Deputy Regional Director of Program

BACKGROUND:

IRC’s International Programs focus on various relief and rehabilitation programs for refugees, internally displaced persons and communities affected by conflict in different regions worldwide. Each region is managed by a regional team that oversees the region’s country programs, headed by a Regional Director (RD), and Deputy RD for Programs (DRDP), supported by a Regional Program Officer (PO),a Program Manager (PM) and Program Assistant (PA).  IRC has programs in the following sectors: health and environmental health; child and youth protection and development; women’s protection and empowerment; economic recovery; and governance and rights.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The Deputy Regional Director for Programs in the ACME region will provide a range of strategic, management and programmatic support to the countries.  The DRDP focuses primarily on program quality, in all aspects, including design, implementation, monitoring, and budgeting.  The DRDP liaises closely with other members of the regional team, as well as country management and HQ staff in NY, London and European offices.  The DRDP supports the RD in advocacy and management initiatives to ensure strong, consistent, and high quality management of the region as a whole.  The DRDP is required to travel regularly to country offices to provide management support and monitor program quality, as well as to participate in strategic planning sessions and regional meetings.  The DRDP reports to the Regional Director.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate with the RD on regional portfolio growth strategy, country program start-ups, and regional quality enhancement initiatives.
• Oversee and support the development of strong strategy action plans in each country office that are consistent with IRC’s overall strategic plan; monitor regular review and updating of strategic plans.  Ensure country programs emphasize IRC’s outcome framework, including charting progress.
• Coordinate country program work on initiatives linked to our strategic objectives of Effectiveness, Best Use of Resources, Scale and Reach, Speed and Timeliness, Responsiveness, and Research and Development.
• Promote and support strong design, monitoring capacity in country programs, ensure quality evaluations in compliance with IRC’s evaluation guidelines, and encourage a culture of learning within the region.
• Work in partnership with sector technical advisors and directors to ensure technical assistance is leveraged and realized most effectively in the region and contribute to discussions on direction of the Program Quality Unit.
• Promote and support institutionalization of the Outcomes Framework in country programs.
• Mentoring and management support – as agreed with the RD – for Country Directors and Deputy Directors.
• Monitoring of projects deemed particularly strategic for the agency to ensure program quality and compliance.
• Represent IRC to donors, host governments, UN and colleague NGOs, as needed.
• Supervise senior program staff for regional projects.
• Monitor regional developments and lead on strategic development for regional and country program initiatives.
• Participate in development of regional advocacy priorities; review and assist country programs to develop advocacy priorities and strategies; and other promotional activities as agreed with the RD.
• Other program or management-related activities as determined by the RD.

Requirements

• Masters degree in relevant area (preferred but not required).
• 7-10 years in senior program management roles, with several of these being in an international NGO.
• Ability in ‘big picture’ thinking and planning, but comfortable delving into micro issues as well.  Experience in strategic planning strongly preferred.

• Experience working with a complex donor portfolio and in developing and managing post-conflict development programming preferred, including experience in both conflict and development contexts.

• Strong interpersonal and training skills, ability to work in multi-cultural environments.
• Strong communication skills
• Diverse background in programs, with strong understanding of DME, strong analytical skills, and experience leading strategic planning processes.