Deputy Director for Accountability and Learning

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee is a prominent international organization working in relief, rehabilitation, protection, post-conflict development, resettlement services and advocacy for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression.

Working in coordination with the humanitarian community, the IRC currently addresses the needs of war-affected Syrians from several operational bases in the region. Our activities focus primarily on the supply of vital medications and medical equipment, non-food items, water and sanitation and the protection of women and children and form an over-arching humanitarian response in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Iraq.

SCOPE OF WORK:
The DDA&L will ensure that the IRC Turkey program has the flexibility to respond appropriately to a dynamic context while maintaining high humanitarian standards and remaining compliant with contractual obligations. The DDA&L will oversee the development and implementation of systems and tools that support effective grants and sub-grants management and quality monitoring and evaluation. He/she will introduce innovative, technology-driven approaches to grants management and M&E and ensure that these processes support quality programming and continual improvements. The DDA&L will work with both IRC staff and partners to develop accountability mechanisms and ensure congruence with IRC’s internal and donor external accountability expectations. S/He will be part of the senior management team (SMT) and report to the Country Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Accountability & Learning

• Lead the M&E team to develop and use appropriate assessment, monitoring and evaluations systems and tools.
• Ensure that all staff, partners and other stakeholders have timely access to relevant information and evidence about programmatic performance.
• Support the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) and Program Coordinators to integrate the review, analysis, reflection and follow-up of evidence into existing work processes in order to ensure the use of M&E results to continually improve program effectiveness and quality.
• Review and build upon the IRC’s accountability mechanisms to ensure the views of stakeholders such as partners and beneficiaries are incorporated into program decisions.
• Guide program teams in the development and management of partnerships with stakeholders that reflect IRC’s values and commitments to humanitarian standards.
• Provide lessons learned and recommendations about improving M&E, accountability, learning and partnership that can be used organization-wide at regional and global levels.

Program Development

• Support the DDP and Technical Coordinators to design evidence-based programming that aligns with the IRC’s country strategy and is relevant for the context and responsive to the needs on the ground as identified by the M&E team.
• Lead the proposal development process, ensuring that the theory of change is based on the results of PRA processes, that the log frame is developed with the full participation of the field team, and that multiple technical sector inputs are integrated.

Grants Management

• Work with the Grants team to ensure the effective use of existing grants and sub-grants management systems and procedures, such as monthly Grant Review Meetings.
• Develop new, technology-driven systems and tools, such as a project management platform and expenditure tracking system, to support effective grants management.
• Provide lessons-learned and recommendations about improvements in grant management systems than can be fed into global and regional organization-wide business process improvement initiatives.
• Build the technical capacities of the Grants and M&E teams.
• Ensure capacity-building of program staff in the effective management of grants, budgets and donor requirements.

Human Resources Management

• Directly supervise the Grants Coordinator and the Senior M&E Manager.
• Maintain open and professional relations with all team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Ensure that job expectations and performance objectives are clear for all direct reports and follow up regularly and as a part of the annual Performance Review and Planning Process.
• As the Country Program grows and changes, provide lessons learned and recommendations about optimal functions and structures related to monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning, partnership and program development
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures

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:

• Relevant postgraduate degree
• Excellent professional track record with at least eight years of international program management experience, at least 5 of which are at the senior management level
• At least 3 years of experience implementing programs in conflict or immediate post conflict environments
• Previous experience in managing M&E processes and a sound technical understanding of contemporary M&E methods and approaches
• Sound knowledge of humanitarian accountability principles and their translation into practice
• Previous experience managing grants financed through US, EU, UN and private foundations; previous experience within competitive RFA/P environments a plus
• English fluency required, Arabic language skills an advantage
• Strong written and oral communication skills - effective representation and liaison with external parties a must
• Must be capable of applying skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others
• Interpersonal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure with a sense of humor

The position will be based in Turkey with individual housing; occasional travel within the region.