organizational goals. The ultimate goal of this project will be to build the capacity of these organizations to directly implement PARC.

SCOPE OF WORK: The Senior Capacity Building Manager, Protection, is responsible for overseeing the capacity building component of the IRC’s Governance and Rights programming in Iraq, with a focus on Protection and Rule of Law. Under the direct supervision of the Senior Protection Coordinator, the position will support the development of capacity building strategies, lead participatory capacity building planning with local partners, ensure effective evaluation and learning around capacity building initiatives and and provide technical input on the IRC’s capacity building activities across sectors (Protection and Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE)). The role will manage the capacity building and support it to: identify capacity building needs, develop capacity building plans, devise targets and monitor progress. The Senior Capacity Building Manager will also work to develop relevant training materials and coordinate training schedules with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that trainings and on-the-job learning is conducted effectively. Finally, the position will technically support all Protection programs in Central Iraq and in other regions upon request.

RESPONSIBILITIES:                 

• Grant Planning & Implementation
  • Ensure that all the IRC projects are implemented in a timely and professional manner,
  • Identifies capacity building needs and develops capacity building plans with local partners
  • Leads the development of capacity building strategies in-line with programme and parnters’ goals
  • Develops effective protection and WPE  training materials in line with IRC technical best practice and standards
  • Provides technical support to all Capacity Building staff in Central Iraq primarily and in other regions upon request
  • Supports the Capacity Building aspects of the Community Protection and Empowerment programme upon request in coordination with the Livelihoods, WPE and Protection Management Team (Material development/training organization and delivery)
  • Leads the training of IRC staff mentors to provide on-site support and guidance to partners
  • In cooperation with the Senior Protection Coordinator, continuously assesses and revises the protection network capacity building strategy
  • Supports the Protection Senior Management and Management Teams in writing the Capacity Building and Training components of proposals (narrative and budget)
  • Conducts field visits to program sites in the central governorates when possible in order to provide on-site technical support, highlight successes and identify challenges.
  • Oversees implementation of the capacity building program through managing budgets (budget forecasting, development of spending plans and budget follow-up), ensuring timely recruitment, developing program work plans and reporting in accordance with IRC and donor regulations.
  • Oversees local partner grants and relationships to ensure they are successfully managed according to IRC standards and in compliance with donor regulations
  • Ensures that the administrative and logistical aspects of training run smoothly
• Staff Management
  • Directly supervises the Senior Capacity Building Officer and the Senior Training Officer.
  • Provides continuous support to the Capacity Building and Training team, ensuring the submission of weekly workplans, weekly meetings and professional development opportunities in line with performance monitoring and evaluation plans.
  • 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.
• Coordination & Representation
  • Forges connections with key governmental and non-governmental counterparts.
  • Collaborates closely with other program departments in order to ensure that linkages between programs are made and programs gain from training best practice.  
  • Support new business development within the protection sector
• 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:

• Advanced university degree in International Development, Development Management, Social Studies or a related field.
• 3-4 years experience implementing capacity building programs in emergency or post-conflict settings using participatory approaches.
• Demonstrated experience developing and conducting training in post conflict settings.
• Proven ability to manage local partner relationships.
• Strong leadership, staff management and capacity building skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills, cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, team player.
• Willingness to travel within Iraq, including south and north.
• Regional experience is preferred
• Ability to live and productively work under stress and in insecure and harsh environments while maintaining a sense of humor.
• Experience in Gender Based Violence programming and Women’s Protection and Empowerment programming.

SPECIFIC SECURITY SITUATION/HOUSING: The security situation in Iraq remains fluid and unpredictable. Candidates may expect periods of insecurity, periodic suspensions of, or restrictions in, program operation and/or field travel, and high levels of volatility in the operating environment.